As technology develops, more types of plumbing solutions are becoming available. When considering suitable products, each plumber might have a concern from price range to reliability and other applicable metrics.
Piping is one of the main parts of a plumbing job, which has made it important to take into serious consideration before making a decision. PEX pipe has become many homeowners’ and professional plumbers’ go-to choices, and it is known for its flexibility, durability, and cost-effectiveness. However, there still are some aspects that you may suffer from when deciding, from health and safety to installation tips.
To help understand more about the products and provide more information about the material, we have identified some of the most asked questions we’ve seen about PEX Tubing.
Table of Contents
What Is PEX Tubing?
As the only authorised EFIELD supplier, our PEX pipe is a form of cross-linked polyethylene tubing that is widely used across different construction projects, including domestic water piping, cooling systems, etc. Pex tubing is made from cross-linked HDPE (high-density polyethylene), it has been used all over the world since it passed the US standards. Pex pipe offers the fastest way to plumb, although it might be hard to bend, with the help of the correct toolsets, it will be a suitable option for various portable or non-portable plumbing projects.
Is PEX pipe reliable?
Absolutely yes! PEX has been used for decades since it was adopted in Europe in the 1980s, there are lots of houses that used PEX piping systems that are still leak-free 30 years after construction. It is ideal for portable water plumbing applications because of its feature that can perform well for both high and low temperatures found in typical plumbing and heating applications. PEX is also highly resistant to chemicals commonly found in plumbing environments, which has made it an even safer option considering health aspects. In addition to these, PEX tubing is more corrosion-resistant and also freeze-break-resistant compared with other types of piping material. PEX does not corrode like copper does, especially in areas with acidic or hard water. PEX systems have fewer joints and require less effort to maintain once installed.
Is PEX Pipe safe to use?
Yes. First, PEX piping is BPA (Bisphenol A) free. The plumbing standards NSF/ANSI/CAN 61/CAN 372 are used to evaluate the health effects of potable water system components, where no BPA is found in the PEX water line. These standards have established the benchmark criteria for evaluating PEX to be safe to use for drinking water system components.
As for EFIELD PEX Tubing, quality control and quality assurance evaluations are conducted by product manufacturers and independent third-party testing agencies on a regular basis to ensure the products meet the standard.
Can PEX pipe save me money?
Currently, half of the US plumbing pipes market share is held by PEX piping, this has not only proven the wide usage of PEX piping but also proven the cost-efficient factor of it. PEX pipes are generally more affordable than copper or other piping materials, mainly because the material cost is relatively low.
For the installer, PEX pipe is flexible and faster to install, it also requires fewer directional fittings. Fewer fittings have also helped reduce the chances for leaks and saved installers more budget on piping systems. Discover PlumbingSell pipes and fittings as a perfect combination to save more.
How long can PEX pipe last?
Commonly, plastic has less chance of corrosion compared with copper and steel. PEX is also a type of material that has been designed to be durable and resist corrosion scaling. This aspect has made PEX tubing have a relatively long life span, from 40 to 50 years or even longer. However, the actual life span of PEX pipes is influenced by various factors, like water quality, environmental conditions etc.As PEX is more flexible compared with other materials, the tubing normally expands which helps minimise potential repairs. This has made PEX piping more resistant to bursting in freezing temperatures than other types of piping.
Why there are different colors of PEX pipe?
You may have noticed that throughout all plumbing supplies, there are different colors of PEX tubing provided, do you know the difference between them? There are no performance differences for PEX pipes with different colors, the main usage of the colour is to identify types of water going through.
- Red PEX tubing is designed for hot water. It can withstand even the hottest water. If you want to, you can use it for cold water, but notice it will not last as long.
- Blue PEX tubing is mainly used for cold water. Unlike red PEX tubing, you should avoid using blue for hot water, it will be damaged and you might need to redo the piping system.
- White PEX tubing can be used for both hot and cold water. It sounds like a better option, right? But keep in mind that if the white pipe leaks, you will not be able to know whether hot or cold water goes through it. Therefore, most people don’t prefer buying the White PEX pipe.
You may have also noticed some suppliers offered PEX-B pipe that is colored all the way through, while PEX-A pipe only has been colored on the outer sleeve. This doesn’t make them perform any different, it is just a different manufacturing approach to present why each PEX type is extruded.
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Is it OK to bend PEX pipe?
Yes, you can bend PEX.
Compared with traditional copper and galvanized steel water systems, one of the main benefits of PEX pipe is its flexibility. It can often be easily connected to a PEX manifold without the use of elbows or other additional fittings. The reduced number of connection points will also help minimize potential leaks.But keep in mind that PEX does move as it expands and contracts, make sure you have oversized holes for the pipe to slide easily. Also don’t use straps to attach, use plastic straps instead.
