Rerouting baseboard heating pipes in PEX
All of the pipes for my hot water baseboard heaters on the 2nd floor were piped up through the first floor and none of them hidden in walls. This is unfortunate because I have ugly pipes everywhere. Although it probably is the most efficient setup (running the pipes through uninsulated exterior walls was not an option). I intend to reroute everything so it's hidden. At the same time I intend the reroute things in the basement to get it up into the joists instead of at head-clunking height. I think this would be best done with PEX. For the most part, I think I can find an interior wall for everything to run through, but in some spots the exterior wall is much easier. Would it be ok to run the PEX through an exterior wall assuming it's on the inside of R-13 insulation? Will the heat from the pex hurt my drywall? What other factors should I be considering? 3/4 black pipe and copper is used throughout most of the system, however there are several runs done with 1/2 copper. The heaters themselves are 3/4 copper. Everything seems to heat ok as is. Shall I redo everything with 3/4 PEX? I know I need an oxygen barrier pex - any particular kind/brand reccomended? Thanks, Chris Everything sounds good based on my understanding. Pex-Al-Pex may be something you want to look into. The aluminum middle layer is a true barrier, where the EVOH coating is actually a retarder). The 3/4 stuff is very tough to shape (compared to the 1/2) but the expansion factor is greatly reduced. No problems either way running them up the walls on the inside. The biggest danger to using the outside wall for heating pipe risers is the threat of freezing. If you happen to live in an area of freezing cold winters, particular attention should be paid to exterior walls facing the prevailing winds. This is usually north and northwest, but it could differ, depending on from what direction the winter winds blow at your location. PEX seems the only logical piping to use, especially if you have to snake it up to 2nd floor areas. There are usually firestops cross bracing in the walls which would make this very difficult, if not impossible with copper. Thus, search your mind to remember the direction of the coldest winds try to route the risers on that side of the house thru internal walls if possible. In the event one or two risers does freeze, it's rare that they would rupture, especially with PEX, but you would lose the heat from that particular convector until the weather got warmer. Often, a women's hair dryer played into the wall at the bottom of the wall cavity (in the basement) is enough to get things moving again. It's also recommended that you leave the very bottom of the wall cavity open free of insulation on these prevailing winds walls, on the stud cavities that have the risers, so that warm air from the basement can make its way up the wall cavity. Thanks for the tips! I think I can use an internal wall with all but one pipe. In this case my plan is to lay r-13 fiberglass insulation in the wall first, then route the pipe, then put drywall over it. Should I keep the pipe from direct contact with the drywall? A similar question: if I replace plaster walls with drywall behind the steel heat reflectors for my baseboard units do I need foil between the reflector and the drywall? I don't think it gets that hot... Concerning PEX, do I need to use a barrier type PEX if my boiler has a stainless heat exchanger? The only other metal in the system would be the 2 black/iron pipe for the first floor zone. Everything else will be copper and pex. Thanks, Chris Is your circ bronze or SS? If you have ANY ferrous metal in the path of the boiler water, you need to keep the oxygen out... I guess I'll be going with barrier pex. Any reccomendations for brand? The cheapest I found is sold by Menards and you have to special order it. Most of the stuff online is about 30% more expensive. Any suggestions for fishing the pex through walls? Seems like it would curl up and get caught really easily. Thanks! Check ebay ... put PEX in the search. There are quite a few folks selling there, and the prices seem _reasonable_ but I haven't shopped much. Worth a look though...
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