Can You pipe a building with PEX tubing?
In fact, it is quite possible to pipe entire buildings with PEX tubing. Large-diameter supply and return lines can feed directly from boilers and chillers to the various trunk lines (including the risers). This distribution piping can be available in either a two-pipe or a four-pipe system.
Can you use PEX pipe for natural gas lines?
– Home Heat Problems Can PEX Be Used For Natural Gas Or Propane Lines? Yes you can, but because the terms PE and PEX have so often been used interchangeably it’s important to specify your intended use before purchasing polyethylene pipe for your project.
Is PEX safe to use in an indoor boiler?
But in an indoor boiler situation, I think I would be hesitant to use pex. A sudden burst of 200+° water could do some serious damage if someone was in range. Boilers can easily go over 220° in an overheat situation. I would stick with copper or black iron.
Can PEX be used for supply and return lines?
Large-diameter supply and return lines can feed directly from boilers and chillers to the various trunk lines (including the risers). This distribution piping can be available in either a two-pipe or a four-pipe system. In addition, PEX tubing can even be used for condensate lines if desired.
What temperature can PEX withstand?
But be aware that the general rule of thumb is that pex tubing can withstand temperatures of up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can PEX pipe be used for hydronic heating?
PEX-A, which is a type of PEX, is a top choice for hydronic heating applications for so many reasons. Some of these include: It has superior characteristics: elastic and thermal memory. Thermal memory allows the repair of accidental crimps in the PEX tubing through the means of a controlled heating source.
How do I connect my PEX to my boiler?
1:525:46Central Boiler - PEX Clamps, Crimps, and Push-Fit Fittings - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe way you put these together would be you take your piece of pex. Take your crimp ring slide itMoreThe way you put these together would be you take your piece of pex. Take your crimp ring slide it over the picks. Put your fitting. On. Then take your special tool for the half inch.
What type of PEX is used for heat?
0:021:56The Different Types of PEX Tubing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd in this video I'm gonna talk about the different types of PEX tubing pecs stands forMoreAnd in this video I'm gonna talk about the different types of PEX tubing pecs stands for polyethylene. Cross-linked. It's a strong flexible. And inexpensive alternative to copper pipe. There are three
What type of pipe is used for boilers?
Boiler steel pipes includes medium pressure boiler pipe and high pressure boiler pipe, it is often manufactured in seamless procedures, welded steel pipe is not applicable.
What type of pipe is used for hydronic heating?
Hydronic piping traditionally consists of carbon steel or black iron pipes, along with copper and other metals. For example, installations that have large amounts of piping or higher flow rates are often served with carbon steel.
Where is PEX not allowed?
PEX can't be installed in high heat areas. You can't install PEX in high heat areas like near recessed lighting. This also means you can't connect PEX directly to a hot water heater, but you can use a connecting material to do this.
Can SharkBite fittings be used on boilers?
Yes. SharkBite fittings can be used for hydronic heating applications if the temperature does not exceed 200°F.
Does PEX hold heat better than copper?
It is interesting to note the bare PEX pipe actually has more heat loss than the bare copper pipe. The PEX has a heat loss of 31.96 Btuh/ft versus 29.634 Btuh/ft for the copper. Pipes with different wall thicknesses will have different amounts of energy loss.
Can you use white PEX for hot water?
White PEX pipe can be used for either hot or cold water. Gray PEX pipe, like white, can be used for either hot or cold water (although not all DIY centers carry gray).
Does PEX hot water pipe need to be insulated?
Does PEX Pipe Need To Be Insulated? Yes, although PEX pipes can withstand freezing temperatures better than other pipe materials - but they are not freeze proof!
What is orange PEX pipe used for?
Designed for use on hot and cold potable water lines, Orange PEX tubing is commonly used for radiant floor and hydronic heating applications.
Which is better for boilers: copper or plastic?
I agree with what everyone has said here...for most boiler installs copper would be the better (albeit more expensive) pipe choice. With many other piping applications; however, plastic pipe is likely going to prove superior over time. It really hasn't been around long enough to confirm this, but in place of what most steel/cast iron pipe has been used for, plastics (HDPE, PEX, PVC, etc.) will most likely last much longer and at a fraction of the cost. Unfortunately most plastics show a significant strength reduction around 180-200 deg F, which is a shame. Hopefully better high temp plastics will be developed soon.
Can radiant floor be used with PEX?
A radiant floor is a good application for PEX or any buried in concrete situation. PEX also as mentioned will not take long term high heat of a solid-fueled appliance for the long run, look it up on here it had failed in a power outage or a circulator failure (we all can have that happen).
Can you use Pex in an indoor boiler?
Yes, true. But in an indoor boiler situation, I think I would be hesi tant to use pex. A sudden burst of 200+° water could do some serious damage if someone was in range. Boilers can easily go over 220° in an overheat situation. I would stick with copper or black iron.
What type of PEX pipe is used for hot water?
Blue PEX pipe carries cold water. White PEX pipe can be used for either hot or cold water. Gray PEX pipe, like white, can be used for either hot or cold water (although not all DIY centers carry gray).
What is PEX pipe?
Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), a type of flexible plastic, is currently replacing traditional copper and galvanized steel as water supply lines in both new construction and remodeling projects. You’ve probably seen rolls of blue and red PEX pipe in the plumbing aisle of your local home improvement store, but might not know that this colorful tubing now makes it possible for enthusiastic DIYers to replace their own leaky water lines instead of calling a pro. Read on to learn more about PEX—what it is, where it can be used, and all the pros and cons of this popular plumbing material.
What type of fittings are used for PEX?
Hundreds of types of fittings, usually brass, are available for connecting PEX to existing copper or steel pipes, and for making connections to fixtures. Fittings are also available for connecting pipes of different sizes. The following five methods are used for making the connections watertight. Photo: amazon.com.
What is PEX tubing?
Choose the tubing best suited to your needs: PEX-A is manufactured using peroxide. This type of PEX is the most flexible of the three types and is suitable for use in all home water-supply plumbing needs.
What color is PEX?
Water flows silently through PEX, eliminating the “water hammer” noise associated with metal piping. Color-coding (red and blue) make it simple to distinguish hot and cold supply lines. PEX can be connected to existing metal supply lines with the correct fittings.
What is the advantage of PEX pipe?
PEX has a distinct advantage over these materials because of its flexibility, which allows one end of PEX pipe to connect to a PEX manifold (the main water control system) and then wind through walls and floors—uninterrupted—all the way to an individual fixture.
How long is a PEX pipe?
PEX is available in a variety of lengths, from short 10-foot pieces (for small repairs) to rolls over 500 feet long, which are used to install a home’s entire water supply system. PEX pipe ranges from 3/8- to 1-inch in diameter and its color-coding makes it a snap to identify what a specific pipe is used for. Although there are three types of PEX (see Label Lingo, below), the different colors don’t connote the distinctions; they simply make it easy for the installer to identify which lines carry hot water and which carry cold.
What type of gas piping is used in a home?
So depending on your local code enforcement the most common type of gas piping, again, inside the home, is either CSST, black iron, or copper. CSST is more money but so easy to install. Requires simple tools no more complicated than a pipe cutter and a couple wrenches.
Do gas piping companies follow a national code?
They follow a national code, but they stick in little variables that have to be followed to get a final inspection approved. Code reinforcement personnel, for the most part, know the products used for gas piping and where they can be used.
Can you use PEX pipe for propane?
Can PEX Be Used For Natural Gas Or Propane Lines? Written by Chad Peterson in Need To Know. Yes you can, but because the terms PE and PEX have so often been used interchangeably it’s important to specify your intended use before purchasing polyethylene pipe for your project. I haven’t seen any PE pipe that can’t be used for ...
What is the PEX-A pipe support?
Perhaps the most critical feature of the PEX-a Pipe Support is its ability to control the natural expansion and contraction that occurs as the piping heats and cools. PEX-a has a free-body expansion rate 10 times that of copper. Installing anchors every 65 feet and using PEX-a Pipe Supports allows PEX-a to function much like a copper system.
What is PEX A?
Similarly, PEX-a offers resistance to chemical-dissolving agents contained within the hydronic system to prevent the otherwise damaging effects of water. The unique molecular structure is stable, inert and unaffected by chemicals commonly found in most commercial HVAC systems.
Can PEX-A be used in hydronic systems?
For these reasons, PEX-a works perfectly with any terminal unit in a hydronic heating and cooling system.
Which method is used to make PEX?
Many in the industry do not realize there are three different methods for manufacturing PEX — PEX-a, which uses the Engel method; PEX-b, which uses the silane method; and PEX-c, which uses the electron-beam or radiation method. PEX-a is widely considered to be the superior PEX because the Engel method chemically cross-links ...
Is PEX a good copper?
PEX-a also has a long-term advantage over copper when it comes to performance longevity. It is a static system, meaning its internal surfaces — which are three times smoother than copper — will not pit, scale or corrode and its performance will remain the same during year 25 as it was on day one.
Can oxygen corrode metal?
Since all non-metallic (plastic or rubber) pipe is permeable to the passage of dissolved oxygen molecules through its walls, without a barrier, oxygen can corrode ferrous components in the system, such as valves, strainers and pump volutes, which impacts the overall life of the system.
Do you need torches for PEX pipe?
Furthermore, no torches, glues or solders are necessary, which makes for a cleaner, healthier job site. Installers can simply confirm with their own eyes that a proper connection is made. This same property allows accidental kinks in the PEX-a pipe to be repaired with a controlled heat source, such as a heat gun.
Is 20 foot sticks better than straight pipe?
But, despite an installer’s comfort factor aside, 20-foot sticks may not be the most efficient option for a project. One of the key advantages of coils over straight lengths of pipe is the reduction in waste material. The coils can be cut to the exact length that is needed.
Do pipe trenches need to be level?
In addition, the pipe trenches need not be level: The flexible pipe simply bends to conform to the site’s topography. For riser applications, coils can often be hoisted to the top of a structure and fed down through the building as a single line.
Is PEX piping a viable option?
It’s easy to see that PEX is a viable option for a variety of hydronic distribution-piping applications on both residential and commercial projects. With its durability, flexibility, range of sizes, system-performance characteristics and labor-saving benefits, PEX need no longer take a back seat to traditional metallic materials in ...
Is PEX piping used for hydronics?
While the use of PEX for distribution piping is not as common as traditional piping materials, PEX is a great fit for many applications, especially for those linked to hydronic systems. After all, PEX and hydronics do go hand-in-hand quite nicely and already have a well-established history together. Baseboard radiators, VAV (variable air volume) ...
Is PEX a good piping material?
PEX has a proven track record in the hydronics industry , and it has many features and characteristics that make it a highly suitable candidate for distribution piping applications. Its corrosion-resistance, flexibility and durability offer a longer system lifespan, fewer required connections and greater system performance when compared with traditional piping systems, such as copper, black iron and CPVC.
Can you use PEX tubing for boilers?
In fact, it is quite possible to pipe entire buildings with PEX tubing. Large-diameter supply and return lines can feed directly from boilers and chillers to the various trunk lines (including the risers). This distribution piping can be available in either a two-pipe or a four-pipe system. In addition, PEX tubing can even be used ...
Can you use PEX tubing straight sticks?
Contractors use PEX for the first time — rather than the copper, black iron or CPVC pipe they have been using for years —may decide to use straight sticks of tubing. After all, that is what is most familiar to them. But, despite an installer’s comfort factor aside, 20-foot sticks may not be the most efficient option for a project.
How far away from the exhaust vent of a water heater should you keep a PEX tube?
When connecting PEX tube to gas tank or tankless water heaters, the tube must be kept at least 6 inches away from the exhaust vent of the heater.
How much copper isolating is needed for a water heater?
Other codes and PEX guidelines do not explicitly permit this connection and are more general, requiring at least 18" of copper isolating PEX from the water heater - see our citation below.
Can you connect PEX piping to a gas water heater?
PEX water piping should not be connected directly to a gas or oil fired or tankless water heater; in two photos we can see red or blue PEX piping to the top of the water heater. But your water heater is electric.
What is PEX in compressed air?
PEX is a a version of polyethylene (PE) that has undergone a change in its molecular structure. Here, the polymer chains are cross-linked (X) so to speak to form a three-dimensional flexible network. PEX for compressed air piping is a cheap and affordable material that is often turned to as an alternative to your typical, and more expensive, ...
What is a PAP pipe?
PAP is widely used in commercial and residential plumbing networks and more importantly, in pressure services on compressed gas and compressed air systems. PAP is specifically made for air lines and contains an aluminium layer sandwiched between two layers of PEX, though it is a little bit more expensive, it is a lot stronger.
Can you use PEX on compressed air lines?
Yes, many people use PEX for compressed air lines, however this should come with the realisation you’re using something for which it’s makers do not recommend, approve or condone.
Is PEX pipe flexible?
PEX pipe for air line is more resilient against temperature fluctuations than other commonly used materials and is flexible, meaning you don’t need as many connections between piping and can instead run a long length of pipe without so much worry.
Can you use PEX pipes with compressed air?
Using PEX for compressed air is also said, in some cases, to allow tiny amounts of air to leak through the plastic itself which is of course not by any means ideal in compressed air systems. There are very few (if any) PEX pipes that are stated as actually being sufficient to use with compressed air because most don’t specify.
Can PEX be used outside?
This makes PEX not suitable for outdoor use as the UV-rays can significantly damage, so it is best suited to indoor air lines and those inside walls. Though, with that being said, there are examples of PEX tubing for air supply being exposed to direct fluorescent light and indirect sunlight and still performing well.
Can PEX be used indoors?
PEX piping itself is not exactly rated for compressed air systems and is very susceptible to UV damage so it should only be used indoors and away from windows with direct sunlight. Whilst PEX-AL-PEX pipe can deal with the high pressures in compressed air systems as it has little or no vapor permeability.
