I was in the crawl space of my house and I inspected the two copper water lines that run the length of the floor. One line is stapled to the floor joists with a U shaped bracket. The other line had no brackets (for the length that I could get to and inspect). There is substantially more slack in that line. I can raise and lower it nearly six inches in the middle of its long length. Why is only one line attached to the joists? Should I add staples to the other line?
The advice I have gotten at Breaktime has been very useful to me. This is a great source of quick and reliable information.
Thanks
Replies
Should I add staples to the other line?
Yes
Dave
They are called pipe hangers. Stop at a supply house or big box and you get get the copper looking U shaped clips that you screw in or the plastic white ones. When you attach to the joists, make sure the clips are not really tight, just snug. They support the pipe, they should not act as a clamp on the pipe. Just put the pipe hangers up with 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" drywall screws.
never use drywall screws in copper hangers they can cause corrosion from bi-metalic action. use brass screws or copper/copper coated nails, especially in moist places.
And check to see if the already existing U shaped bracket is plastic or copper and if it is in contact with the pipe check the pipe for for damage while you are in there.
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"copper looking U shaped clips"
They are not copper, they are just colored that color. Are you really serious that you are advising people to use brass or copper screws for pipe hangers? Everyone knows about the reaction of different metals but since they are not copper, you use drywall screws to install the hangers.
Actually, they're "copper-coated" steel; I assume that dialectric action might occur, that's why they sell them with copper coated nails....but that doesn't mean drywall screws won't work....
The pipe clamps I've bought have been copper-plated steel, and yes you can get galvanic action between a plated layer and other metals in electrical contact with the plating. That said, you need the parts to be wetted with an electrolyte for this action to take place. Condensation on the pipes in a crawlspace might be a corrosion problem for the fasteners over time, but not so much of a worry that I'd go to the bother of using brass fasteners. Of course if you use the copper-plated nails or screws they supply with the brackets you'll also be fine.
I'm sorry, I've always used plastic, copper or copper plated hangers and brass, copper or copper plated fastners, especially in damp locations. I also carefully wipe any excess flux off any sweat joints. I don't use flexible copper pipe and I never join galvanized pipe directly with copper. Why? Because galvanic action (over time) weakens or destroys fittings, pipe and hanger/fasteners and caused failures and leaks. This may not happen in my life time, but my 175 year old plus house has seen plenty of leaks, failures and destruction because the farmer that put the original plumbing in didn't know about bi-metal corrosion/reaction.God made fools so the rest of us would seem smarter
Edited 2/21/2006 7:32 pm ET by chascomp
Dave is right.
I'll add just a touch.
1/2" to 1,1/4" need to be supported every 6' or less
1,1/2" & above can be supported every 10' or less