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A Better Way With Water - Up-and-Coming Plumbing for the 21st Century
By Steve Maxwell
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PEX-AL-PEX systems began life as radiant in-floor heating pipe, but the big selling feature right now is solder-free installation for water supply purposes. The work is entirely mechanical, requiring no heat, risk or intimidation.
There are two ways to tackle the joints on any PEX-AL-PEX pipe. The consumer-grade approach that’s marketed to do-it-yourselfers involves the use of thread-together compression fittings that tighten with wrenches. This gets rid of the torch, and is very easy to use indeed. That said, this approach is also slower and more expensive than professional builders care for. That’s why it makes sense for those with a lot of plumbing ahead of them (either pros or committed owner-builders) to tool up for a faster and less expensive approach. Crimp-on connectors (similar to what you’d see on hydraulic hose and fittings), is the industry standard for fast, commercial installation of PEX-AL-PEX by tradespeople. A number of manufacturers are even working together to standardize systems of crimp-on connectors, harmonizing the tools and hardware necessary to complete the job.
Planning for Success
Flexibility is the first thing to remember when you’re sizing up a PEX-AL-PEX job. If you’re used to plumbing with rigid pipe, it’s easy to forget that you don’t need nearly as many elbows and tees. In fact, you might not need any at all. Instead, the flexibility of the pipe lets you snake around corners with just a bend, though for tight bends you need a little mechanical help.
To prevent kinking of tightly bent pipe, most PEX-AL-PEX systems use a coiled support spring that slips over the pipe in the area of the bend. It temporarily supports pipe walls while distributing bending pressure evenly. Pull the spring over the bend zone, make the bend with your hands, then slip the spring off again.
Fittings exist for splicing PEX-AL-PEX pipe into all types of existing rigid pipe systems, but you need to exercise special care when splicing into copper. Solder the metal transition fitting to the existing copper pipe first, with a damp rag wrapped around the end of the fitting to keep the rubber O-rings cool. Complete the soldered joint as quickly as possible, then let the pipe cool before fastening the PEX-AL-PEX pipe to the end of the transition fitting.
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A Better Way With Water - Up-and-Coming Plumbing for the 21st Century
By Steve Maxwell
|
|
|
PEX-AL-PEX systems began life as radiant in-floor heating pipe, but the big selling feature right now is solder-free installation for water supply purposes. The work is entirely mechanical, requiring no heat, risk or intimidation.
There are two ways to tackle the joints on any PEX-AL-PEX pipe. The consumer-grade approach that’s marketed to do-it-yourselfers involves the use of thread-together compression fittings that tighten with wrenches. This gets rid of the torch, and is very easy to use indeed. That said, this approach is also slower and more expensive than professional builders care for. That’s why it makes sense for those with a lot of plumbing ahead of them (either pros or committed owner-builders) to tool up for a faster and less expensive approach. Crimp-on connectors (similar to what you’d see on hydraulic hose and fittings), is the industry standard for fast, commercial installation of PEX-AL-PEX by tradespeople. A number of manufacturers are even working together to standardize systems of crimp-on connectors, harmonizing the tools and hardware necessary to complete the job.
Planning for Success
Flexibility is the first thing to remember when you’re sizing up a PEX-AL-PEX job. If you’re used to plumbing with rigid pipe, it’s easy to forget that you don’t need nearly as many elbows and tees. In fact, you might not need any at all. Instead, the flexibility of the pipe lets you snake around corners with just a bend, though for tight bends you need a little mechanical help.
To prevent kinking of tightly bent pipe, most PEX-AL-PEX systems use a coiled support spring that slips over the pipe in the area of the bend. It temporarily supports pipe walls while distributing bending pressure evenly. Pull the spring over the bend zone, make the bend with your hands, then slip the spring off again.
Fittings exist for splicing PEX-AL-PEX pipe into all types of existing rigid pipe systems, but you need to exercise special care when splicing into copper. Solder the metal transition fitting to the existing copper pipe first, with a damp rag wrapped around the end of the fitting to keep the rubber O-rings cool. Complete the soldered joint as quickly as possible, then let the pipe cool before fastening the PEX-AL-PEX pipe to the end of the transition fitting. |
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