It doesn’t matter whether you are a Pipe Fittings homeowner doing repairs or a worker entering the plumbing industry for the first time: knowing how to identify the PEX pipe at hand and the factors to consider is an important skill when installing, and how you know you’re working Choose all the best components to help you succeed. Although the nuances between different materials and products may seem insignificant to those who don’t know, the selection of mismatched or inappropriate components in a piping system can be disastrous for countless reasons.

Plumbers can use three types of PEX pipe: PEX A, PEX B, and PEX C. The main difference between these three materials is the method the manufacturer uses to make them. PEX is of course the industry term for cross-linked polyethylene. The difference between the three is not necessarily a difference in level or performance. PEX A is not inherently better than PEX C. Different types of PEX help plumbers determine which type of fittings to use and what characteristics the pipe will have.

Generally speaking, the type of PEX used by plumbers depends mainly on personal preference. Since all three types of PEX pipes must meet ASTM F876 and NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 standards, plumbers can rest assured that their choices will meet the specifications. You will see small variations in density, burst pressure level, and bending radius between PEX pipe types, but they are negligible.

If you are starting a new pipeline project from scratch, you can choose the type of PEX to use based on some of the above benefits. Of course, the items sold at your local plumbing supply store will also influence your decision. If you want to repair an existing PEX system, you need to determine the type of PEX currently in use in order to match it. Just look at the parts of the pipe that are intact, especially around any joints. If they are cold-expanded pipe fittings, you know that the plastic PEX-A ring/sleeve uses PEX A. If they are almost any other type of accessory, you will know that it is most likely PEX B or PEX C, and you can buy it accordingly.