The Numerous Advantages Of Using PEX Tubing
February 27th, 2011If you plan on remodeling your home, doing new construction, upgrading your existing plumbing system, or installing a radiant heat floor, you will want to check on the possibility of using PEX tubing for your project. It should not be hard to find. PEX plumbing materials are rapidly replacing other materials like lead, copper, iron, and PVC pipes. This is because it has many advantages over the products traditionally used in plumbing.
It is manufactured from a high-density polymer, which is incredibly strong and flexible. This is why it is so popular for use with radiant heat flooring. It can be bent at right angles without needing a elbow connector. It also resists crushing and crimping. You can see how this flexibility would make it preferable to rigid pipes for almost any application.
There are other advantages to its flexible nature. Because it can be make in a continuous roll, it costs less to produce, store and ship. The installation job itself also will cost less because there are few connections. This means less labor and less time to get it installed.
PEX tubing has several environmental advantages. It conserves energy by minimizing heat lost through the material. Plus, other types of plumbing requires the use of solder and flux to make the necessary connections. This leaches lead and acids into the water and and surrounding soil. The fact that PEX pipe requires no flux or solder means there are no dangerous chemicals introduced into the environment.
Another positive thing about PEX plumbing is that fewer PEX fittings means fewer places where the plumbing can develop leaks. This can save the homeowner a lot of hassle and expense down the line. Money is saved on both plumbing repairs, and possible costly repairs of the damage caused by any leaks within the walls or foundation.
If you are considering radiant heat flooring there is something to note. You will need a special kind of PEX that has an oxygen barrier property. Some materials in flooring can corrode with exposure to oxygen, so a variation of tubing was created to eliminate this problem. Be sure your contractor is using an oxygen-barrier PEX for any walkway or floor applications.
So make sure to check on the possibility of using PEX tubing for your next project. It will most likely be less expensive in the short term. It will definitely less expensive in the long run!
