PEX Tubing

PEX Tubing is the fastest growing trend in the plumbing industry. Instead of copper pipes that are expensive to purchase, expensive to install, and require rigid corners and complicated connections, PEX Tubing is flexible, inexpensive, and easy to install. If you aren't sure which PEX Tubing is right for you, read through the FAQs or view some of the comparison charts to see the different attributes of each kind of PEX.

• What is the difference between the different brands of PEX tubing?

  There are now over twenty different brands of PEX tubing for plumbing available in the US today. The main distinguishing characteristic that separates one brand of PEX from another is whether it is PEX-a, PEX-b, or PEX-c. PEX-a is the highest quality tubing available on the market today. PEX-a is the most freeze- and kink-resistant, and it is also the most flexible. AquaPEX tubing is the only PEX-a tubing available for plumbing systems, and is the only tubing that can be used with the ProPEX expander system. The other major manufacturers such as Watts, Viega, and HydroPEX are PEX-b products. These are still good products and will work well for plumbing applications. All of the PEX tubing products sold on PexSupply.com have at least a 20 year warranty.

• Why does PEX come in different colors?

  The different colors of PEX are used to signify hot and cold lines in a plumbing system. Red is generally used for hot lines, and blue is used for cold lines. White PEX tubing is used as well for either hot or cold lines. The only difference between the tubing is the color; otherwise it is exactly the same in terms of material, quality, and price.

• What size PEX tubing should I run to my faucets and fixtures?

  1/2" PEX is the most common size tubing used to run to faucets and fixtures. 1/2" PEX has a greater flow rate than 1/2" copper, which has been traditionally used to run to faucets and fixtures. Therefore, 3/8" tubing may also be used to achieve a similar flow rate for replacing 1/2" copper. For products that require a large flow rate, larger tubing may be required.

• How do you connect PEX to a faucet or toilet connection?

  The main fitting systems such as crimp and expander offer special fittings to connect directly to your faucets and toilets. The faucet connector goes directly from PEX to a 1/2" faucet connection. The toilet connector connects 1/2" PEX to a 7/8" toilet connection.

• What brands of tubing can be used with which fitting systems?

  As the chart available in this help section illustrates, all types of tubing may be used with the crimp, clamp, press, or compression fitting systems. However, only AquaPEX can be used with the Wirsbo Expander System.