Myth: PEX tubing technology is new and has not been sufficiently tested out.
Fact: PEX Tubing was developed and first used in Europe in the 1960’s. This product entered US market 30 years ago and has been growing in popularity ever since.
During these years, tubing has been installed in millions of houses, commercial and industrial buildings, and has been sufficiently tested by many years of continuous use.
Myth: PEX tubing is expensive.
Fact: With today’s high copper prices, the cost of PEX tubing amounts to less than 10% of the cost of copper. Using PEX tubing comes out to be less expensive even after taking into consideration the fact that more tubing is needed when laying a radiant heating floor pattern.
Myth: PEX tubing can’t withstand extremely hot temperatures.
Fact: PEX Tubing has been tested to withstand temperatures of 200F, making it adequate for all types of radiant heating installations.
Myth: PEX tubing has a short life span.
Fact: The life span of PEX tubing can vary based on frequency of use, water quality and water temperature and has an average life expectancy of 40-50 years.
Some factors, such as exposing tubing to sun or water temperatures beyond tested levels, can significantly damage tubing and reduce its life span. Most of PEX tubing on the market today comes with 25 year warranty.
Myth: PEX Tubing is not reliable.
Fact: PEX has been extensively used in Europe and USA, giving it a 50 year track record of strong performance and reliability. Rapid growth of PEX installations in the US over the past 2 decades serves as an indicator that the product is becoming widely accepted by home owners and contractors alike.
Myth: PEX Tubing is not approved for use everywhere.
Fact: In 2010, California became the last state to approve the use of PEX tubing. Today, PEX tubing is allowed to be installed within all 50 states. It is recommended to contact local municipality prior to installation, since installation guidelines and codes may vary.
Myth: PEX Tubing is hard to install.
Fact: In comparison to installing other pipe materials, such as copper, installation of PEX does not require sweat connections and can often be installed without hiring a professional plumber or HVAC technician.