Reasons to Choose Uponor PEX-a

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What would you do if you discovered the supply line plumbing pipes of your entire house looked like this?

Lots of signs of leaking… Embedded in the slab instead of beneath…

This is slightly simplified, and there were other problems as well (such as lines not even embedded in the slab–as in right below the tile mortar). If your answer is, “That house needs new plumbing!”, you and I can get along!

Whether you are looking at replacing all the pipes in your house because they are failing just like this snapshot, or if you are starting a brand new build, wouldn’t it be nice if you had an option with easy installation, stellar performance and any changes or repairs are less painful?

We already knew PEX is the way to go–no expensive, time consuming copper or brittle CPVC here. The real question is, “Which PEX should we choose?”

Uponor PEX-a is our answer.

Uponor, formerly known as Wirsbo, is a well established PEX-a manufacturer. We ultimately chose their product because it has the following qualities:

An Uponor system provides maximum water throughput.

Ever try drinking a boba drink through a regular straw? You might pull a muscle. Get a bigger straw (or a spoon, but that’s cheating) and you are in business!

Couplings in a plumbing system are generally the too-small straws of the plumbing world. For PEX-b and PEX-c couplings restrict water. The diameter of the coupling is significantly smaller than the rest of the plumbing.

PEX-b and a 90 degree coupling.

Got a ½” run? It’s now ⅜” through any connection.

Ouch.

This is where Uponor is different. Instead of constricting the run at a connection, the PEX is stretched around the coupling.

PEX-a and a straight coupling. The coupling looks like a reducer, but it is just an optical illusion.

Uponor PEX-a utilizes a compression fitting where the pipe is stretched around the coupling along with a band.

Stretching the PEX-a instead of crimping a band around the outside is also a stronger connection. PEX-a wants to maintain it’s original shape. By stretching it around, it will clamp down on it’s own, strengthening the integrity of the connection.

Despite the fact this is not crimp style, Uponor still has a ring for each connection. You have to stretch the band at the same time as the pipe when prepping an end for a fitting. The PEX and the ring constrict to a point where the PEX pipe will fail long before the connection as seen in this video.

Larger connectors maintain better water pressure. No restrictions means there is nothing obstructing the flow of water as it races to your open faucet.

Uponor provides more flexibility.

PEX-a has the maximum flexibility of all PEX types. This means your installations can be cleaner.

I’m not saying this is the minimum curve for PEX-a, by any means, but it is a beautiful, clean installation–not a curve you see with copper.

A real example where you actually want a loop in the plumbing system: extra PEX to service an Aquor V2+ House Hydrant. The Aquor V2+ House Hydrant is the future outdoor water spigot (building suspense for a forthcoming post…). There is a larger PEX loop for two reasons. First, if you have to pull out the Aquor Hydrant, you need extra length of the PEX to pull out of the house. If you have to do this, the flexibility of PEX is your friend as the loop will get significantly smaller. Second, if you needed to repair it, there is plenty of line to use (kinda like if you have to put in an new electrical outlet).

The minimum bend radius of Uponor AquaPEX pipe is six times the outside diameter. For instance, 1/2″ pipe can turn in as little as 6″ without kinking.

Uponor PEX-a showing it’s curves.

If you need additional support you can buy support bends to make sure your turn does not exceed the minimum curve. Or to just keep it secured when it goes through the wall to the final connection.

Ease of installation.

You don’t wonder if you clamped down a crimp hard enough. If your PEX makes contact with the end of the sleeve on a fitting you did it!

The Milwaukee ProPEX expansion tool makes short work of the expanding process.

Kinks are repairable.

Ever get a kink in your line? If you are using PEX-b or PEX-c you need to cut the line and patch it or run an entirely new line.

With PEX-a, the memory of the plastic weave is strong enough to revert back to it’s original shape. In order to do this, use a heat gun on the affected area until it turns clear as glass. Remove the heat and watch it morph back.

Changes to connections are easy.

Need to make a change at a manifold fitting or a connector? Heat it up with a heat gun, cut into the ring, and cut into the pipe. Be careful not to cut far enough so you mar the barb of the connector beneath. Once the pipe peels back from the connector, slide it off. If there is enough slack you can make a clean cut and reattach to to the connector.

Master plumbers recommended it.

Every drop of water that runs through my house goes through the main stack my husband and I replaced. We’ve done plenty of other emergency fixes and planned changes to lines in several houses.

That doesn’t make us experts, but we do know master plumbers that are. They work with every option on the market EVERY DAY. They all agree the product is solid and what they prefer to use, when asked separately.

Every.

Single.

One.

Uponor PEX-a is durable.

If you are curious about the durability and breaking points of the different kinds of PEX for comparison purposes, check out the Mythbuster style video Matt Risinger produced in an attempt to pit the various kinds of PEX connectors on the market against each other. It is worth a look and a laugh.

FYI…that’s our Uponor favorite on the left.

The takeaway is that the connectors of every kind of PEX will outlast the pipe itself. Every breaking point in the video–even the push-to-connect Sharkbite–is well past the average water pressure of your home (50 to 65 psi). If your water pressure goes into insane psi levels you’ve got other problems…

Since quality and durability is out of the question your own answer for which kind of PEX depends on what you want to work with during the install, performance and repairs.

Who says you can’t have it all?

With Uponor PEX-a, you definitely can!

The one gotcha is you’ll have to find a local plumbing supplier or order it online. Uponor (Wirsbo) is not readily available at the big box stores. We sourced ours from supplyhouse.com.