Construction – PEX Water Tubing

[mollyjim]

Has anyone on the group used PEX tubing for the water lines in a house here in Costa Rica? George Lundquist has done so in the Puriscal area, and is a strong proponent. I’m getting ready to build, and I’m very interested in using it (near Grecia). It is flexible, requiring fewer joints, and uses mechanical/compression fittings rather than glued joints. It does require a special tool to apply the fittings, however. For those who would like to read a brief synopsis giving more info about PEX tubing, here is a link for more info: http://www.ppfahome.org/pex/faqpex.html

Thanks,
Jim

CLARIFICATION: what I’m most interested in is the contact info for an installer who has the experience and tools to do the job. Thanks.

Edited on Jun 16, 2009 13:47

[clayton]

It’s a great product and used extensively in the states. As always proper installation and pressure testing at about 200psi is the key to trouble free.

[lewkeim]

Well, I used Quest Poly Butylene in Rochester. 7 yrs after install a fitting broke loose while we were away. $70,000 in damage…I will never use anything but soldered copper agian. Years before that there was a class action suit against a similiar product that used a crimp type fitting. YOU WILL NEVER CONVINCE ME THAT A MECHANICAL CONNECTION WILL LAST A LIFE TIME.

[diesels12]

I have used PEX in many homes I built in New York and it is quickly making copper obsolete. It can be installed in less than 1/2 the time and is actually ideal for cold climates as it expands if exposed to cold weather unlike copper which will crack and cause a leak. There is still a couple of old school people who swear by copper but they are the minority.
The only problem I have with it is the tools used to crimp it are proprietary to the manufacturer so every brand of pex has its own crimping tool.

good luck
john

[johnr]

Just two weeks ago they had a “This Old House Show” that covered PEX and a few different types of connection methods. Looks to me like the way to go. The “expert” that was showing how it was used said it will replace copper completely.

[clayton]

Yes, there was a large class action suit against Quest pipe and fittings and rightfully so. These are not the same products and all the fittings I’ve used were copper. Pex main cost savings is in installation labor, the material it’s self is expensive, here in CR that may not be as relative, it’s expansion quality is a plus in colder climates.

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