Not All PEX is Created Equal: Why Choosing the Right Type Matters

Original article by: Uponor

PEX (an acronym for crosslinked polyethylene) is a popular, high-performance piping solution for residential and commercial appliances. However, the assumption that all PEX is created equal is not true and can lead to costly mistakes. Using inferior PEX can result in troublesome issues, requiring expensive repiping efforts that can also damage your reputation with customers.

Uponor AquaPEX® is PEX-a pipe, which stands apart from PEX-b and PEX-c pipe due to its superior Engel-method manufacturing process that boasts an impressive 80% crosslinking, significantly increasing strength, flexibility, and resiliency in freeze/thaw cycles.

This high degree of crosslinking is what differentiates Uponor PEX-a from the other PEX types. PEX-b and PEX-c both utilize cold crosslinking manufacturing methods, resulting in lower crosslinking percentages of 65-70% and 70-75%, respectively. These lower percentages, combined with their different extrusion methods, contribute to poorer performance, higher instances of microcracking, and less flexibility compared to PEX-a.

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