Staple up Radiant: Wirsbo hepex or pex-al-pex? & which plates?

Andrew Hagen_2

The best plates are Thermofin-C. If that is beyond the budget, Thinfin-C would be my next choice. Thermofin works perfectly with Hepex and is a better design. The ridges in the channel of Joist Trak hurt the heat transfer. Hepex is excellent tubing.

jb_13

Staple up Radiant: Wirsbo hepex or pex-al-pex? which plates?

Hello-

i'm leaning towards hepex for my O2 barrier pex for a staple up joist bay radiant project. seems like the pex-al-pex would be nice for the reduced expansion/contraction but he cost, rigidness (difficult to install), and fitting difficulties are pushing me to hepex.

which plates will fit the hepex exactly - does wirsbo rebrand thermofin-c or is there something else?

and which fitting scheme do you use / most reliable for long term performance.

Paul Pollets

Pex and Plates

Use 3/8" hePEX and plates and you won't struggle with the installation. Uponor has a handbook for the Joist Trak installation. I'd advise you to get a copy and read it!!

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jb_13

thanks guys

so - what 3/8 loop maximum do you use vs. 1/2"
is 3/8 much easier to work than the 1/2"

so the hepex will work well with the thermofin (which you think is the superior heat xfer plate) - even though the wirsbo joistrak is supposed to be used? 3/8 or 1/2"?

Any suggestions on preferred fitting scheme?

Andrew Hagen_2

Loops

I am a fan of the simple copper crimp rings. They work well.

I would use 1/2" in 300' max lengths because it allows for the longer loop lengths and saves manifolds and tubing connections. 3/8" is fine too, and a little easier to work with. I would stay in the 200' range on 3/8". 1/2" really isn't that difficult to work with, particularly with pex-a like Hepex.

Joist Track is good, but Thermofin is better and it is the original.

jb_13

crimp ring connections

so i've used the zurn crimping pliers and the black copper crimp rings for potable pex. will that system work with wirsbo hepex - are the id's and od's the same? does wirsbo have a specific crimping system?

this one:
http://www.pexcrimper.com/images/instructions/Image1.jpg
http://www.plumbersurplus.com/images/prod/5/Zurn-QCRT5T-rw-49050-13214.jpg

or this one?
http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/assets/uploads/posts/5114/bs-pex-07.jpg

thanks!

Andrew Hagen_2

Crimp Fittings

ID's and OD's are the same. Zurn/Vanguard fittings will work fine with Hepex. I prefer the copper rings to the stainless. I feel it is a better crimp.
Wirsbo obviously has their own pex crimping method, but I see no reason to invest in that system when the copper crimp rings work so well.

jb_13

thanks - and yes - if all goes well i won't have any crimped fittings covered up anywhere - only at manifolds and in the boiler room.