PEX Tubing

PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) tubing is a flexible pipe used in radiant heat and hydronic heating systems. Radiant heat is growing in popularity, and is now the preferred heating system in new homes. Radiant heat provides more comfort throughout the home than standard baseboard heat. PEX tubing is installed beneath the floor and heats the home from the ground up. As the floor becomes warm, the room is heated evenly and efficiently. Radiant heat is silent, producing no creaking, banging, or humming sounds that are commonly heard in other heating systems. Radiant heat allows you to turn the thermostat a few degrees lower than you normally would while providing the same warmth. This cuts energy bills and saves you money.

PEX tubing is approved by all major plumbing/heating codes and bends easily, making it more versatile than standard copper tubing. Manufacturers of PEX generally provide a 20-25 year warranty, but PEX is known to have a much longer lifespan. 1/2" PEX is the most common size used in radiant heat, but 3/8", 5/8", and 3/4" are also available.

Types of Radiant Heat Tubing

Oxygen Barrier PEX
The "barrier" referred to in PEX tubing is an oxygen barrier. The oxygen barrier assures that no oxygen will enter the heating system. A standard radiant heat system is a closed system that includes cast iron pumps, valves, and a boiler. This type of system requires an oxygen barrier PEX to prevent the cast iron components from rusting over time. If oxygen barrier tubing is not used, components in the system should be brass, bronze, or stainless steel which are more expensive. We offer several types of oxygen barrier PEX including Uponor (Wirsbo) hePEX, ThermaPEX , Rifeng, and Viega PEX.

PEX-AL-PEX
PEX-AL-PEX (PEX-Aluminum-PEX) is a three-layer oxygen barrier PEX Tubing. The main benefit of PEX-AL-PEX is that it maintains its shape when bent. While traditional PEX is flexible, it returns to its original shape when left unsecure. Once bent, PEX-AL-PEX will hold that shape until bent again. PEX-AL-PEX has less expansion capacity than standard PEX. PEX-AL-PEX is generally used in outdoor heating applications, warmboard systems, and high temperature systems such as baseboard or fan coils. We carry several types of PEX-AL-PEX including Rifeng PEX-AL-PEX, Uponor (Wirsbo) Multicor, and Viega FostaPEX.