Contractors have utilized cross-linked polyethylene — or PEX — tubing if installing radiant heat systems, and also in places where local building codes enable it, plumbers utilize it when installing residential water systems. PEX tubing is more flexible than steel, copper or chlorinated polyvinyl chloride piping since you’re able to run long, curved segments without the need for fixtures. Fittings you do need are a breeze to set up, requiring no wrenches, smelly wax or glue.
A PEX Water System
The heart of a PEX water system is a pair of manifolds — one for cold water and one for hot. In this type of system, each fixture receives water from the manifolds rather than from branch pipes, as is the standard with traditional rigid piping. In a traditional system, pressure drops as the water passes via successively smaller-diameter pipes, but in a PEX home-run system, the incoming water pipes and also those that feed the fixtures are sized the exact same. This not only increases the pressure at every fixture, it allows the plumber to readily install shut-off valves for all of the fixtures in a central site.
Earning Connections
PEX fittings, like tees, elbows and couplings are created from brass, plus they contain barbed extensions above that you match the tubing. Before you make a link, you slide a brass ring around the tubing. After sliding the tubing onto the fitting, you secure the link by squeezing the ring with a special crimping tool. The easy process makes a reliable waterproof joint when eliminating the need for glue or solder. It can be difficult to push tubing onto fittings once the tubing is cold, so it helps to keep a thermos of hot water handy to dip the tubing into before linking it.
PEX Transitions
If you live in a locality that allows PEX tubing — check with the local building department if you aren’t sure — you may use the versatile fabric to add onto existing copper, steel or even CPVC pipes. All you want to convert from rigid Plumbing Sacramento repair specialists to PEX is the proper transition coupling. After gluing the transition fitting to CPVC pipe, soldering it into copper pipe or screwing it on galvanized steel pipe, you can hook just about any Plumbing Services Sacramento repair specialists fixture utilizing PEX tubing. PEX is color-coded — cold-water tubing is hot and blue ones are reddish.
Issues with PEX
PEX melts, so you need to keep the pipes away from heat origins; conventional codes define an 18-inch distance from the water heater and also 6 inches from the single-wall flue on a gasoline water heater. The tubing kinks if you attempt to bend it overly sharply; after it does, it is hard to find the kinks out. Avoid bending PEX about 90-degree corners; utilize 90-degree elbows rather. A third problem with PEX is that repeated movement against the framing can wear it and create a leak. To stop this, you need to guard the tubing with abrasion clips when feeding it via holes in joists and studs.
