PEX pipe

[allensylves]

Hotzcatz,

This topic got my attention, so I did a little Googling. PEX started being used in Europe in the 1960s and in the US in the 1980s, so the European use meets your three decades criterion.
http://www.ppfahome.org/pex/faqpex.html

I agree with you about not using PVC (or CPVC) from what I read about the plasticizers, etc., that they use.

Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP

[DickWilson]

Your research agree's with what I have found. PEX was first used in hot water heating system there and if crimped using the solid rings has a reliability factor exceeding sweated fittings. It also only has one concealed connection at the drop ear fitting, if using the manifold system. I think perhaps the reluctance on the part of plumbing contractors may be the previous plastic experience and the cost of multiple crimping tools.

dick wilson

[Hotzcatz]

One of our mainland relatives put PEX in their house and they had huge problems with it. Something about leaks and the manifold but I wasn't paying specific attention at the time since as far as I knew (this was about ten years ago) PEX wasn't available on our island so it didn't seem like something I'd be dealing with. Using a material that folks aren't familiar with, that doesn't have parts which are locally stocked and nobody has tools to deal with just seems a huge obstacle to me.

A lot of the difficulty of building in Hawaii is how far away we are from "stuff". When things have to be brought in from so far away to a limited purchasing group that limits the amounts and types of stuff easily available. If one builds one's house from stuff already at the hardware stores it saves bundles on custom shipping. Certain types of lumber, certain lengths, are almost always available but once you go outside the list of available stuff then the construction time and costs go way up.

[DickWilson]

I'm becoming convinced that trying to use PEX is like teaching a pig to sing. Wastes your time and is highly irritating to the pig. The logistics are stacked against me, guess I'll just bring a bunch of "M" copper with me, along with a bunch of fittings.

dick wilson

[Scott the Plumber]

Dick,

I'm a newer plumbing contractor here on the east side of Hawaii but have 17 years experience in the trade on the mainland. You are correct, finding a PEX contractor will be difficult. I am one of 3 contractors on the island that I know of who use the product. I am a licensed Plumbing Contractor in the state and a licensed Viega PEX installer and instructor. The county has no problem with PEX provided it is installed properly. As far as quality goes, I would install it in my house as my first choice. I buy the product locally in large quantities (discounted at contractor rates) but the costs are very close to the mainland. If you need any assistance with your house or have any other PEX questions feel free to email me.

scott@windwardplumbing.com

[kiko]

i was introduced to pex piping about 4 yrs ago, it is not so much the pipe but the fittings, wirsbo or rehau is the best, wirsbo fittings are cheaper but they use a plastic ring to seal the fitting (brass, or plastic) to the pipe, rehau has a brass sleeve that is compressed over the barbed fitting, the tools to join the pipes are also differant wirsbo is cheaper by maybe 300.00 dollars. stay away from vanguard if you have the choice. Quest piping I think is pretty much gone now but if you see grey plastic pipes stay away from it. With the pex piping remember it has to stay out of the sun or it can breakdown also the glue on the back of duct tape can break down the plastic. besides that it is very good stuff Ihave installed it in several homes as domestic water pipe and in floor heating I recommend it

[DickWilson]

Kiko; I have the crimping tools for the Zurn brass rings, which I have used commercially in our building and have not had any failures of crimps that passed the go, no-go guage. This is with lines installed with 1/8" per foot of slack for expansion. I am not familiar with the rehau fittings, at least by that name. I have seen the wirsbo in radiant heat systems, but not in potable residential or commercial systems. What I have found so far is a real reluctance of plumbers to use them in Hawaii. If installed on a slab on grade installation, There could be a problem if the pipe was not isolated from soil treated for termites as PEX is moderatly permiable, BUt other than that I would prefer to use PEX over copper if I can find a licensed plumber to work with. I can get a roll of 3/4"x100' of PEX for $30. here and was planning to ship enought to do our house over with our HHG. Thanx for the response, its nice tofind someone who has something good to say about PEX.I get the impression you are a plumbing professional? Feeel free to E-Mail me at dickwilson836@msn.com.

dick wilson

[Sue Nomie]

We've had Pex tubing installed in our home for the past year and a half now. One note I could add about slab on grade installation of water piping is that it's in the attic not under the house here in Hawaii. That's another plus for Pex. NO JOINTS in the attic. Given the frequency of earthquakes here it makes sense to use the Pex. Also the PH of either the catchment water or well water you use won't effect the Pex. Our well water back on the east coast was acid and we always had pin hole leaks in the copper pipe along with green stains in the sinks.

[DickWilson]

Sue; The resistance to water quality and the continous runs are two reasons I would like to use PEX. I don't know if running in the attic would be an option for us as we are planing vaulted ceilings, I would suspect that we would have to run under the slab and protect the PEX in a channel, One of those questions for a plumber there who uses PEX. Thanks so much for the info on how PEX was used in your house, Also good to hear from some one in the area with PEX installed.

dick wilson

[Bob Orts]

Some could be taking a wait and see attitude because of the polybutelene pipe fiasco and lawsuit. Others may be confusing it with PEX.