What is PEX pipe primarily used for?
PEX tubing or piping is used for water supply lines as well as radiant floor heating. There’s been a lot of debate over PEX for the last several years because PEX has a few downsides that you might not expect.
How to install a PEX plumbing system?
- Centralize the plumbing stack to effectively minimize pipe runs for efficiency and allow for ease of access for repair or remodeling efforts — and with no significant increase in cost. ...
- Use a home-run or manifold plumbing supply system to provide control centers. ...
- Use a tankless hot-water heater. ...
How to install PEX pipe?
The One Drawback of PEX Pipe Even Plumbers Didn’t See Coming
- The Problem. Mice and rats will chew through anything they can, including plastic, so PEX tubing is at just as much risk as the plastic-coated wiring in a car or ...
- Risk Factors. ...
- The Unavoidable Solution. ...
- Preventative Measures. ...
Does PEX pipe need insulated?
The protection needed to prevent PEX pipes freezing is the same as for all other piping materials. If that's not possible, then the pipe needs to be insulated — and in some cases wrapped with heat tape and then insulated.
Can you use PEX for fire sprinklers?
NFPA 13D-approved for use in multipurpose and standalone fire sprinkler systems, PEX has been shown to be an effective alternative to CPVC and copper pipe due to its easy installation and durability. Both characteristics allow contractors and builders to meet tight production schedules.
What tubing do you use for sprinkler system?
The two piping types most commonly used for irrigation systems are white PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and “black roll pipe ” (polyethylene).
Where should you not use PEX?
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 PEX be used for drip irrigation?
We decided our tomatoes needed a drip irrigation system. This white PEX material is cheap and easy to work with. It won't kink and you can get a 100 foot roll for less than 30 dollars.
What is the best size pipe for a sprinkler system?
The pipe that extends from your home's water supply to the irrigation area is the main line. Holding the bulk of the water volume, this pipe size should range from 2 to 3 inches in diameter. You need this diameter so the water pressure is not significantly reduced before entering the garden.
Is PEX fire resistant?
In an actual fire, PEX tubing and fittings once ignited will burn fast and easy. Also once ignited, it will stay lit. BlazeMaster CPVC pipe and fittings do not easily burn or sustain a flame.
What is the lifespan of PEX plumbing?
30 to 50 yearsWhile you can expect PEX to last for 30 to 50 years, copper piping will outdo it by about two decades, with a typical lifespan of 50 to 70 years. Copper is a more durable option that isn't susceptible to rodents or sunlight. These pipes can easily handle water pressure of up to 1,000 psi.
What are the disadvantages of using PEX pipe?
The biggest disadvantage to PEX is that it is unknown how well or long it will last. While PEX piping is warrantied for up to 25 years, it is unknown what could happen to PEX piping as the years go on. Since it is so new, it is hard to know what water will do to the plastic over 30 years.
Can PEX be used outside underground?
Nowadays, PEX tubing is quickly replacing traditional copper and galvanized steel pipes and is an exceptional option for underground piping. PEX tubing is approved for direct burial outdoors.
Can you use SharkBite on sprinkler system?
Using SharkBite to Connect to Outdoor Piping Or you may be installing a lawn sprinkler system using PVC and need a transition fitting to switch from smaller pipes inside the building to the ones used for the sprinkler system.
Can I use poly pipe for sprinkler system?
Related Articles. Poly tubing is lightweight, flexible and does not require glue to assemble, making it desirable for use in many outdoor plumbing projects. It is not suitable for high-pressure applications, but it is safe to use as a low-pressure water line, such as those used for underground irrigation systems.
Is PEX better than PVC?
When a connection to copper or other metal pipes is required, PEX works better than PVC because crosslinked polyethylene won't corrode. - Price. When you compare the material costs of PEX vs PVC, PEX comes out more expensive. (However, balance this factor against the lower labor cost to install PEX.)
What is PEX pipe?
Cross-linked polyethylene, or PEX, pipe is another product making its way into the irrigation industry. It has a higher burst pressure, which is great for high-pressure mainlines, Stryker says, and PEX can withstand freezing temperatures so it can be used in any environment.
What size pipe should I use for a sprinkler system?
If you use PVC, the typical diameter of the pipes is between 1/2 inch and 2 inches. The right size pipe depends on the overall capacity of your system.
Can you use PEX for sprinklers?
Can you use PEX for sprinkler system? NFPA 13D-approved for use in multipurpose and standalone fire sprinkler systems, PEX has been shown to be an effective alternative to CPVC and copper pipe due to its easy installation and durability. PEX won't pit, scale or corrode like copper piping systems can in harsh water conditions.
How to put sprinklers in PEX pipe?
Preparing to Add Sprinklers. Using the PEX Cutting tool cut where you want a sprinkler to be placed. Place a 3/4 inch plastic clamp on either side of the cut pieces. Place a 3/4 x 3/4 x 1/2 inch tee in both openings of the PEX pipe. Push the clamps over the pipe with the plastic PEX inside and clamp it down using pliers.
Why is it important to have a sprinkler system?
Designing a system that provides even watering across your lawn will give a more uniform appearance and healthier lawn. If the sprinkler heads aren't placed correctly, dry spots will develop and lead to stunted growth. Over-watered spots may be susceptible to disease, or will outgrow other areas.
How to snap plastic PEX clamps down?
Push the clamps over the pipe with the plastic PEX inside and clamp it down using pliers. It should look like the series of pictures below. It will be easier to use a larger set of pliers or tongue and groove pliers ("Channellocks") to snap the plastic PEX clamps down.
What is head to head sprinkler coverage?
This means that each sprinkler should be able to throw water far enough to reach, or be close to, the next sprinkler.
Is PEX pipe underground?
PEX is approved for underground usage. It is also subject to failing when frozen, but it seems to be less likely to fail compared to PVC pipe. I am not a plumber and was able to complete this project easily. The hardest part is digging the trench in which to bury the PEX pipe. pinterest-pin-it.
Can you modify a sprinkler head?
You are able to modify existing sprinkler heads easily using the same techniques as when it was first installed . Due to this feature, you are able to install the outline of your system and then turn it on to find where the coverage is poor. It is then very easy to add a sprinkler exactly where it is needed.
Can you put a PEX sprinkler system underground?
Building an underground PEX sprinkler system for lawn or garden irrigation is a very easy thing to do. Explaining how to install this buried sprinkler system is actually much more difficult than doing the job itself. PEX is approved for underground usage. It is also subject to failing when frozen, but it seems to be less likely to fail compared ...
What is PEX piping?
First used in water distribution systems in the 1970s, PEX — an acronym for crosslinked polyethylene — has quickly grown to be the most-installed piping product for potable plumbing systems in residential applications nationwide, more than copper and CPVC combined. It is even starting to take hold in commercial plumbing and hydronic heating and cooling applications, as well.
How flexible is PEX pipe?
PEX is also very flexible. For example, ½-inch pipe can offer a bend radius as little as 3.5 inches. This is important for two reasons. First, since the flexible pipe is available in long coil lengths, an installer can simply bend the pipe to make a change in direction without having to stop and cut in a fitting.
Why is PEX used in cold expansion?
Another benefit of PEX is the connection method. Because of its shape memory that ensures the pipe will always return to its original shape after being expanded, the pipe works very well with cold-expansion fittings. These fittings use the shape memory of PEX to create strong connections that hold tight with 1,500 pounds of radial force.
What happens when you expand a pipe?
Best of all, because the pipe must be expanded before inserting the fitting, it eliminates dry-fit issues.
Does PEX corrode?
Both characteristics allow contractors and builders to meet tight production schedules. PEX won’t pit, scale or corrode like copper piping systems can in harsh water conditions. Its unique molecular structure is stable, inert and unaffected by chemicals commonly found in plumbing (as well as HVAC) systems.
Buried PEX for irrigation system
I'm redesigning my irrigation system and will have several new zones, some of which will have to wrap all the way around my house. So I'll have several very long runs of pipe for the zones on that side. I was thinking of using PEX for the pipe from the valves to the zones.
Re: Buried PEX for irrigation system
I'm redesigning my irrigation system and will have several new zones, some of which will have to wrap all the way around my house. So I'll have several very long runs of pipe for the zones on that side. I was thinking of using PEX for the pipe from the valves to the zones.
Re: Buried PEX for irrigation system
Thanks! Yes, I could see some runs being 170 feet long just to get to the zone area. May need 1.5" PEX pipe for that which is certainly pricey. I've actually never heard of this Blu-lock pipe, I'll definitely look into it more. Quick search makes it look like it only goes up to 1". So poly pipe would be good also for these long runs? Thanks again!
Re: Buried PEX for irrigation system
Good catch @adgattoni - they do call it “lateral pipe” and say “Blu-Lock is for non-constant pressure, valve-out, cold water, outdoor direct burial irrigation connections only.”
Re: Buried PEX for irrigation system
Well, this is actually for after the valves... The long runs are from the valve to the sprinkler zone. I considered the idea of putting some valves on the other side of the house to reduce the distance from the valves to the zones. My concern is then having to extend a main line all the way over there.
Re: Buried PEX for irrigation system
Add a master valve. This will turn off the main line supply. The controller turns on the master valve first and then the zone valve. Check irrigation tutorials.
Re: Buried PEX for irrigation system
Thanks everyone. I ended up using a master valve and 1.5" PVC anywhere else the 1" Blu-lock wouldn't cut it due to pressure loss. The Blu-lock was really easy to work with. I don't know how easy the poly pipe would have been, but I would have given up if i had to use pvc cement on all those fittings!
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.
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).
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.
