If you plan on remodeling your home, doing new construction, upgrading your existing plumbing system, or installing a radiant heat floor, you will want to check on the possibility of using PEX tubing for your project. It should not be hard to find. PEX plumbing materials are rapidly replacing other materials like lead, copper, iron, and PVC pipes. This is because it has many advantages over the products traditionally used in plumbing.

It is made from a high-density polymer. This makes it very flexible. This flexibility means that it can be bent around corners without crushing it, and without the need for for a right angle connection. Its ability to bend without needing connectors is what makes it a top choice for radiant heat flooring.

There are other advantages to its flexible nature. Because it can be make in a continuous roll, it costs less to produce, store and ship. The installation job itself also will cost less because there are few connections. This means less labor and less time to get it installed.

PEX tubing has several environmental advantages. It conserves energy by minimizing heat lost through the material. Plus, other types of plumbing requires the use of solder and flux to make the necessary connections. This leaches lead and acids into the water and and surrounding soil. The fact that PEX pipe requires no flux or solder means there are no dangerous chemicals introduced into the environment.

Another money-saving aspect of PEX plumbing is that it prevents expensive repairs later on. Any time you have to add a connection to a plumbing system, you introduce the possibility of a leak. The cost of repairs to both the plumbing and the secondary damage to floors, walls and the foundation can be huge. The minimal connections required with PEX means lower probability of these problems down the line.

If you are considering radiant heat flooring there is something to note. You will need a special kind of PEX that has an oxygen barrier property. Some materials in flooring can corrode with exposure to oxygen, so a variation of tubing was created to eliminate this problem. Be sure your contractor is using an oxygen-barrier PEX for any walkway or floor applications.

As you can see, this tubing is something worth investigating. The chances are very good that PEX tubing will be less expensive than traditional rigid piping, both in initial costs and installation costs. Plus, you will avoid costly repairs years later. It is definitely worth considering for your next construction project!