What Is PEX And How To Use It?

Since a lot of hobbyists and DIY enthusiasts are unaware of the meaning of PEX, let’s first talk about that. PEX is a commercial slang for XLPE, which stands for Cross-Linked Polyethylene, a kind of plastic, you could say. XLPE can be molded to form tubes that are most often used as a means of carrying hot or cold fluids.

Apart from being used for domestic piping, it is used as an insulating material for insulation of high voltage cables. Besides that it finds applications in handling of natural gas and offshore oil projects. It is being widely used for transportation of chemicals, sewage and slurries.

The circuitry of heating or cooling system that transfers heat by circulating a fluid thru a closed system of pipes is termed as hydronic.

Pex Tubing

Of late, XLPE is being used to replace PVC, polyvinyl chloride and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) too. On the domestic front it is being used as an alternative for copper tubing used for carrying of hot or cold water. Pex tubing is specified by its diameter. It’s available in most common sizes from ¼ inch to 4 inches. However, for domestic applications one wouldn’t require a size of above an inch, and generally smaller sizes of ½ or ¾ inch suffice.

Obviously you would be wondering why it is being used as a substitute for the materials that has been in use since long. Here are the reasons:

* PEX can be employed for carrying of hot or cold water. Its fittings are so designed to make them compatible with copper or PVC tubing.

* PEX is exceptionally flexible. This characteristic makes it very convenient for being used even by a non-professional like an enthusiast hobbyist or an adventurous DIY character. If ever you tried to fix a copper elbow, you would understand it better for, a PEX tubing can easily be bent to any desired angle. For example, you could bend a 3/8″ pipe to a 4″ radius and 1/2″ pipe to a 5″ radius. Unbelievable!

* Now look at the advantage of easy bends: you reduce the number of fittings and the less the number of fittings the lower is the leakage. In effect it reduces loss of fluids and very easy and rare repairs.

* There are very stray chances of PEX tubing getting burst; being flexible it has the characteristic of expansion or contraction.

* If, for any reason it needs to be repaired, easy to use kits are available.

* PEX has all the typical fittings as well, like shutoffs, elbows, etc.



Making the Connection – PEX may be installed in two ways. One is by compression and the other is by insertion. As you might guess, compression is rather tedious while the other process is very convenient for any of the domestic users. It’s available in rolls of 100 feet or you may by it in shorter lengths of ten feet, depending on your requirements and convenience. Another helpful feature is its availability in different colors. You may use red tubing for transmission of hot fluids or a blue colored tubing to indicate carrying of cold liquids. Of course, white is always there for any conventional use. It’s absolutely safe to use it for interiors and can be used for underground applications equally well. It would be desirable to consult the manufacturer or an expert for any exterior application.

PEX piping has the ability to expand and contract as water freezes or thaws within the tubing, thus making it almost foolproof of bursts. The usual insulating material used for other plumbing jobs can be used for this piping too, as no tubing material is cent percent free of being damaged by a frozen fluid.

Working with PEX is very fast and that’s the reason for its gaining popularity. As always, it is desirable to have a dry run on any piping to assess your requirements of connectors, if any.

Isn’t all this information motivating enough for you to carry your new project with PEX tubing and be envied by the neighbors?

The Differences Between Copper Pipes And PEX Pipes

Plumbing pipes used for domestic applications are either of copper metal or of plastic known as PEX. Either material offers its own plus and minus points, but PEX is a favorite of the plumbing contractors because of the ease with which it can be handled. It has other advantages too. It reduces installation time, and thus the cost of the total project.

PEX FACTS:

Pex pipes

Cost - It is much cheaper than copper tubing. Of course, being metallic, old and used copper tubing has a better resale value even as a scrap, whereas old plastic will hardly be saleable. Copper tubing certainly adds value to your home.

Labor - You save a lot of labor as you are not required to cut copper which is quite time consuming. Besides PEX pipes offer better flexibility and don’t need as many fittings. That contributes to a faster execution of the job and thus saves on the cost of labor. As plastics are lighter than copper it facilitates economical transportation to the advantage of the plumbers.



Outdoor Use – Here’s the limitation. PEX plumbing pipes are not suitable for outdoor applications as UV rays may cause a breakdown of the material and that could be hazardous.

COPPER FACTS:

Copper pipes

Dependable - Since generations copper tubing has been used for domestic applications all over the U.S. Plumbers continue to favor it as they are more experienced with its handling and for its strength and dependability.

Resists Bacteria - Copper pipes being biostatic are able to resist bacterial growth.



Other Benefits:

* Can be used for floor spaces, narrow places, and a range of wall applications.
* Very safe in case of fires.
* Outdoor applications pose no problems.

Ultimately, you decide the best suitable material in consultation with your plumber. Either of the two may be used depending upon your specific requirements and preferences.

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