Is pex al pex worth the extra money.

[ottinc]

Is pex al pex worth the extra money in a on grade concrete floor system.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Might want to ask this in the Heating and Cooling forum. Lots of floor heat discussed over there. Me (and I don't know nothing about floor heat systems) it would seem that you need the Pex/Al/Pex to help control expansion of the tubing.

Charles

 

[rlitman]

The aluminum is there as an oxygen barrier, not to control expansion.
I don't think it is superior to oxygen-barrier pex, except that it is a little less susceptible to damage, since the oxygen barrier is on the outside. Otherwise it is just dated technology.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The aluminum is there as an oxygen barrier, not to control expansion.
I don't think it is superior to oxygen-barrier pex, except that it is a little less susceptible to damage, since the oxygen barrier is on the outside. Otherwise it is just dated technology.

Not sure I understand what you are saying, as all of the pex-al-pex I have found on the internet is just that, pex on the outside and pex on the inside with aluminum in between.

I only mentioned the expansion factor because I had seen it mentioned in several of the web sites selling the tubing, as an "advantage", along with higher bursting strength than regular pex and also the oxygen barrier feature.

Charles

 

[Kevin C]

it would seem that you need the Pex/Al/Pex to help control expansion of the tubing.

Another way to control the expansion of the pex is to encase it on concrete.

Seriously, I have had the same question, standard O2 barrier PEX seems to work well enough, at what point do you need an aluminum barrier?

I did read that for non buried use, the AL PEX holds its shape a lot better.

 

[Garage Dog]

The primary benefit of AL Pex is that it holds its shape when making bends, etc. Thus it requires fewer zip ties or whatever connectors you are using to hold it in place.

The standard O2 barrier pex works just fine - you should do a little research because there are several manufacturing methods - this can influence the type fittings that can be used.

Even though all manufacturers must meet the same ASTM standards, there are a lot of opinions on quality. I would recommend using a manufacturer that has a track record of producing a quality product.

 

[Rookie2]

wirsbo hepex

 

[rlitman]

Not sure I understand what you are saying, as all of the pex-al-pex I have found on the internet is just that, pex on the outside and pex on the inside with aluminum in between.

Sorry, you must have misread me.

I was comparing pex-al-pex, which uses the aluminum as the oxygen barrier and which has a layer of pex over the aluminum, protecting it, with
oxygen barrier pex, which is ordinary pex with a thin oxygen barrier layer on the outer surface.

 

[darkk]

Is pex al pex worth the extra money in a on grade concrete floor system.

PEX Tubing with Oxygen Barrier

Everhot Oxygen Barrier PEX Tubing is manufactured to ASTM F876/F877 standards and is pressure rated 100psi at 180F.
Barrier PEX can be used for a large number of radiant heating applications, such as radiant floor heating, snow melt systems, baseboard and radiator systems, fan coils, geothermal systems and for indoor or outdoor wood boiler supply and return lines.
***Barrier PEX features an Oxygen Diffusion Barrier per DIN 4726 standard, which helps to prevent corrosion of cast iron components of a typical heating system, such as circulator pumps, radiators, air scoops, pipes/fittings, boiler heating elements, etc.***