Which is Better PEX A or PEX B | Pressure Test

Which is Better PEX A or PEX B | Pressure Test

When it comes to plumbing, there are a lot of options. In this video, we take a look at two of the most popular types of plumbing pipes: PEX A and PEX B. Stay tuned!. We'll do a pressure test to see which one holds up better.

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Thanks for watching! I'm Roger Wakefield, The Expert Plumber, and welcome to my channel. On this channel, it's ALL about plumbing. We play games, we experiment, and we have FUN here, talking and learning about all things plumbing!
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[hemifivepoint]

This is my take. This test made me excited when I stumbled across it. I’ve always been skeptical about pex a fastening method. I was looking for a failure at the crimp joint. Neither product failed at that joint which is remarkable.

[notamouse]

As someone who knows a bit of polymer science, the conclusion is what I expected because stiffer probably means higher molecular weight and/or more cross linking and stronger in similar polymers.

[population]

Hi Roger, love the channel. Could you make a video about valves? which ones you like and which ones hold up the longest in your experience? Ball valves, gate valves, ect. Would love to see a breakdown of some of them. Older ones and new style too. Keep up the great work

[adisharr]

I think the biggest benefit of PEX A is fewer fittings and a higher flow rate. I replaced a PEX B install under my floor with all PEX A and was able to eliminate a lot of fittings the plumber used. Of course he doesn't care if it leaks below a floor that I have no access to underneath.

[aspees]

I had an entire 2 story house freeze in Connecticut. The only thing that burst were the copper sections near the on demand heater. The entire house was plumbed with Viega PureFlow Pex B. That's all of the water and radiant floors. Zero failures. The tenant shut the heat off in the summer and the pipes burst the day after Christmas due to good insulation. The whole house had to be gutted.

[jaromrobinson]

Great video! FYI some manufacturers do list their PEX B tubing for use with F1960 (expansion) fitting and rings. Sioux Chief and Viega are the ones that I am aware of but there may be others. I have used Sioux Chief PEX B with expansion fittings with no problem.

[Nova-echz]

I think what customers and people in the trade wants to know is the effect of time on those tubing… because we want something that will last the longest possible!

Good videos keep it !!

[sethpurvis]

As someone who uses strictly pex a I use expansion connections and crimp connections. Since pex a is able to use both style connections can we see a pex a pipe with the crimp connections to see what it burst at. I’m curious to know if the expansion weakens the pipe that much or if the pipe itself if that much weaker

[Red_Twizzler]

PEX-b for life. Ive been installing it for over 20 years. Zero issues.

[Hackdad]

Loved this thx roger.would love to see you add copper pipes, and pvc pipes to the test and run them vs the 2 typex pex pipes

[Hagenater_]

PEX B can be used as cold expansion installation connection as well. Be using wirsbo/uponnor for over 17 years, definitely durable, chemical resistant is key to area of installation.

[JSolstice]

id lover to see a freeze test, on both pex a and b. highest pressure in a home ive tested as a service plumber is 180psi. i have also done multiple repipes in pex type a through attics, i would like to see a simulation of a freeze break on a hot and cold line in your chamber. maybe you can install another Pex a male adapter on the other side of the chamber with a cap on the outside in some sort of black iron so you have more surface area on the test pipe itself. Thanks roger

[ryancasey]

Could you also put Suix Chief pex B in the mix? I would love to see their own Pex A versus PEX B because they claim that their pex B can use expansion fittings as well.

[JustinWebber-nbme]

Pex A for life, it’s what I was introduced to first. And not going to switch sides anytime soon.

[lsellclumanetsolarenergyll]

I like those tests you done, but now do me a favor and take each of them and put them under 200psi pressure outside for a year. I like to see which will fail the Florida brutal heat in the sun and in the shade side. Because I got in the last 10 years over 1000 PEX A which failed for customers under mobile homes and around the homes on the exterior alone. And it's the fitting which fails not the pipe. So the bigger thing we learned is for Florida's heat don't use expansion material for the fittings instead used stainless crimp rings instead.

[embracethesuck]

Freezing is a lot different than overpressure. Two distinctions that I would imagine are most relevant are the material properties of the pipe in sub-freezing temperatures as well as a defined amount of volumetric change vs essentially unlimited volume when pumping it full. On that last point, if you have a flexible container that can flex 10%, freezing should never get anywhere near those pressures because the volume of the vessel will increase to fit.

[nightmarejr]

Colored pex A is possibly being recalled or class action in place. They leak over time, the white versions are fine

[jcoop]

I'd like to see that with clear/white pex-a, given the litigation against uponor for the red/blue pex-a. These results are in line with the accusations in the CO class action.

[garywebb]

Frozen water in a confined space exert a tremendous amount of pressure per square inch as many home and business owners found out in Texas a couple of years ago. PEX could have saved many of them a lot of trouble and money. Didn't really care for the test or video until I started thinking about the total use of the information. Thanks

[GrammarPoliceInvestigations]

I'm like " Oh crap, my house is full of PEX Good to know the bursting strength, thanks Roger!