Infloor heating sleeve?

[akdiesel]

Can some one tell me the reason for the sleeve that some are installing on the infloor tubing when the tubing is exiting or entering the slab?
I don't see the reason for it since the tubing is in direct contact with the cement in the slab.

 

[stingry]

Can some one tell me the reason for the sleeve that some are installing on the infloor tubing when the tubing is exiting or entering the slab?
I don't see the reason for it since the tubing is in direct contact with the cement in the slab.

I believe you are talking about the pvc elbows that many use where the pex exits the slab. These are simply pvc electrical conduit elbows that slip over the pex. They make it easier to make the tight bend needed to go from horizontal to vertical. It makes for a clean and neat installation.

Cheers
Steve

 

[koditten]

They just help keep the pex under control. The transition from vertical to horizontal is not a natural bend for the pex. It also protecs the pex from being gouged by a concrete trowel.

KO

 

[stingry]

Here's a picture of my PEX installation ready for concrete. The conduit elbows are clamped to the 2x4 with conduit clamps. Holds everything nice and straight while the concrete is poured.
View media item 21026
Cheers
Steve

 

[akdiesel]

Ok. Thanks for the replies. I was little worried I may messed up when I did my patio. The bend was not that bad and the manifold was low enough to hold the tubing in place tight enough.

 

[Milton Shaw]

For plex it's to keep from kinking or damaging the tubing. For Gas, electrical etc the sleeve is to keep the expansion/contraction of the slab from trying to stretch the pipe or wire. I have seen a lot of air lines broken under slabs because they didn't have a sleeve where they came through the slab.

 

[Highbeam]

I did it to protect the pex from damage at floor level. Brooms, sparks, floor jacks, weedwackers, mice, feet, whatever, and also the pex is limited to a 6" bending radius and with a 5" slab you need to be sure to not kink it.

 

[cdecker]

I did it to protect the pex from damage at floor level. Brooms, sparks, floor jacks, weedwackers, mice, feet, whatever, and also the pex is limited to a 6" bending radius and with a 5" slab you need to be sure to not kink it.

Protection at floor level was my main concern, but the conduits also provided a nice 90 degree transition to bring the pex up the wall to the manifolds. And they were dirt cheap, so I figured why not..

 

[BD1]

Besides all of the above it helps to protect if concrete finisher use a power troll . Those blades will go right through it.