Failing! Wirsbo pex tubing and aluminum radiant panels

D. Furia

I'm hoping that someone else who installed a pex and radiant aluminum baseboard system in the early 1990's can help. I have been told that the brass fittings are corroding the aluminum baseboard and that the baseboard heating panels will have to be replaced to stop the leaks !!!

We cannot be the only ones who purchased this radiant system, so I believe there must be a solution other than ripping this out and starting new.

We currently have leaks at the connections between pex and baseboard on four of eight loops.

If someone has had a similar problem, found a solution, or can offer product information, please contact me.

Ron Huber

Danex?

We Just replaced all the radiant panel baseboard in a 5,000 sq. ft. house that was 12 years old. The older style did not have copper lined tubes, just solid alluminum. one of the radiant floor zones in the house plugged up with the sediment/flakes that developed in the system, It took 100 psi to clear out the flakes. They also used the expensive panels for all the interior wall baseboard trim so that it would match the heating sections.
The problem usually is caused by running antifreeze in the heating system. There is no way to repair the inner walls of the radiators. We used the "Radiant Panel" brand to replace the Danex panels.

John Jr

Tubing

If this job is located in Cumberland RI the first thing to be corrected here is that it is not Wirsbo tubing that is failing. The tubing used here was Stadler and it has failed. Tubing is very brittle. The panels if I remember were RTI with pressed it fittings. Some fittings are corroded and some look fine. On the boiler it is stated that the system was filled with some acid solution by the gas company or a service company I don’t remember which. The system is in need of repair as the Stadler manifolds are corroding very badly also. If I remember the boiler piping was somewhat to be desired also.

hot_rod

Aluminum and brass

don't marry well. Aluminum is near the top of the galvanic series table (anodic) while brass falls near the bottom. Alloying either brings them closer, however.

If the system had non barrier tube and ran high temperature the O2 ingress would take that connection out in a years time, often.

Glycol was almost impossible to keep inside that soft, thermal sensitive aluminum thread. Ph plumets and you essentially have a battery!

Replacing the board with questionable tube would be like rubbing salt in an open wound

Shop for a plan B possibly.

hot rod