pex tubing and 180 degree water

ed wallace

i am installing a hydro air system the air handler is in
going to be in the attic system will have anti freeze in it want to run pex from boiler to air handler my question is what is the temp. limit on pex can i run 180 degree water thru it and what type of pex is best for this application

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Rob Garcha

Pex tubing and 180deg water

Wirsbo hePEX plus is rated at 200deg @ 80psi and 180deg @ 100 psi. It is an o2 barrier tubing tubing designed to protect any ferous components in your system. If you system is operating within these temp / pressure peramiters you should be fine with PEX tubing.

ed wallace

pex and 180 degree water

thank you rob that is the info i needed it will be 180 degree water at about 12 lbs of pressure

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heatboy

How about........

a composite pipe such as MultiCor from Wirsbo? Best of both, no fittings to install in hidden areas and no movement when heated as regular Pex has a tendency to do.

Warm Regards,

hb

"Expert in Silent Warmth"™

888-UB-COMFY

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ed wallace

multicor pex

im new to pex what is multicor pex

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hr

I'm in hb's boat

on this one. Look into the Wirsbo MultiCor or Weil McLain AlumiPex. It is much easier than wrestling regular pex, especially in larger diameters. Priced about the same, and uses simple, compression fittings.

Regular pex at constant 180 degrees makes me a little nervous, gets a little to gooey for me, although it is listed for that use.

hot rod

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ed wallace

pex

thank you for your advise will check out both alumipex and wisbro combicor pex tubing im trying to avoid soldered joints in a crawl space

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Bob Bona_4

pex-al -pex

is the better choice for high temp applications. Like the other boys said, pex will expand, droop, bust hanging clips, squeeze off armaflex insulation and generally make you cringe. The choice is Wirsbo's Multicor-sweet stuff. Once I discovered it, I will never use regular pex for anything but radiant loops.

You will need to get trained in the installation for good results, just like learning about crimp rings or other mechanical connections on other piping.

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Duncan_2

Shiver me timbers

I'm also in heatboy's boat on this one, and I'm hoping there'll be no sanding of the mast while he's the captain.

180°F is too close to the edge on heat with PEX for me, too.

I'm curious, hb, hr, why you didn't mention Kitec? We should hang with our brothers to the North on this side of the pond, dontcha think?

Duncan_2

Eh ?

And why would ye be wantin tuh be avoidin soldered joints in a crawl space, matey?

Did I ever tell ye how I got this patch on me eye?

ed wallace

pex

maybe because the cralw space is above the livingroom ceiling and i dont want to soldier 3 10 ft lenths of copper together and have to feed them across from attic im not stupid i dont think

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heatboy

Haven't used.........

Kitec, so I can not vouch for it, laddy. Tis' the only reason. I have read that Kitec has a lower pressure drop, but I believe it is due to thinner walls making it a slighter larger inside diameter. True?

Warm Regards,

hb

"Expert in Silent Warmth"™

888-UB-COMFY

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Duncan_2

I don't think so either.

??? Ed, I was just curious, and having a little fun. I was not questioning your intelligence. I've done my share of struggling in rodent dropping, cat-mummy, black widow infested crawl spaces.

Hope the job goes easier than you expect it to.

Duncan_2

Possibly...

I haven't compared IDs of Kitec to other PEX, but I have heard it has a lower pressure drop.

I've been told by a vendor that 5/8" Kitec is close to ¾" copper overall, accounting for long radius bends, but I wouldn't accept that on faith, I'd work the numbers before believing it.

ed wallace

hey duncan

i knows you were funning me i was just funning back at you the last thing wantto see is water pouring thru the ceiling

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Duncan_2

That's cool.

I thought maybe you had taken it personally, glad that's not the case. This internet can be a funny thing.

Ya know... I've heard stories of 1/2" PEX being stretched to pencil-thinness before it snaps. I wonder if freezing would even hurt PEX? If freezing is a possibility, maybe PEX-AL-PEX isn't such a good choice. While PEX has a memory and can spring back to its original shape, P-A-P has aluminum inside - my guess is it wouldn't come back to shape. Definitely less cringe factor in high temps like Bob says. Trade-offs again. Decisions, decisions.

ed wallace

pex

duncan i will go with alumapex or similar product just to be on safe side and again i am not hurt by your statements you are right the internet is a funny place i would rather talk to somebody in person but its great to share ideas this way have a good xmas

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