Kinked Wirsbo Pex Questions

JudeNY

I'm really annoyed with myself - as we were pulling the pex through the joists it got caught on a screw hanging down from the subfloor and kinked. It mostly straighted itself out but a dimple is visible on one side. I have a QS20 fitting for repair but would prefer not to have a fitting there unless it is really necessary.

Is the integrity of the pex compromised ? Is it more likely to leak at the dimple ?

How can I reduce the dimple ?

How much of an effect will it have on the flow ?

Should I just put in the repair fitting ?

Thanks.

kevin coppinger_4

did you try to.....

heat it up w/ a heat gun? What size pex is it? what is the application...baseboard, radiant, etc....kpc

Riles_4

Kink

Just like Kevin said.

If it is the Wirsbo HePEX (Engel Method) it has an elastic memory. Take a bonafide heat gun/paint striper (not matches or a lighter which I had a customer do) and the tubing will go from the milky color to the clear color it is when it is extruded.

The tubing will go right back to its original shape (pretty cool). Once it cools down it is as good as new. If it is on a bend, you will have to pull the piece out or manage to hold the kinked section straight while doing this. Otherwise while it is soft the stress will kink the tube again.

You will probably see the outer four layers (Oxygen Diffusion Barrier) wrinkle some. This is no problem.

For additional peace of mind, hopefully you will be putting it under air pressure before the tubing gets concelled.

Since you mentioned the QS20 fitting I assume it is HePEX.

This has come in handy on occasion.

Good Luck.

Mark Wolff

Ditto

I do it all the time (apprentices!). Heat it up about 2" on either side of the dimple until it is totally clear around the dimple (its anamorphic state). Once it is clear, hold the tube relatively straight (if it is on a curve leave it curved, you are now setting its new form) and once it turns milky again you can let go, it will be as good as new. Wirsbo recommends this method in its installers guide book, available to licensed professionals who go through their installer classes.

JudeNY

Yes, it's hepex, 1/2 inch. It's a radiant floor installation in Thermofin. The kink is on a straight run where it will go into the track.

Will a hair dryer work ? I don't have a heat gun.

Thanks very much for all your replies.

Earthfire

Try it

on high and keep it moving. it'll take a while when the tube goes clear from milky your done.

JudeNY

Success with the heat gun

> on high and keep it moving. it'll take a while

> when the tube goes clear from milky your done.

JudeNY

Success with a heat gun. It was 'way cool' when it turned clear. The hair dryer did not work at all so we made a run to HD for a gun.

Thanks for all your help.