best method to hang copper pipe to floor joists
I need to hang some 3/4″ copper pipe in crawl space for water feeds in a kitchen/laundry room remodel, perpendicular with some 2×6 floor joists. A plumber who worked previously on my house use those 6″ wire hangers that get nailed into the joists. He put a piece of foam pipe insulation just where the hanger touched the pipe, probably about a foam piece 2″ wide (on the cold lines, hot lines had continious foam). So, I am not a huge fan of those wire hangers since they dont nail the way I think they should.
What about using those Oatey plastic clamp/supports that hold the pipe pretty rigid against bottom of the joist ? Will this plastic hold up over time ? The floors are open now so lots of room to work and add whatever tees I need inbetween the floor joists, even if the pipe is held against the bottom of joist. Is there a better way to do it?
thanks
Replies
There's no harm in using the wire hangers without insulation, so long as the hangers are copper plated. The Oatey plastic hangers should work as well, as would a few other varieties.
If you don't plan to go down there and check.........
forget alot of those nail on plastic clamps. I don't know if it's exposure, the vibration of water going through the pipes, but in a hang down application I've seen them fail-most usually in a radiant water supply.
The wire hangers do just fine, even help in muffling the vibration as they can move.
I'd suggest the wire hangers too.
If you hold hot water pipes tight against the joist with plastic supports, the pipes can make annoying popping sounds as the pipes expand and contract.
But note that there are also plastic hangers that work well in this situation, as well as clamps with nylon bushings that allow the pipe to slide if properly hung.
(One also needs to be wary of having a pipe too loose, though, especially near right angles, as this contributes to water hammer noise. In particular, a pipe can move an inch or more in a hammer situation, far enough to bang against something that seemed, on installation, reasonably far away.)
Wire hangers it is
Ok, thanks for the replies, I'm using wire hangers. I always question use
Of plastic in support applications.
Keep in mind that it's not just the hanger-to-pipe contact that can squeak with expansion/contraction--the pipe-to-joist contact can make just as much noise.
The wire hangers with points that you pound in don't hold overtime, they fall out. Use the copper strap type with the clamps and attach them with nails or screws.
Hammer1
Can you point me to a picture of the hanger your talkin about, I dont like those wire hangers that you hammer in place.
Is this the clamp your talking about? http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000DZHFFU/ref=aw_d_iv_hi?is=l&qid=1317097100&sr=8-49
Those are the type I like. You can buy a lot of them for the cost of a single call back.
Lowes has them for $1.95 each.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_301686-34146-AV301686_0__?productId=3223475&Ntt=copper+pipe+hanger&pl=1¤tURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dcopper%2Bpipe%2Bhanger&facetInfo=
ok, these things really clamp the pipe, should I be using something that has a little give to it, maybe some plastic/nylon bushing that lets the pipe move a bit due to temp expansion/contraction or not worry about it.