COPPER FIN RADIATION

bob young

any comments on using pex tubing for a simple baseboard radiation job , one family ,single zone as oppossed to conventional 3/4 " m copper tube w/ soldered joints. cost efficient is a given but i am concerned with system temperatures in piping & radiation. modern builders want to cut cost of contracts to the bone. bob young nyc lic. plbr

hot_rod

PAP or Viega FostaPex is a better option. Regular pex in 3/4 is gnarly to work and expansion can be an issue.

if possible 1/2 or 5/8 is nicer to work with if it can meet the gpm requirements.

bob young

thanx, hot rod. how goes it ,brother. been a while. i just dislike the plastic tubing & especially the unprofessional installation as compared to copper. plumbers die hard !!! bob nyc

hot_rod

copper with press fittings is another option. Takes some of the labor and torch issues away.

Years ago we jumped on the rubber tube for BB systems. A breeze to install, quiet, semi insulated, great for retro-fits.

An expensive lesson learned with that early Entran rubber hydronic tube, however, as you know.

Some will tell you the current version of the "uber" engineered Watts Onix rubber is suitable for high temperature hydronics, if you like to gamble

Rich_49

More heat delivered where it matters with the PAP or Pex Bob . Been around a long time too , took awhile to get used to the idea . We gotta evolve or go the way of the dinosaur , don't see many of them anymore do you ?

DanHolohan

hot rod said:

copper with press fittings is another option. Takes some of the labor and torch issues away.

Years ago we jumped on the rubber tube for BB systems. A breeze to install, quiet, semi insulated, great for retro-fits.

An expensive lesson learned with that early Entran rubber hydronic tube, however, as you know.

Some will tell you the current version of the "uber" engineered Watts Onix rubber is suitable for high temperature hydronics, if you like to gamble

We've had a kickspace heater in our kitchen for 20 years. It runs off of Entran 3 and at temps up to 180. So far, so good.

bob young

i get the message ,rich. loud & clear. guess i am not THAT opposed , just hate the look. too much like linguine gone wild !!!! lol bob nyc

Rich_49

It can be made to look good Bob . It does take some practice though

Ironman

bob young said:

i get the message ,rich. loud & clear. guess i am not THAT opposed , just hate the look. too much like linguine gone wild !!!! lol bob nyc

PAP has about the same rigidity as soft copper and can be neatly bent with a ratchet bender in the 1/2 to 3/4 sizes. You can also stub down with copper and adapt to PAP under the floor. They also have 90* Ells that transition so you can do it right at the element if you choose.

bob young

LOOKIN, GOOD ,RICH. HOT ROD PROBABLY DOES IT SIMILAR. AFTER SEEING A JOB LOOKING THAT GOOD I WOULD CONSIDER GIVING IT A SHOT. I THANK YOU KINDLY. ALWAYS PAYS TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK !! BOB NYC