Pex Piping In Attics

While pex does not ordinarily burst in the cold the water in the pipes can still freeze.

Pex piping in attics. The surface of pex piping can become grimy over time so before insulating you should take just a few minutes to clean it off. It may give it an extra hour before it freezes solid. Foam is used most commonly and generally works well. It is important to insulate pex pipe in an attic particularly in cold weather areas.

What is pex plumbing. Pex cpvc poly back in the day even copper in the attics etc. There s been a lot of debate over pex for the last several years because pex has a few downsides that you might not expect. Insulation only slows the time when it will freeze after the water is not running through the pipe.

Pex is available in a variety of lengths from short 10 foot pieces for small repairs to rolls over 500 feet long which are used to install a home s entire water supply system. Cross linked polyethylene tubing better known as pex pipe has revolutionized plumbing installations in new home construction and remodeling. Yes the cold water is hot in the summer very hot in fact due to the heat of the attic. Pex is semi flexible which allows for long continuous runs through joists and studs.

Sometimes they have been insulated makes very little difference to the temp on a july or august afternoon. A wet rag should easily wipe away any visible dirt or debris. Such as at night if the attic temp is 15 deg f. Pex tubing or piping is used for water supply lines as well as radiant floor heating.

Because pex piping is flexible it is often used in angles loops or other non linear shapes which makes it imperative to have equally flexible insulation material. Yes rodents will chew absoultely eveything they step on. Pex type is forgiving when it freezes as far as breakage but insulating an exposed water line does little to keep it from freezing.