Pex Al Pex

I'm seriously considering using PEX AL PEX for my raidant floor heat. I have absolutely no experience with PEX but don't see any real challenge. Would like any or all the tips you guys have as for which fittings are best, how to make the connections, etc. I'm also seriously considering buying the Excel Pex AL Pex off of eb@y. Anyone have experience with any of this?

Also, I'm bidding a new construction job using pex. Just wondering how connections are made for stub outs. In normal practice do you just solder a pex adapter to copper tubing or just use a threaded adapter to the supply valves? I need a quickie training or "how to" info for PEX.

pex

In order for any manufacturer's warranty to apply to your installation you have to attend THAT manufacturer's class and be certified. That class will answer all your questions.

Randyj said:

I'm seriously considering using PEX AL PEX for my raidant floor heat.

Click to expand...

Let me know how it goes, I'm wondering if the PEX-AL-PEX will have problems with crimping, and I don't mean putting the connectors on, I understand if the regular PEX gets crimped you can just heat it with a heat gun and the crimp will come out.

Rancher

Rancher.
As mentioned, I've had no experience although I've seen it done a couple of times several years ago and I've seen one very intricate job of radiant floor heat. As for bending Pex AL Pex it supposedly is no problem to make a good size radius bend of about 6-8 inches but for anything smaller there is a pex kit which includes a spring for bending like for bending soft copper tubing.

The reason I'm asking about the stub-outs is that I saw some "ells" on eb@y that are Wirsbo brand copper with the pex adapter. I'd probably just make up my own rather than buying those since I probably will need them faster than I can have them shipped.

This link has a good summary of pex info but not everything I'm looking for from people who have used it and are not trying to sell it.... http://www.pexinfo.com/

From what I understand, you are better off using each manfacturer's fittings. Not saying they won't work, but they may not, and you may not have a warranty. WIrsbo doesn't use crimp rings, it relies on the plastic memory and a reinforcing ring. You expand both, then slide it over the fitting, then, it contracts back around the fitting. This is all designed around some tight specs and characteristics of the materials. So, I kind of doubt you could use their fittings without their expansion tool. I'm not sure if the Pex-AL-Pex stuff can be expanded, so I'm not sure it would work in the first place.

A good oxygen barrier may not require the layer of AL in the pex, although I hear that does help make the stuff bend and stay where you put it.

Thanks for the input Jim.

In the link above there is a table/chart that shows what brands are compatible with the various types of fittings. Wirsbo is proprietary and pretty much no other tubing can use the fastening system as designed although RHT and some other's claim theirs will work with Wirsbo. Pretty much anything will work on the barbed fittings using the crimp or cinch rings because the i.d. is very close to the same in all pex. Also, if my memory serves me correctly, the o.d. is c.t.s. (copper tube size) so a wide variety of mechanical couplings will work which is good for the home owner who has to make repairs. AFAIK, Wirsbo is the only one that has the proprietary connections. Supposedly all other methods work on the 2 or 3 brands of PEX AL PEX if read about.

As for the warranty... that's nice but I doubt they would pay for the labor or service call and probably only pay for a $2 fitting that I wouldn't go to the trouble of collecting for. If one will warranty the whole job then I'd be super happy to use ONLY their materials.