For pipe straps, clamps and light strut on a basement wall or slab, buy blue Tapcon concrete screws: 3/16 in for small straps and 1/4 in x 1-3/4 in for most clamps and one-hole straps. For strut channel and heavier supports on solid concrete, use a Red Head Trubolt WS-3830 3/8 in wedge anchor. On block or brick, where a wedge anchor is not rated, use a Red Head Dynabolt sleeve anchor such as the HN-1422 or HN-3830.
Plumbing Picks is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
All three types need a carbide bit and a hammer drill. Our rotary hammer guide covers the drill. If you are strapping a water heater to a masonry wall, read our water heater seismic strap guide first, since the strap kit sets the fastener.
Quick picks by job
| Check | Tapcon 3/16 in | Tapcon 1/4 in | Trubolt WS-3830 | Dynabolt HN-3830 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Concrete screw | Concrete screw | Wedge anchor | Sleeve anchor |
| Best plumbing job | Two-hole straps, PEX clips, light brackets | One-hole clamps, strut clips, sump discharge straps | Strut channel, pipe stands, heavy brackets on a slab | Strut or brackets on block, brick or concrete |
| Drill bit | 5/32 in | 3/16 in | 3/8 in (same as anchor) | 3/8 in (same as anchor) |
| Minimum embedment | 1 in | 1 in | 1-1/2 in | 1-1/2 in |
| Base material | Concrete, block | Concrete, block | Concrete only | Concrete, block, brick |
| Removable | Yes, backs out | Yes, backs out | No, stud stays | Bolt comes out, sleeve stays |
| Exact purchase | Check Tapcon 3/16 in x 1-3/4 in on Amazon → | Check Tapcon 1/4 in x 1-3/4 in on Amazon → | Check Red Head Trubolt 3/8 in x 3 in on Amazon → | Buy from a Red Head dealer; we found no in-stock new Amazon listing on October 14, 2026. |
Bit sizes come from the Tapcon performance tables (tapcon.com), the Red Head Trubolt data (itwredhead.com) and the Red Head Dynabolt data (itwredhead.com). Embedment is the minimum each maker lists.
BEST FOR LIGHT STRAPS · 5/32 IN BIT
Tapcon 3/16 in x 1-3/4 in: the small concrete screw
Choose it when you are fastening two-hole copper or plastic straps, PEX clips, or a small bracket to a basement wall. The 3/16 in Tapcon goes in a 5/32 in hole and needs at least 1 in of embedment, per the Tapcon tables (tapcon.com). A 1-3/4 in length leaves room for the strap and a little extra bite.
In 2,000 psi concrete at 1-1/4 in embedment, Tapcon lists an ultimate tension of 845 lb. Tapcon says a safe working load should not exceed 25% of the ultimate load. That puts this screw near 211 lb in tension at that depth, which is far more than a strap on 3/4 in pipe sees.
Skip it if the hole in your strap or bracket is 1/4 in or bigger. The screw sits loose and the strap can shift. Step up to the 1/4 in Tapcon.
BEST ALL-AROUND CONCRETE SCREW · 3/16 IN BIT
Tapcon 1/4 in x 1-3/4 in: the one to keep on the truck
Choose it when you need one concrete screw for most plumbing supports. It fits one-hole clamps, strut clips, sump pump discharge straps and pipe hangers with a 1/4 in hole. Drill a 3/16 in hole. Tapcon lists the 1/4 in screw at 2,020 lb ultimate tension and 1,670 lb ultimate shear in 2,000 psi concrete at 1-3/4 in embedment. Divide by four and you get about 505 lb tension and 418 lb shear as a working load.
In hollow block, the numbers drop hard. The ICC-ES report ESR-1671 (no longer online) for Tapcon anchors with Advanced Threadform gives an allowable tension of 105 lb and shear of 180 lb for the 1/4 in screw at 1 in embedment in a medium or normal weight block face shell. That assumes 4 in from an edge and 4 in between screws. The copy of ESR-1671 we read is marked reissued September 2023 and revised February 2024, with renewal due September 2024, so check ICC-ES for the current revision before you rely on these values.
Skip it for anything that hangs a full load of water-filled cast iron or a heavy pump. Use a wedge anchor in concrete, or a sleeve anchor in block, and check the maker’s table.
BEST FOR STRUT ON A SLAB · CONCRETE ONLY
Red Head Trubolt WS-3830: 3/8 in wedge anchor for strut
Choose it when you are bolting strut channel, a pipe stand or a heavy bracket to a solid concrete floor or wall. The WS-3830 is 3/8 in by 3 in long with 1-3/4 in of thread and takes a fixture up to 1-1/8 in thick, per the Red Head Trubolt data (itwredhead.com). Drill a 3/8 in hole, since the bit matches the anchor. Tighten to 25 ft-lb. At 1-1/2 in embedment in 2,000 psi concrete, Red Head lists 1,620 lb ultimate tension and 2,320 lb ultimate shear, and says to divide ultimate loads by 4 for the allowable load.
Skip it on block, brick or anything hollow. Red Head says the Trubolt is only for use in concrete. A wedge anchor also cannot be removed. If the strut may move later, use concrete screws.
The Amazon listing we link is a 50-piece box of zinc-plated Red Head Trubolt 3/8 in x 3 in wedge anchors. It does not print the WS-3830 part number, so check the part number on the box when it arrives.
BEST FOR LIGHTER CONCRETE FIXTURES · 4 FT-LB
Red Head Trubolt WS-1422: 1/4 in wedge anchor
Choose it when you want a wedge anchor’s grip for a bracket with a 1/4 in hole on solid concrete. The WS-1422 is 2-1/4 in long with 1-1/4 in of thread and takes up to 7/8 in of fixture, per Red Head (itwredhead.com). Red Head lists 1,180 lb ultimate tension at 1-1/8 in embedment in 2,000 psi concrete and an install torque of only 4 ft-lb. Over-torquing a small wedge anchor is an easy way to spin it or crack the edge.
Skip it for pipe straps. A 1/4 in Tapcon does the same job faster and comes out clean.
BEST FOR BLOCK AND BRICK · SLEEVE ANCHOR
Red Head Dynabolt HN-1422 and HN-3830: sleeve anchors for block
Choose it when the wall is concrete block or brick, or you are not sure what is behind the paint. Red Head specifies the Dynabolt for concrete, grout-filled block, hollow block and brick, per the Dynabolt data (itwredhead.com). The HN-1422 is a 1/4 in by 2-1/4 in hex nut anchor for fixtures up to 1-1/8 in thick, with 1-1/8 in minimum embedment and 3.5 ft-lb torque. The HN-3830 is 3/8 in by 3 in for fixtures up to 1-1/2 in thick, with 1-1/2 in minimum embedment and 14 ft-lb torque. Drill the same diameter as the anchor.
In 2,000 psi concrete, Red Head lists the 3/8 in Dynabolt at 1,620 lb ultimate tension and 2,560 lb ultimate shear. Allowable values use a 4 to 1 safety factor. Full values assume spacing of 12 anchor diameters and edge distance of 6 diameters. At half those distances, cut the values by 50%.
Skip it where the hole lands in a mortar joint or right at a block’s hollow cell edge. Move the fixture a little so the anchor sits in solid face shell or a grouted cell.
Buy the HN-1422 from a Red Head dealer; we found no in-stock new Amazon listing for it on October 14, 2026.
Buy the HN-3830 from a Red Head dealer; we found no in-stock new Amazon listing for it on October 14, 2026.
Load numbers from the makers
These are the makers’ ultimate loads in pounds, before any safety factor. Tapcon says a safe working load should not exceed 25% of ultimate. Red Head says to divide ultimate by 4. So the working load is about a quarter of each number below.
| Anchor | Embedment | Tension | Shear | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tapcon 3/16 in | 1 in | 600 | 720 | Tapcon tables (tapcon.com) |
| Tapcon 3/16 in | 1-3/4 in | 1,450 | 870 | Tapcon tables (tapcon.com) |
| Tapcon 1/4 in | 1 in | 750 | 900 | Tapcon tables (tapcon.com) |
| Tapcon 1/4 in | 1-3/4 in | 2,020 | 1,670 | Tapcon tables (tapcon.com) |
| Trubolt 1/4 in | 1-1/8 in | 1,180 | 1,400 | Red Head Trubolt (itwredhead.com) |
| Trubolt 3/8 in | 1-1/2 in | 1,620 | 2,320 | Red Head Trubolt (itwredhead.com) |
| Dynabolt 1/4 in | 1-1/8 in | 1,200 | 1,215 | Red Head Dynabolt (itwredhead.com) |
| Dynabolt 3/8 in | 1-1/2 in | 1,620 | 2,560 | Red Head Dynabolt (itwredhead.com) |
Hollow block is a different story. Tapcon’s own table lists 1/4 in Tapcon ultimate tension in medium weight block at 500 lb at 1 in embedment, and the ICC-ES report puts the allowable value at 105 lb. If a support matters, put it in solid concrete or a grouted cell.
How to size and install
- Find the base. Tap the wall and look at an edge or an open cell. Solid concrete takes all three types. Block and brick take Tapcons and Dynabolts, not Trubolts.
- Match the diameter to the hole in the strap. A 3/16 in hole takes a 3/16 in Tapcon. A 1/4 in hole takes a 1/4 in Tapcon or Dynabolt. Strut and 7/16 in holes take 3/8 in anchors.
- Pick the length. Add the fixture thickness to the minimum embedment: 1 in for Tapcons, 1-1/8 in for 1/4 in Red Head anchors, 1-1/2 in for 3/8 in Red Head anchors. Round up to the next stock length.
- Use the right bit. Tapcon: 5/32 in for 3/16 in, 3/16 in for 1/4 in. Trubolt and Dynabolt: the bit matches the anchor diameter. Use a carbide hammer drill bit.
- Drill deeper than the embedment and blow the hole out. Red Head says to clean the hole or drill deeper to leave room for dust.
- Set to the maker’s torque. Trubolt 3/8 in: 25 ft-lb. Dynabolt 3/8 in: 14 ft-lb. Drive Tapcons until the head is snug. Do not keep going.
- Keep off edges. For a 3/8 in Trubolt at 1-1/2 in embedment, Red Head lists 2-5/8 in from an edge and 5-1/4 in between anchors for full load.
Stop and check before you drill a slab. Post-tensioned slabs carry steel tendons under high tension, and many slabs hide radiant tubing, conduit or water lines. If you see a post-tension stamp or pocket patches at the slab edge, or you do not know what is in the floor, have it scanned first. Anything that holds up gas piping or a water heater must also meet your local code, and gas work needs a permit and a licensed pro in most places.
Concrete anchor FAQ
What size drill bit do I use for a 1/4 Tapcon?
Use a 3/16 in carbide bit for a 1/4 in Tapcon and a 5/32 in bit for a 3/16 in Tapcon. Tapcon prints both sizes in its performance tables. A wedge or sleeve anchor is different: the bit matches the anchor diameter.
Are concrete screws as strong as wedge anchors?
Not at the top end. The deepest Tapcon listing, 1/4 in at 1-3/4 in, is 2,020 lb ultimate tension in 2,000 psi concrete. Red Head lists a 3/8 in Trubolt at 3 in embedment at 3,480 lb tension and 4,000 lb shear. Wedge anchors come bigger and go deeper. For straps and clamps a Tapcon is plenty. For strut that carries a lot of pipe, use 3/8 in wedge anchors in solid concrete.
Can I use a wedge anchor in concrete block?
Not the Red Head Trubolt. Red Head says it is only for use in concrete. In block or brick, use a sleeve anchor like the Dynabolt, or a Tapcon in the face shell, and keep heavy loads in a grouted cell or solid concrete.
How deep should a Tapcon go?
At least 1 in into the concrete or block, per Tapcon. Deeper embedment raises the load: in 2,000 psi concrete the 1/4 in screw goes from 750 lb ultimate tension at 1 in to 2,020 lb at 1-3/4 in. Drill the hole a bit deeper than the screw so dust has a place to go.
What anchor do I use for threaded rod hangers in a concrete ceiling?
Overhead rod hangers usually go on drop-in anchors or screw-in rod hanger anchors made for that job, not on the anchors on this page. Pick one with a published load table for your rod size, and follow your local plumbing code for hanger spacing.
How we chose
This is a document-based comparison from a licensed plumber’s point of view. We read the Tapcon performance tables, the ICC-ES evaluation report for Tapcon anchors in masonry, and the Red Head Trubolt and Dynabolt technical data for the exact sizes on this page. We picked the anchors plumbers use most for straps, clamps and strut, and left out structural and seismic anchoring, which needs an engineer’s design. Sources and linked listings were read October 14, 2026; sellers and availability change. We do not publish prices or claim hands-on testing. More about our selection method and Plumbing Picks.
Primary sources
- Tapcon performance tables (PDF) (tapcon.com): drill bit sizes, ultimate tension and shear in concrete and block, 25% safe working load rule.
- Tapcon screw anchor technical data, Red Head (PDF) (itwredhead.com): sizes and minimum embedment by diameter.
- ICC-ES ESR-1671, Tapcon anchors with Advanced Threadform Technology (PDF) (no longer online): copy read is reissued September 2023, revised February 2024; allowable tension and shear in concrete masonry, spacing and edge distances.
- Red Head Trubolt wedge anchor catalog pages (PDF) (itwredhead.com): WS-1422 and WS-3830 dimensions, torque, ultimate loads, edge and spacing, concrete-only use.
- Red Head Dynabolt sleeve anchor catalog pages (PDF) (itwredhead.com): HN-1422 and HN-3830 dimensions, torque, ultimate loads, base materials, spacing rule.