Pex Brand Choice

[Pam]

We are building our own house in Ontario (Canada), and so, will be doing our own plumbing. I would like some opinions on the various sorts (I guess that means brands) of Pex, as everyone has their own connections, etc. We do not have experience with pex itself, but have done much plumbing repair , reno in our houses. We are planning on Pex water system, and also hydronic radiant in the floors... would be nice to be able to use the same tools for both if possible, for experience and as they are so expensive!! Some seem much trickier to use than others, and there seems to be quite a variation in price. All help much appreciated !!
Thanks, Pam

[adam2000]

We are building our own house in Ontario (Canada), and so, will be doing our own plumbing. I would like some opinions on the various sorts (I guess that means brands) of Pex, as everyone has their own connections, etc. We do not have experience with pex itself, but have done much plumbing repair , reno in our houses. We are planning on Pex water system, and also hydronic radiant in the floors... would be nice to be able to use the same tools for both if possible, for experience and as they are so expensive!! Some seem much trickier to use than others, and there seems to be quite a variation in price. All help much appreciated !!
Thanks, Pam

I know of two types we use. The pex system, which is a crimp fitting. It is less expensive, eaiser to use, and alot easier to get into tight spaces. But on the other hand, they can tend to have more leakes. And i think there is actuall talk about making the crimping style illegal and taking it out of the code book.

And the other type is called WIRSBO, its an expansion tool. Becouse PEX pipe has memoery, it has the appility to shrink back to its orginal size. The tool stretches the pipe enough to get a fitting in, then it squezzes the pipe. you also need to use a ring over the fitting, which will slide down the pipe on you if it has any mositer on it. And that means you need to cut that section of pipe out. The tool to do this is more expensive then the crimp, harder to get into tite spaces. But it is the better connection.(in my opinion)

[Pam]

Thank you for the reply, I am familiar with those 2 types, (from reading/stores) and I wondered about the difficulty of the Wirsbo....it sounds as tho it is the surer of the 2 once you get the knack of it. If doing new construction, the tight situations might not be as much of a problem as in repair, retrofit. I suppose we could get the tool from EBay,etc and sell it after the work is done ...(or keep for future use ??) ...any ideas on if you have to get the genuine one from the source , or are there after market tools available ?
Thanks for the help, I appreciate it. Pam

[adam2000]

Well, to install wirsbo, or pex, you have to be a certifed to use it, other wise, nobody will sell you the fittings or tool. its probably only $50 to take the course, and you might beable to find a free on. They make you take the course for liability purposes. Wirsbo, or PEX, comes with a 20 year warranty, just like copper. But if you dont take the course, and you have a huge leak, that causes alot of damage, the warranty will not stand.

You can sign up for a course, probably anywhere that might sell the product. NOBLE TRADE is the wholesaler we always buy it from. The wirsbo tool it alot more expensive then the PEX tool. Noble Trade will sell one to the public, but your probably looking at $500-$800 possibly cheaper. So if you cand find a used one on ebay, or somewhere else, do so.
Bardon is another place that will sell, you can also try rona or home hardware.