Go To Pex Brand For In Floor Radiant

tcassano87 · March 30

Favorite brand pex for running radiant, prices are so all over the place curious what everyone’s go to is. Sometimes tough to know what’s a good brand or not, It will be under tile for a kitchen floor

Ironman · March 30

You want to use a type A O2 barrier PEX like Rehau.

tcassano87 · March 30

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1850439#Comment_1850439

yup of course I always use A 02 Barrier just haven’t done a radiant system in a while, used to use Apollo but so many different brands now, Bluefin, Uponor being on supplyhouse, was thinking of trying one of those

Ironman · March 30

If I were gonna imbed tubing in something, that means it’s a “one and done” deal. I’d use the best and that’s Rehau.

It makes no sense to use something of lesser quality to save a few bucks initially.

hot_rod · March 30

Rehau is may be one of the few "A" pex brands that has not had a lot of tube failure issues, or recent lawsuits :)

Although many failures are installation related, or dezinicifaction of the brass fittings.

Hot, chlorinated water constantly circulating in DHW systems has been an issue with some brands, but this is DHW systems specific.

For low temperature radiant in a closed sealed system, any of the Big name "A" pex should be fine.

delcrossv · March 30

So Rehau is better than Uponor?

tcassano87 · March 30

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1850491#Comment_1850491

yeah so whichever is easier to get for me, Uponor or Apollo will be just fine

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes · March 31

I'd stick with Uponor or Rehau. I've never used Apollo, but I see that's it's made in the USA. That means a lot.

psb75 · March 31

Uponor is always the 'go to' for fittings, and Pex A pipe. Largest I.D. fittings. Most readily available and well supported.

Rich_49 · March 31

As far as PexA o2 barrier , I kinda really like Mr Pex . Sounds corny but the founder of this company was one of the original guys responsible for Engel method . It's a bit less expensive than Uponor but a bit more flexible

tcassano87 · March 31

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1850559#Comment_1850559

yeah I was looking at that brand on SupplyHouse but wasn’t very familiar with it

Mad Dog_2 · March 31

Never used anything but Wirsbo/Uponor...never an issue. Mad Dog

GroundUp · April 1

I'm going to run against the grain on this. While Uponor and Rehau are great, all PEX has to meet the same standards. There are some differences in the flexibility and the location of the EVOH layer (some of the cheaper stuff has it on the outside so it can become sticky and make noise in underfloor type applications), but from an actual performance and longevity perspective, I have honestly seen more failures with Uponor tubing than all the rest combined- including the cheapo Rifeng/Riifo stuff. Nobody carries Rehau in my area anymore so I don't see a lot of it, but have never seen a failure yet. I do find Rehau to be the most flexible, if that's of any concern. With that said, I have personally installed hundreds of miles of the Rifeng based "junk" and it has been absolutely flawless- spending 3x the money for He-Pex doesn't make any sense in my opinion unless being able to see the pretty pink glycol in the lines is of concern. Fittings are another story; Uponor or or nothing, but the tubing is subpar at best in my opinion.

mattmia2 · April 1

my glycol dye is blue…

TAG · April 3

I have used the Viega brand in the last couple of projects where AL Pex was not used …. the 1200ft rolls worked great for less waste in the projects as well .. especially with the 3/8 " for my retrofit plate install

Kaos · April 4

This bit from @GroundUp is very important:

"location of the EVOH layer (some of the cheaper stuff has it on the outside"

The stuff with the barrier layer on the outside should NEVER be used with wood framing or heat plates as it will squeak. That stuff is only works embedded in concrete. Make sure to check when picking up the pipe. If it squeaks, don't buy it! The good stuff has a PE layer on the outside over the EVOH barrier.

For bigger stuff and tight spaces, PERT is defiantly easier to run as it is more flexible.

hot_rod · April 4

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1850542#Comment_1850542

I don't believe Uponor, or many of the Pex manufacturers make their own fittings? The brass one anyways. Same with brass or stainless manifolds. Possibly Viega has brass foundries?

As for pex fittings in general, if they have the listings F1960 for expansion, F1807 for crimp, F2159 for composite, etc they can be used with any pex, tube.

There was a time when the pex tube manufacturers claimed their tube warranty was void unless you used their fittings. I don't believe you will find that requirement anymore?

Like any manufactured product, the factory and quality control within has a lot to do with product performance or longevity.

If you shop the world for lowest prices, one country stands out

Often lowest $ = lowest quality, or in some cases made up or bogus listing numbers.

Often a manufacturer will state "meets or exceeds ASTM or NSF, etc standard". That means they have not paid for, tested, or actually listed the product. It often means they did their own testing, sort of :)

When in doubt the PPI, ASTM, NSF, ASME, ULc, etc, etc will list the companies and products that actually performed the testing at an accredited lab, have the listing and permission to use the "shield" on the products.

Go To Pex Brand For In Floor Radiant

Comments

Categories