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Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Ipex, aquapex etc.

mikeb3 | Posted in General Discussion on December 11, 2007 10:13am

Two years ago when I started renovating my 100 year old house the plumbing company which did my upstairs baths rough in used orange plastic and blue plastic pipe (KITEC made by IPEX).

A few months later when I wanted to add branch lines it was suggested by plumbing personnel at Home Depot that I use a product called AquaPex as it did not require an expensive custom crimping tool, rather just a cutter, a reamer and a couple of wrenches. They also told me it was felt to be better behind walls as it had two “O” rings, a better consumer product rather than the KITEC which was considered professional.

So I used AquaPex and moved onto other, more pressing things. Now coming back to it almost two years later I went to the original plumber to get fittings to connect the KITEC stubs to faucets but  they tell me the company has recalled all their products due to leakage problems and parts are no longer available. They gave me a couple of “SeaTech” white plastic push-on external elbows. These els have internal “O” rings and locking clips and they say will slide over and seal anything that’s 5/8″ o.d.

I’m concerned as I have a lot of KITEC in my house and I’ve since tiled floors, drywalled and painted etc. To change it would be a huge undertaking and a major set-back. Anyone out there with related experience or can offer advice. Thanks

 


Edited 12/11/2007 2:16 pm ET by mikeb3

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Replies

  1. DaveRicheson | Dec 12, 2007 12:08am | #1

    Bump!

    Where's BP ?

    1. mikeb3 | Dec 13, 2007 03:24am | #2

      I'm new at this. Was that a reply?

      1. tb1472000 | Dec 13, 2007 04:02am | #3

        No, the bump is not a reply to your question.  A bump keeps the message from going so far down in the stack of messages that it gets lost.   This keeps it up where someone that knows the answer will see it.  Sorry I don't have a clue what the right answer is to your question about PEX. 

        1. 1910GT | Dec 14, 2007 05:04pm | #9

          how do you bump, or where do i find instruction on these type of features? I'm not real savvy when it comes to message boards.

          Thanks for the help

           

          1. User avater
            BillHartmann | Dec 14, 2007 05:12pm | #10

            The default on most message board is to show the latest messages. This board does that, but also only shows those individual reader has not read yet.In any case when a new message is posted to a thread that thread moves to the top of the list.There is no "feature" for a bump. Just that when thinks that there might be other people that might know the answer inters a message to that thread to bring it back up to the top of the list so that people are more likey to see it..
            .
            A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

        2. mikeb3 | Dec 14, 2007 06:38pm | #12

          Thanks for the info. You've all been great.

      2. DaveRicheson | Dec 13, 2007 02:39pm | #4

        What tb said.

        I was hoping the resident plumber on this site  would see it with that bump. Maybe he'll come around shortly.

         

        Dave

  2. rich1 | Dec 13, 2007 06:51pm | #5

    There are problems with kitec pex-al-pex.  The use of kitec for domestic water has been discontinued.  It can still be used for hydronic heating.

    Most of the pipe problems seem to be related to recirc lines. Odds are you won't ever see a problem........

  3. McPlumb | Dec 14, 2007 04:28am | #6

    I don't have any experience with the KITEC product.

    I have used Wirsbo Aquapex for many years, and I recently completed a rough in using the Watts brand pex tubing. Please understand that there are several companies making pex tubing, and there are several methods of fastening the tubing. Some of the products will interchange fastener and some just aren't compadible.

    There are some pushfit style connectors on the market that will adapt from one brand to another and are an excellent product, SharkBite is one name brand.

    I would suggest that you air test the water lines at 50 psi, if you don't already have water in them. 

    If no one shows up here with any actual experience with KITEC, an occassional bump to keep it active for a while couldn't hurt.

     

     

    1. mikeb3 | Dec 14, 2007 06:44pm | #13

      the guy who did my OWB and radiant heating system uses only Wisboro. In fact he told me when he saw the KITEC that there would be problems with it and he wouldn't use it. I got a bit I TOLD YOU SO yesterday when I told him. He also advocates using the push on connectors for my system and suggests Wisboro for any new lines.

      MB

      1. User avater
        popawheelie | Dec 14, 2007 08:22pm | #14

        Hey Mike, do you have a link or something to the Wisboro connectors? I just looked at the sharkbite connectors. I like the idea that they fit over the tubing. You should get more flow through them because of this.

        1. mikeb3 | Dec 16, 2007 07:50pm | #15

          I do but that supplier recommends I first try Watts 'Seatech' which he uses in similar retrofit applications. Same type of thing, pushes on over the pipes and, according to him and several others, works without problem. That's happening tomorrow (16th) so I'll post and let you know how it went.

           

          1. User avater
            popawheelie | Dec 16, 2007 08:48pm | #16

            Thanks. I'll do a search on Watts Seatech. Is that the same Watts that make pressure regulators for houses?

          2. mikeb3 | Dec 17, 2007 05:21am | #18

            Don't know that. Up here our meters/reglulators are mostly Reliance by American/Cdn Meter.

            The Watts(Seatech) product is sold here by Home Depot as well as local plumbing stores.

        2. billybatts | Dec 17, 2007 06:41am | #20

          Wirsbo

          1. User avater
            popawheelie | Dec 17, 2007 07:12am | #21

            I looked at them and they go inside the tubing. I do think they would be a more secure seal though. I plan to keep all my push-in/on style fitting exposed.

          2. caseyr | Dec 18, 2007 01:51am | #22

            Wirsbo no longer exists...At least officially - what used to be Wirsbo is now Uphonor. Same company, same product, new name (at least so far as I know).

          3. plumbbill | Dec 23, 2007 06:52am | #23

            Yeah they changed the name to Uponor, but on my 1000' boxes both names are on there.

            "Why do you hurt me when I do bad things to you?" My youngest son to his older brother

          4. mikeb3 | Dec 25, 2007 12:51am | #24

            Just to follow up, I used the Watts Seatech push on connectors which have ain internal support sleeve for use with plastic piping and everything works. Now all that plastice doesn't look so bad up there. Thanks to everyone for your help.

            M

  4. User avater
    Mongo | Dec 14, 2007 07:09am | #7

    You can buy Kitec fittings here.For future work consdier home running everything. I'd never have a PEX union enclosed in a framing bay.



    Edited 12/13/2007 11:11 pm ET by Mongo

  5. plumbbill | Dec 14, 2007 03:41pm | #8

    I watched a guy connect 16 Kitec pex-al-pex fittings to a copper header on my next door neighbors house radiant floor system, that is ALL the experience that I have with Kitec.

    We use a push on style angle stop with "O" ring & locking teeth on our current 20 story condo project, I used them back in the late 90's while I'm not a huge fan of the look or professionalism of the fittings they do work.

    "Why do you hurt me when I do bad things to you?" My youngest son to his older brother

    1. mikeb3 | Dec 14, 2007 06:36pm | #11

      Thanks for the information. I had visions of tearing up floors. Several people have responded in favour of the Watts Seatech push-on connectors so I'm trying them.

      I too was a copper guy and actually like to solder. It was the plumber who talked me into this stuff.

      Thanks again

      MB

  6. reinvent | Dec 17, 2007 12:21am | #17

    Not to discredit the advice you have all ready gotten here but you might try posting your Q over at

    http://heatinghelp.com/

    at their Q&A section called the Wall.

    1. mikeb3 | Dec 17, 2007 05:24am | #19

      Thanks, if the Watts connectors don't work I'll go there.

       

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