Differences with Pex Tubing???
Last Post 16 Apr 2015 08:41 AM by BadgerBoilerMN. 8 Replies.
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13 Apr 2015 07:59 PM
What's the difference with the types of Pex tubing available (for radiant floors)?  I once read that hePex was the best but I can't find the reason why.  What is so special about it?  I see some stuff (from Vivo) on Amazon (1/2" x 1000'  with O2 barrier EVOH, Pex-B  for $235 shipped.  It has all the certified numbers as does the hePex.  1000' of 1/2" hePex seems to go for just over $600.  At almost three times the cost what makes it so much better?
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13 Apr 2015 09:12 PM
There are different methods for making the cross linking that make PEX...PEX. There is also differences in how the O2 barrier is made. PEX-A (which is the original one and used only by Rehau and Uponor) is considered to have the highest amount of cross linking and therefore the best quality.

That said, a more important issue, IMO, is the O2 barrier which keeps steel components from rusting. The REHAU barrier (single thick layer) was equivalent to the Uponor PE-PEX (which was 5 thin layers). They sold both HE and PE PEX for a few years but to make their product more competitive, Uponor reduced the number of O2 layers to 3 (HE-PEX) and AFAIK, now only sell HE-PEX.

Years ago, I studied all the test results form the different tubing to see which one was really best. Just saying that they all meet the CSA/UL/ASTM standards doesn't mean they are all equal but in reality, I may not matter if it is encased in concrete for 50 years. I picked the REHAU product and 25 years later, still use primarily that product. On occasion, I will used something else but that is rare. I have never had an issue with the tubing.

Hope that helps.
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14 Apr 2015 08:48 AM
A little add on......the other types of tubing (PEX B or C) use a different method to crosslink the molecules and the issues were about the evenness of the process. Saline and radiation were not as precise a process as the PEX A tubes but were a lot cheaper to make. The price follows from that but also, there is probably a bit of marketing as well.
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14 Apr 2015 09:08 AM
Rekindling the PEX wars is of little use.

I have 6 manufactures of PEX and one PERT in my own home. The point is, all of it is over-kill.

My brother still operates a system we installed for him in 1991. This was one of he first polybutylene with then "new" oxygen barrier, in a true staple up running at 170°F below 1.5" of hardwood.

I too am inclined to use the big, domestic names for our radiant work e.g. Rehau, Uponor, Viega depending on the application.

Chinese pipe, not so much.

I am more interested in the heat transfer fluid chemistry than how far the PEX exceeds ASTM.

MA<br>www.badgerboilerservice.com
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14 Apr 2015 02:33 PM
Did a little research and see that (besides other qualities) the cross linked stuff is more flexible lending itself easier to work with. Besides Rehau and Uponor, it looks like MrPex is made the same way. Bonus seems to be that MrPex is also a bit less costly. THANKS!
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14 Apr 2015 06:21 PM
Mr. PEX is made with the same Engles method as Uponor and Rehau, not to mention HeatLink. All PEX is cross-linked. The difference is in the method and the extent. All are more than good enough for the average application.
MA<br>www.badgerboilerservice.com
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14 Apr 2015 06:21 PM
Mr. PEX is made with the same Engles method as Uponor and Rehau, not to mention HeatLink. All PEX is cross-linked. The difference is in the method and the extent. All are more than good enough for the average application.
MA<br>www.badgerboilerservice.com
MikeSolarUser is Offline
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15 Apr 2015 07:24 PM
I didn't mean to rekindle the PEX wars and my knowledge came from the early years of PEX in north America. Never heard of MrPex but if it is a good product.....go for it. Heatlink has changed a couple of times and was around early in PEX history too. Not a bad product.

Everything was more expensive then but the price has come down almost to German prices. But that is history and life moves on. It's all reasonable good product but I will stick with the big boys product because I know it will not have an issue and the price is not that different.
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16 Apr 2015 08:41 AM
Me too.
MA<br>www.badgerboilerservice.com
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