Cross-linked polyethylene tubing known as PEX or XLPE is an excellent material to use with radiant heating, domestic and commercial hot and cold water, cable insulation, ice rinks and snow melting roads. The thermodynamics allows a temperature range well below 0 degrees C to over 150 degrees C. This temperature range permits it to be used as high voltage insulation on cables as well as use in plumbing applications. It is flexible allowing ease of insulation. It bends around corners and does not require any connections like PVC or copper tubing. It is chemical resistant and is resilient to cold weather applications without breakdown or weathering as many other types of plumbing and insulating materials.
 Wirsbopexaquapexexpandable ring tubingbarbed fittin US $141.92 |
 3 4 PEX TUBING BY WIRSBO 200 ROLL US $75.00 |
 UPONOR 3 8 TUFFPEX PEX TUBING 1000 FT COIL PLUMBING US $129.99 |
 Wirsbo Pex A tubing 2 50 rolls N R US $17.99 |
 PEX AL PEX 1 2 tubing pipe 300 BEST DEAL 10396P300 US $108.00 |
 PEX AL PEX 5 8 tubing pipe 300 BEST DEAL 10397P300 US $150.00 |
 PEX AL PEX 1 2 tubing pipe 600 BEST DEAL 10396P600 US $185.00 |
 2 rolls 1 2 x 100ft PEX Tubing for Potable Water Combo US $63.00 |
 1 2 x 1000 ft PEX Tubing O2 Oxy Barrier Radiant Heat US $275.00 |
 1 x 600 ft PEX O2 Radiant Heat Tubing Wood Boiler US $434.00 |
Pex tubing comes in 1/4 inch to 4 inch sizes with 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch sizes being the most used. Most tubing has a copper connection point at the connection site of the plumbing site. In other words, the connection is made to the washer, kitchen sink, bath room sink, toilets and hot water heater in a typical residential construction.
Pex tubing is manufactured to meet national standards of safety and quality. It meets ASTM F 876, F 877, AWWA C904 and CSA B 137.5 requirements. Compliance with these standards assures the end user of safety and quality in the use of this tubing. In Europe, it is classified as Pex-A, Pex-B, Pex-C. These ratings are not associated to performance rather designate the type of production.
The economic advantage of using this material over PVC and copper is found not only in the cost of the materials, but also, in the cost of labor to install the plumbing applications. Because the material is flexible, it does not need connection to go around corners or go up and down. The cost of materials and labor to install makes ideal sense to builders.