HDPE vs Pex

Unknown

Oxygen absorbtion is also effected by water/glycol mix and system temp.

The more glycol the less oxygen.

The lower temp the more oxygen can dissolve in the liquid but the less that can get through the tube.

You can buy pex with or without O2 barrier.

Pex get stronger with reduced temp!

Also look at the amount of CI and Steel you have in the system... or don't have (ie copper fin tube boiler with copper tube)

jim walls_3

hdpe vs pex

looking for some opinions on the differences,pros & cons of the above mentioned tubing for snow melt systems.
As I understand it hdpe allows disolved oxygen into the system resulting in system corrosion of steel products, where as pex contains an oxygen barrier,,,,,,,,Thanks in advance, Jim

Tim Doran

Ratings

There are also differences in the temperature and pressure ranges and ratings. Workability could also be an issue. HDPE is harder to bend to a close radius. Call me if you want to discuss your project.

Tim D.

Dale

HDPE

Stuff makes very good nat gas pipe and propane too. I see it used as manifolds on really big pex jobs since pex is only made so big and hdpe is 1/2 cts up to 72inches Nice part is that it's a thermoplastic and welds nicely, not so nice is that it's stiff and allows O2 through it. Temp issue often comes in from expansion change.

Rick Kelly_3

HDPE pipe

Check out Fusiotherm. They have a line of pipe with an integral aluminum layer just like PEX-AL-PEX. This pipe just happens to be approved by Greenpeace, and we all know how much they know about heating systems.