Dura-Pex vs copper pipe

[Doc_Bob]

I had a solar domestic hot water heating system installed this year. The fellow who installed it did a fine fob and used copper pipe from the collectors to the storage tank. While watching him "struggle" with the copper pipe, I wondered, could he have used something like Dura-Pex ? I asked him and he did not know. Can this Dura-Pex do the work of copper pipe?
Bob

 

[kmdigital]

Yep, and considering the price of copper, for a whole lot less money!

 

[KEG]

I'm in the middle of a condminiums project right now and we just installed a bunch of Pex. The units were fed through PVC lines to a copper header and then each fixture was given a "homerun" line from the header. Let me know if you would like to see more pictures.


KEG

 

[thcri]

PEX is replacing copper in a lot of applications. When building our house I stayed with copper. We are a plumbing contractor so I am familiar with the PEX. Overall I think it is a better product I just never liked the taste of water that comes out of it. Hindsight I should have gone with the PEX but had a purifier at the kitched sink for drinking water.

murph

 

[Dusty]

I was told that PEX didn't effect the taste of the water. Is this misinformation or have they changed the product since introduction?

 

[thcri]

I was told that PEX didn't effect the taste of the water. Is this misinformation or have they changed the product since introduction?

Most people don't notice it, but we get a lot of complaints from people that are remodeling there houses were we take out all of the old copper and replace with PEX. Them people complain about it. In newer house I can taste it but again most people don't notice it. It is not a big deal and like I said I wished in our new house I would have gone with it and just put a purifier under the kitchen sink.

murph

 

[Lazy]

Hi
we are going to build a new house next year. Can you tell me why the pex would be better than copper? We drink distilled water for the last 30 years and also cook with it. I have always been a fan of copper but the cost might change my mind along with your answer.
Thanks charlie

 

[MikeD74T]

I had a solar HW system piped with copper. The loop from the HW tank to the collectors had antifreeze (RV type). If the power failed on a sunny day I'd get water hammer in the collectors from steam bubbles forming & collapsing. Also had to be careful starting flow in that loop as antifreeze temperature would lift the thermal relief valve. Relief should have been on the heat exchanger outlet rather than inlet. Don't know if PEX is rated for that kind of heat ??? MikeD74T

 

[Doc_Bob]

PEX is replacing copper in a lot of applications. When building our house I stayed with copper. We are a plumbing contractor so I am familiar with the PEX. Overall I think it is a better product I just never liked the taste of water that comes out of it. Hindsight I should have gone with the PEX but had a purifier at the kitched sink for drinking water.

murph

Murph, can you elaborate on why you wish you had gone with pex vs copper?
Bob

 

[jinman]

I'm in the middle of a condminiums project right now and we just installed a bunch of Pex. The units were fed through PVC lines to a copper header and then each fixture was given a "homerun" line from the header. Let me know if you would like to see more pictures.
KEG

I think that picture you posted says it all. If it is durable, that is one slick routing scheme from the copper header manifold. That makes plumbing almost as easy as running electrical wire. Can plumbing junction boxes be far behind?

 

[jejeosborne]

Our new home was plumbed with Kitec pipe and I am very pleased with the end result. There are many advantages the pex-al-pex plumbing has and I can think of no disadvantages. Last year it actually cost more than the copper equivilant but now I believe it costs less. Major advantages are: easier to install, less fittings, less noise, can freeze without damage, and less pressure drop. I can think of one disadvantage, tools for installation are expensive so it makes it hard for the homeowner to modify or add to. IPEX / Products / PLUMBING & MECHANICAL SYSTEMS / PLUMBBETTER KITEC XPA PIPE, FITTINGS & MANIFOLDS

 

[RichNJKubota]

From what I remember (and I don't recall the numbers), the PEX pipe is not rated for the high temps that the solar hot water heater produces. That's why these systems use copper.

 

[n8wrl]

We recently replaced copper with PEX during a major remodel. For us, the reason was acidic well water eating the copper!

 

[RFB]

jinman,

"Can plumbing junction boxes be far behind?"

 

[KentT]

jinman,

"Can plumbing junction boxes be far behind?"

Yep, my friend's log home is plumbed with Pex and has one of those manifolds in the utility closet. He can use it to not only turn off any line in the system for maintenance or repair, but also to balance the flow. It's the only plumbing that I've ever experienced where running a washing machine, for example, will not effect the flow of hot water in your shower....

My retirement home will be plumbed that way!

 

[Doc_Bob]

From what I remember (and I don't recall the numbers), the PEX pipe is not rated for the high temps that the solar hot water heater produces. That's why these systems use copper.

Very interesting. Wish I knew for sure.
Bob

 

[ktm250rider]

Any brand of PEX should be ASTM rated and stamped on the pipe. I used Wirsbo 1/2" in my house. Its rated for 100 psi at 180F and 80 psi at 200F. I have 2 manifolds in the basement, one for hot, one for cold supply. I ran all 23 invidual lines in less than a day. Try that with copper. Each line has 2 connections, one at the manifold and one at the fixture.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Any brand of PEX should be ASTM rated and stamped on the pipe. I used Wirsbo 1/2" in my house. Its rated for 100 psi at 180F and 80 psi at 200F. I have 2 manifolds in the basement, one for hot, one for cold supply. I ran all 23 invidual lines in less than a day. Try that with copper. Each line has 2 connections, one at the manifold and one at the fixture.

Does copper pipe have an ASTM rating? You are right, running pex looks very easy when compared to copper.
Bob

 

[RFB]

Bob,

I do not hink that you will experience any issue re. hot water and Pex of good quality. (Vanguard or Wirsbo for example)

PEX was originally specified for hydronic (hot water) heating systems under concrete slabs, and has good elastomeric properties. Additionally, although not "freezeproof" per se, it is much more forgiving and does not burst as readily as rigid piping systems such as copper or IP.

I have used PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) and PEX fittings (I like the "Flair-It" brand) for years with zero problems.

 

[LarryRB]

My mother in law rents out a very old house, built in the very early 1800's, to a family of 5. The copper piping is starting to blow apart everwhere.,.. Acidic and high iron content, even when using a filtering system.. I got tires of soldering in patches here and there, Went to Lowes, bought Wirsbo 1/2 piping, many fittings, and the compression wrench. In fact, the wrench costs almost as much as all the materials combined,, Took me tow days to replace 90% of the copper piping.. Would never go back to copper now... Pex, or similar brand name is the best thing since sliced bread.