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Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) is a form of polyethylene with cross-links. It is made by a process that forms links between polyethylene molecules to create bridges (thus the term "cross-linked). This resulting material is more durable under temperature extremes, chemical attack, and better resists creep deformation, making PEX an excellent material for hot water and other applications. It doesn’t corrode or develop pinhole leaks, is chlorine-resistant, scale-resistant, and has fewer fittings, connections, and elbows than rigid plastic and metallic pipe. <big>Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) is a form of polyethylene with cross-links.</big> [[Image:PEX-tubing.jpg|right]] PEX is made by a process that forms links between polyethylene molecules to create bridges (thus the term "cross-linked). This resulting material is more durable under temperature extremes, chemical attack, and better resists creep deformation, making PEX an excellent material for hot water and other applications. It doesn’t corrode or develop pinhole leaks, is chlorine-resistant, scale-resistant, and has fewer fittings, connections, and elbows than rigid plastic and metallic pipe. '''The caveat to PEX plumbing is the long-term effect of chlorinated water on the vinyl walls in the tubing remains unknown for certain.''' What are recommended uses for PEX? PEX 's flexibility and strength at temperatures ranging from below freezing up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit makes it an ideal piping material for hot and cold water plumbing systems, service lines, hydronic radiant heating systems, snow melting applications, ice rinks and refrigeration warehouses. == Complete PEX House Plumbing System ==Why is PEX an excellent piping material for plumbing? {||-| valign=top | [[Image:PEXHome.png]]| width=20 | | valign=top | In a home that uses PEX plumbing completely, everything is run directly off a manifold. Each fixture in the house will have a separate line feeding it. The manifold acts like a hub and is located near the water heater. A fresh waterline goes into the bottom of the manifold and feeds all the cold-water fixtures. It also has a cold line running to the water heater. The water heater then has a line for hot water that runs back to the manifold and feeds the hot-water fixtures. In a way, it sort of resembles a computer network with a HUB.Each fixture has its own dedicated waterline. The red (hot) or blue (cold) tubing usually runs side by side from the manifold to each fixture. The flexibility of the tubing makes it a dream to work with.Pex tubing has many different fittings made of either brass or poly. These fittings slide into the tubing and are crimped in place with crimp rings and a crimper.Don’t use metal fasteners that are normally used for copper or galvanized, because they could wear a hole in the tubing over time. Flexible plastic lines are light and they vibrate more than metal lines do. Pex comes in a few different sizes. The water mainline coming into the manifold will probably be a 1-inch line of strong poly. You will want to have a main water shut-off valve before the manifold.The cold waterline from the top of the manifold that goes to the water heater will probably be a ¾ inch Pex line as well as the hot waterline coming from the water heater back to the manifold. You can use 3/8-inch thick pex for the individual fixture waterlines if you want, but ½ inch delivers a larger volume of water and is preferable.|} == PEX Manifold ==[[Image:PEXManifoldManabloc-thumb.jpg|frame|right|The Vanguard Manifold Manabloc [[Media:PEXManifoldManabloc.jpg|View Large]] ]] The manifold is the primary hub for hot and cold water in a home with all PEX plumbing. A manifold Pex plumbing system allows for easy maintenance and better water distribution over traditional systems. Think of the central manifold the same way as your electrical breaker box, except for water. You have a central command with NO connectors between the manifold and appliances, the largest source of weakness in traditional systems. Proven technology over decades, it is finally changing the way we plumb.A popular PEX Manifold is the Vanguard Manifold Manabloc for home plumbing systems. The MANABLOC control unit has individual shut-off valves to allow the homeowner to turn off a single fixture without effecting the rest of the home. The valves are labeled to indicate which fixture it controls in the home.The system distributes water efficiently and economically. By sizing the lines according to the demand of each fixture, homeowners enjoy much faster hot water delivery which results in significant water and energy savings. The 1 1/4" reservoir in the MANABLOC maintains more consistent supply of water pressure reducing the potential for drastic temperature changes at fixtures; even when other fixtures are operated simultaneously. The performance of a conventional plumbing system during multiple fixture operation can't compare to a MANABLOC system. == PEX FAQ ===== What are recommended uses for PEX? ===PEX 's flexibility and strength at temperatures ranging from below freezing up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit makes it an ideal piping material for hot and cold water plumbing systems, service lines, hydronic radiant heating systems, snow melting applications, ice rinks and refrigeration warehouses. === Why is PEX an excellent piping material for plumbing? ===Can PEX be used for underground cold-water service applications? === Can PEX be used for underground cold-water service applications? === Can PEX be used for aboveground outdoor applications? === Can PEX be used for aboveground outdoor applications? === Can PEX save me money? === Can PEX save me money? === What is the expected performance of PEX water distribution systems? === What is the expected performance of PEX water distribution systems? === What joining systems are available? === What joining systems are available? === How long can PEX be exposed to sunlight? === How long can PEX be exposed to sunlight? === What are temperature limitations for PEX? ===What are temperature limitations for PEX? === How are PEX systems tested for leaks? === How are PEX systems tested for leaks? === How soon after installation can you pressure test a PEX tubing installation? === How soon after installation can you pressure test a PEX tubing installation? === What sizes, lengths and packaging options of PEX are available? === What sizes, lengths and packaging options of PEX are available? === Is flexible PEX plumbed differently than rigid material plumbing systems? === Is flexible PEX plumbed differently than rigid material plumbing systems? === What are manifold plumbing systems? === What are manifold plumbing systems? === How are PEX systems sized? === How are PEX systems sized? === Is the thermal expansion/contraction of PEX a problem? === Is the thermal expansion/contraction of PEX a problem? === Is PEX freeze-break resistant? === Is PEX freeze-break resistant? === How do I thaw PEX lines? === How do I thaw PEX lines? === Can PEX be joined with solvent cement? === Can PEX be joined with solvent cement? ===No. PEX cannot be joined with solvent cement, glues or heat fusion. PEX is installed using only mechanical fittings or compression fittings. [[Image:PEX16m15c.jpg|center]] == Installing PEX == One of the popular uses of PEX tubing is for hot and cold water installations in the home. PEX tubing is not glued togeather like CPVC. All fittings are mechanical fittings. PEX is also very flexible thus reducing the number of fittings necessary. The following tools and materials are necessary: * Fittings* PEX tubing designed for the job* Tubing cutter* Ring crimper* crimp rings* "Go/No-Go" gauge* Crimp ring removal tool Measure out the length of PEX you will need for installation and cut it with the PEX tubing cutter. These pliers are especially designed for PEX and should always be used. An unclean cut with burrs or that is not straight may result in leakage. Make your cut to the desired length, keeping in mind a little slack is needed for heat expansion and cold contraction, then slip a copper crimp ring onto the pipe. Allowances must be made for ever 10 degrees of change in temperature. PEX will contract one inch every 100 feet of pipe with every 10° of temperature change. Offset this by making a loop in the PEX that is no more than 8 times the diameter of the tubing. Insert the tubing into the piper fitting. It should bottom out on the shoulder of the fitting. Slide the copper crimp ring up so that it is 1/8" to 1/4" away from the tubing. Crimp the copper crimp ring with the ring crimper, insuring that the crimper is at a 90 degrees angle from the crimp ring. Close the crimp tool fully on the crimp ring. Now, test the crimp with the Go/No-Go gauge. The Go-gauge should slide onto the fitting with ease. It may be tight where the crimping tool has marked the crimping surface during the crimping operation. The No-Go gauge must not slide over the fitting. If it does, the tubing must be recut and the joint made once again. Avoid a leak by carefully inspecting your work. Observe the tubing and look for any of the following conditions: * Ring crimped over the end of the tubing. Not enough ribs covered.* Crimp tool not at 90 degrees. Plastic dented and not enough rib coverage.* Copper crimp ring not completely covered by crimping tool. Ring is distorted with a non uniform crimp.* Tubing not squarely cut. Does not cover ribs of fitting. Correct any of the defects mentioned above. Straps and hangers are used to secure PEX line at each 6 foot length. It must be supported at least every 32 inches if tubing is installed alongside a joist. When run vertically, it will require support at every floor level. When installing, always leave slack in the tubing to allow for contraction. The support hangers should not be so tight that they will restrict movement of the PEX. == PEX Fittings, Valves, and Materials == [[Connecting Fixtures to a PEX Residential Water System]] discusses connecting sink, toilet, bath, laundry, and other common residential fixtures to PEX plumbing. This is especially useful as a reference for people replacing old plumbing in a home with modern PEX plumbing. HydroPEX Fittings are clamp/crimp style fittings, ProPEX are Expansion Style PEX Fittings, and there are Sharkbite Compression style PEX fittings. To make clamp connections the Clamp tool and stainless clamps are required, to make crimp connections a crimp tool and copper crimp rings are required, finally to make Propex connections a Wirsbo ProPEX tool and ProPEX Rings are required. The Sharkbite Compression fittings are not recommended by some plumbers due to perceived limited longevity. There are four basic PEX connection systems. The first is the Wirsbo ProPEX system that requires the ProPEX expander tool, ProPEX rings and ProPEX fittings. This connection system can only be used with PEX-a tubing. The second is the stainless steel clamp system that requires a clamping tool, stainless steel clamps, and barbed PEX fitting (HydroPEX). Third is the copper crimp ring system that requires a crimping tool, copper crimp rings, and barbed PEX fittings (HydroPEX). Last is the Sharkbite, compression-style, fittings that do not require a special tool. HydroPEX fittings may be used with the stainless steel clamping system or the copper crimp ring system. These PEX fittings may be used for PEX Plumbing. They allow you to make connections while using PEX Tubing. ProPEX Fittings are expansion style fittings. These PEX Fittings are manufactured by Uponor, formerly known as Wirsbo. The fittings are widely used throughout the US and Europe for PEX Tubing connections. SharkBite Push-Fit Fittings are designed to simplify pipe installation. The fittings allow users to connect pipe in seconds with ease.Instant push-fit connection for increased ease of use. Certified to 200 psi and 200°F (93°C).No. PEX cannot be joined with solvent cement, glues or heat fusion. PEX is installed using only mechanical fittings or compression fittings.The Viega PEX Press fitting system meets strict ASTM standards in addition to UPC and international codes for potable water systems. The high quality bronze PureFlow PEX Press fittings are more resistant to corrosion and stress cracking.[[Category:Construction]]