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PEX FITTINGS |
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PEX TOOLS |
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PEX Installation |
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Ardi PEX Tubing
Based on the Ardi
multilayer pipe, the PEX Tubing system is built for safety and
reliability, using corrosion-proof components. The smooth inner
of Ardi PEX pipe prevents deposit accumulation and corrosion,
leading up to 30% more flowing than metal pipe. Ease of
installation, the combination of plastic and metal make the Ardi
PEX-AL-PEX multilayer pipe an ideal utility for all common hot
and cold water installations. |
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PEX (or
crosslinked polyethylene) is part of a water supply PEX tubing
system that has several advantages over metal pipe (copper,
iron, lead) or rigid plastic pipe (PVC, CPVC, ABS) systems. PEX
tubing is flexible, resistant to scale and chlorine, doesn't
corrode or develop pinholes, PEX is faster to install than metal
or rigid plastic, and has fewer connections and fittings.
PEX tubing is made from crosslinked HDPE (high density
polyethylene) polymer. The HDPE is melted and continuously
extruded into tube. The crosslinking of the HDPE is accomplished
in one of three different methods.
PEX tubing has been in use in Europe since about 1970, and was
introduced in the U.S. around 1980. The use of PEX tubing has
been increasing ever since, replacing copper pipe in many
applications, especially radiant heating systems installed in
the slab under floors or walkways. Interest in PEX for hot and
cold water plumbing has increased recently in the United States. |
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PEX Tubing
The terms PEX pipe
and PEX tube (PEX piping and PEX tubing) have been used
interchangeably, however some manufacturers distinguish between
the two by manufacturing to different inside/outside diameters.
For example, PEX pipe may be manufactured to IPS-ID (iron pipe
size, inside diameter controlled) sizes with varying thickness
to meet pressure requirements, while PEX tube may be
manufactured to CTS-OD (copper tubing size, outside diameter
controlled) sizes, commonly with a standard thickness of SDR-9
(standard dimension ratio).
The PEX tube manufactured to CTS-OD sizes is the most common,
with available sizes including 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4" and 1".
Before extrusion, the HDPE can be pigmented to yield color-coded
PEX pipe. Common PEX tubing colors are "natural" (hazy clear,
unpigmented), white, black, red and blue. The red and blue
colors are used to help plumbers and homeowners distinguish
between hot and cold water supply lines. The PEX tube will be
marked on the outside to show which standards it meets.
As it is produced, PEX is wound onto spools for storage and
shipping. A typical spool of 1/2 inch PEX will hold 1200 feet of
PEX tubing. |
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Flexible PEX tube is manufactured by extrusion, and shipped and
stored on spools, where rigid plastic or metal PEX piping must
be cut to some practical length for shipping and storage. This
leads to several advantages, including lower shipping and
handling costs due to decreased weight and improved storage
options of PEX tubing.
