PEX-AL-PEX for Air System

[offroadsteve]

Wanted to get input from the peanut gallery on a hair-brained idea of mine.

I notice that Home Depot (probably among other stores) sells PEX-AL-PEX for use in radiant heat applications such as 100' of 3/4" for $122 .

I know the Rapid Air systems use PEX-AL-PEX and special compression type fittings, and was thinking maybe you could use this stuff and standard PEX fittings as a more DIY approach.

The PEX-AL-PEX is rated to 200 degrees F and 200 PSI, which is plenty for a home-shop air system. Of course i'd probably still use some sort of hose adapter between the compressor and fixed air piping, but this seems like a viable option to me.

What say you?

 

[ranger302]

Some Rapid Air systems use Pex-AL-Pex.

 

[Muttly]

I had some left over, plumbed the shop with standard pex crimp fittings, ran it up to 160 psi and left it for a long weekend to see if anything would let go.

I have a couple of steel/brass pipe thread connections with very slight leaks, but no issues with the pex.

I now run it 24/7 at 125 psi, it has been 4 years, no issues.

 

[87jeepwrangler]

i was under the impression pex-al-pex had a different ID and OD than standard pex. so while it might work, i'd be surprised if the crimp rings don't over or under compress the pex, thereby de-rating the connection pressure and longevity.

since none of the pex-al-pex literature i've seen mentions the use of standard pex crimp connections, i don't think i'd do it. how about you buy the correct fittings and make it right instead of DIY.

i've never used it, but are the pex-al-pex fittings expensive?

 

[stroked89coupe]

Subing.

 

[dynahoe]

outdoor furnace supply 100 foot roll of 1 inch id for a hundred bucks with free shipping.very easy to install.compression type fittings did my shop with 3 flexzilla hoses and all fittings for 400 bucks.cheaper than rapid air and much more volume in the lines