How flexible/rigid is Rapid Air systems?

[jmlcolorado]

I need to know how flexible the rapid air hose is? Will I be able to fish it through 3” ABS with 2 90* bends in it?
Looking to get air from my shed where the compressor is, to my garage through a 3” abs pipe I trenched in awhile back.

I tried it with the **** PEX Home Depot carries in stock and failed miserably, even after heating in the oven for awhile to soften it up.

 

[gearhead1]

Subscribed. Looking at RapidAir also.

 

[79firebird]

Pex is more bendable then the rapid air as it has a little metal in the middle. Might just have to run a rubber or hydraulic hose in the pipe. I would think the pex would work fine as i ran a 1 inch pex water line thru a 2 inch pvc pipe with 1 90 was a little hard but worked. did you try pulling it with a string instead of pushing it thru ?

 

[ishiboo]

Did you push it through?

RapidAir has 3 different systems, 2 of which are PEX and only one of which has the aluminum in it.

Either way, I think both of the flexible systems will fit through 3" conduit no problem. But to get around the bends, you will need someone pulling with a pull rope from one end while you push from the other. Like anything, use copious amounts of lube.

 

[jmlcolorado]

Thanks for the input guys. I had a heck of a time pulling 12-3 wire through the abs by myself. I sucked a string through and yanked for a while before getting that through. I suppose rope is a better option for the pex, that and a helper will probably be needed.

 

[AG Camaro]

I have the Rapid Air 3/4 inch system. Getting it thru a 90 degree bend might be tough. It does bend, but it's fairly ridged and a 90 degree might put a kink in it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Angelfire]

If it’s pex-al-pex (ie. Rapidair’s Maxline), I would bet against being able to run it through two 90’s like that. It’s pretty darn stiff and likes to go where it wants. You might stand a chance with regular pex

 

[yucholian]

What is the desired bend radius? Anything can be bent...

 

[Matt M PA]

While I have a Rapid Air system...I don't know how well it will push through conduit.

However, I have a "grease" that used when snaking some cable that is made just for that task....might be a help?

 

[eastbaysubaru]

Nope, not a chance in hell. I'm in the process of finalizing my Maxline setup and there's really no way it would go through a 90, even the long ones.

-Brian

 

[red94chev]

Definitely a no for the 3/4" Rapid Air Maxline. I would say your only option would be running an air hose through the 3' pipe to your garage and go from there.

 

[Radix2]

The Pex al pex is much much stiffer than regular pex

you could probably get 1/2 in through a 20+" sweep 90 though, it is slippery stuff.

what kind of elbows did you put in? what size pipe do you want/

 

[Uncle Phil]

It doesn't really apply in this case because the pvc pipe is buried. However, I did run 3/4" Rapid Air max line thru the gray 2" pvc electrical conduit prior to burying it from one shop to another.

I did not glue the pipe together and then try and push the air line thru, I pushed the air line thru the pipe and fittings and then glued everything together. After I glued everything together in the trench I pushed it thru each building and then back-filled.

 

[forAK]

You could just dig your trench, lay a couple of inches of sand, place the rapid pipe on it, then bury with sand. I would sweat it unless you plan on yanking it out after a couple of years. Stuff is pretty tough.

I have a pool that's about 150' away from a boiler that I use to heat it with. I've had my supply and return 3/4" pex buried that way for about 7 years now with no leaks or issues.

 

[jmlcolorado]

Thanks for the input guys!
I think I’m just going to have some 3/4”hydraulic hose made up that I can pull through. I’m sharing the 3”abs with power to the shed for compressed power too. I had no idea pex was this rigid till I got my hands in some.

 

[Randy in Maine]

Generally when using PVC as the conduit, using 22 1/2º or 45º bends as opposed to 90º really helps in getting this stuff through the conduit.

 

[Bert_]

Obviously to late for the OP, but for anyone else. It works much better if you use electrical 90's rather than plumbing 90's or even 45's. The electrical 90's can even be had in long radius versions.

 

[mustang68408]

I have the Rapid Air 3/4 inch system. Getting it thru a 90 degree bend might be tough. It does bend, but it's fairly ridged and a 90 degree might put a kink in it. Just my 2 cents.

Yeah unless you can get a 3/4 maxline fitting in there to make the turn, I wouldn’t suggest bending it. It gives, but not that much.