Mount PEX to concrete walls?

[DGersic]

Still slowly planning my PEX replumbing project here. Came to something I’m not finding a lot of good ideas for, how to attach PEX to concrete.

I’ll be working in unfinished basement, running a 3/4” trunk with 1/2” drops. If my trunks run in the floor joist space, I need three drops (water softener, washing machine, utility sink) coming down the concrete wall.

Mounting 3/4” wood or plywood with tapcons, then standard mounting clips like these nailed to the wood is one idea.



Another is a small quantity of clips like these, mounted directly with tapcons.



Any other good ideas? I’m not going to frame in or otherwise finish this wall.

 

[Firebrick43]

If multiple pipes or other things might be added, use unistrut. Then you only have to drill holes for two tapcons per unistrut vs 2 per pipe.

Also if hot water is being used and you want to use pipe insulation you can use an insulation clamp. I personally use unisorb klo-shure clamps but there are others. I buy them pretty cheap on ebay.

 

[DGersic]

If multiple pipes or other things might be added, use unistrut. Then you only have to drill holes for two tapcons per unistrut vs 2 per pipe.

Also if hot water is being used and you want to use pipe insulation you can use an insulation clamp. I personally use unisorb klo-shure clamps but there are others. I buy them pretty cheap on ebay.

I thought about unistrut, but that seemed like overkill. The three drops aren’t next to each other, so I’d either have a lot of unused strut, or a dozen small pieces.

Good point on the insulation. I will insulate the trunk, but probably won’t on these drops. The washing machine and utility sink don’t get a lot of use, figure those drops will get cold anyway. The water softener is cold in and out.

I’ll probably do 3/4” plywood. That’ll also allow for ball valves with mounting ears.

 

[Firebrick43]

I thought about unistrut, but that seemed like overkill. The three drops aren’t next to each other, so I’d either have a lot of unused strut, or a dozen small pieces.

Good point on the insulation. I will insulate the trunk, but probably won’t on these drops. The washing machine and utility sink don’t get a lot of use, figure those drops will get cold anyway. The water softener is cold in and out.

I’ll probably do 3/4” plywood. That’ll also allow for ball valves with mounting ears.

Is there anything better than overkill on the GJ

 

[jrsavoie]

I'd use stainless hardware. Stuff I installed 25 years ago is rusty

Years ago I had some plastic clips similar to what you have pictured, but the pex just snapped into it.

I've used 1/4" stainless screws for tapcons. I run the tapcon in, pull it out and run the stainless screw in.

 

[Bert_]

Not sure where you are at but if those are exterior walls I wouldn't put the pex right against it. Seen lines freeze that way. Better to stand it off with a board

 

[nadogail]

I like the suggestion that recommends wooden standoffs.

 

[DGersic]

Not sure where you are at but if those are exterior walls I wouldn't put the pex right against it. Seen lines freeze that way. Better to stand it off with a board

Northern Illinois. The current galvanized pipes are on this wall. Never froze. But I don’t want to try to drill a bunch of little holes in concrete, so board or something like it.

 

[DGersic]

I'd use stainless hardware. Stuff I installed 25 years ago is rusty

Years ago I had some plastic clips similar to what you have pictured, but the pex just snapped into it.

I've used 1/4" stainless screws for tapcons. I run the tapcon in, pull it out and run the stainless screw in.

Yeah, there are dozens of styles of clips.

 

[Renegade1LI]

A piece of pt 1 x 4 should be fine or plywood.

 

[shedfullatools]

I like to use 5/4" Treated Veranda Floor, the extra thickness allows for a little longer screws than 3/4" Ply and the board holds up better to moisture.

 

[DGersic]

Is there anything better than overkill on the GJ

A fair point. I’ll be knitting my own PEX tubing and milling the mounting clips from 4140 steel. I‘ll then TIG weld them to the support beams.

 

[CraigStu]

Glue a 1x3 to the concrete w/ spray foam or construction adhesive.

 

[KenC]

I'd just use the plastic clips and small tapcons. Just as easy as mounting a board with tapcons, but faster and looks better in my eye.

A good hammer drill can deal with little holes like that just a quick a drilling wood. Mark 'em out and drill all at one time. Probably 5 minutes at most.

 

[Zeke]

More like 30 seconds for the typical Tapcon. I find those too expensive given plenty of alternatives.