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Protecting pex through bored holes

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23K views 7 replies 6 participants last post by  HenryMac  
#1 ·
Currently working on the water supply lines for our bathroom remodel. Have the sub-manifold installed in the basement and copper stub outs installed on the floor above in the bathrooms. Just need to make the final few pex runs from the manifold to the stubouts.

I drilled 1" holes under the stubouts that go through the 2x6 bottom plate and 3/4" plank subfloor. When running pex through these bored holes, are you supposed to protect the pipe from rubbing against the surrounding wood?

I was thinking to stuff fiberglass pipe insulation in the hole to surround and prevent the pipe from rubbing on wood. Sometimes I've seen those suspension clamps used when boring holes across multiple joists, but they really only extend into the hole maybe an inch when the total hole depth is more than twice that long.
 
#5 ·
I drilled 1" holes under the stubouts that go through the 2x6 bottom plate and 3/4" plank subfloor. When running pex through these bored holes, are you supposed to protect the pipe from rubbing against the surrounding wood?
Not a plumber, but from my experience it's not really an issue. PEX won't get damaged by the wood and unlike copper it won't make noise if it rubs too tightly against the wood. Leave a little slack in your PEX line for expansion/contraction and you're fine.
I've never seen anyone do anything other than run the PEX through the hole and then throw on a nail protector on the outside of the stud if the pipe was within drywall screw range.
You can firestop the hole if it's between floors or in a spot that would require it.
 
#7 ·
Those supports/protectors seem like they would definitely protect it, but also seem way overkill haha. I was hoping for like a thin tape or pipe wrap if rubbing was an issue, but based on responses, it looks like it's not a problem to just run the tubing through bare wood bore. One less thing to do!