Installing PEX tubing

Hi,

I'm looking to replace my radiators with PEX tubing, but I was
wondering if I had to replace the whole system at once, or I could do
it zone by zone. Is there any reason the two types of systems can't
exist on the same 'circuit'? Pressure requirements, etc?

Thanks in advance,

J.
Jeremiah D. Seitz
Omega Techware
http://www.omegatechware.net

 

The floors *are* wood, so your suggestion would probably be necessary.

You've made my evening. Thank you!

J.
Jeremiah D. Seitz
Omega Techware
http://www.omegatechware.net

 

You might put fin-tube under a basement ceiling...

Nick

 

Are you asking about replumbing your existing above floor "radiators"?
Pex I think comes in various grades. Pick the one suitable for heating
water and has an oxygen barrier built in to protect iron and steel
parts. Even closed systems under pressure were getting excesss oxygen
through the pex pipe.
James

 

Is that the copper pipe with aluminum fins, used for (older) baseboard
heating, or something specific to a PEX setup?

Thanks,

J.
Jeremiah D. Seitz
Omega Techware
http://www.omegatechware.net

 

Pretty much. I wanted to test one or two rooms before going the whole
nine yards.

I think I understand what you mean about the diffusion barrier. I'm
pretty sure that the only iron/steel in the system is the radiators
themselves, but I'll have to check that to be sure.

As it stands, we've got to bleed our system 1-2 times when starting
the system in the fall, and another 2-3 times over the winter. Sounds
like replacing the whole thing is the way to go.

Thank you,

J.
Jeremiah D. Seitz
Omega Techware
http://www.omegatechware.net

 

Understood. The grain of salt is firmly in hand at all times. I still
appreciate all responses. Sometimes a consensus isn't as good as a
debate when trying to find the facts.

Actually, they're the older 'standup' type - blazing hot close to them
and icy on the other side of the room. So, the operating temperatures
are definitely not compatible, in other words?

UPDATE: According to Radiantec, their 1/2" and 3/8" tubing can handle
temps up to 180 degrees at 100 PSI. Not sure if I want to go that
route, though.

I did scout out some info last year, mainly the Radiantec site, and
learned quite a bit just from their materials. Unfortunately, I don't
recall reading anything about a piecemeal installation like in my
original question.

To be honest, I should have rephrased my question better. I was
wondering if anyone here had actually done it. I was hoping to be able
to test the concept with one room, then make a decision based on the
results.

Thankee!

J.
Jeremiah D. Seitz
Omega Techware
http://www.omegatechware.net

 

Copper with fins. Argo Industries sells it for about $2/ft, with a water-air
thermal conductance of about 5 Btu/h-F-ft. It could work very well if warm air
rises up through an interior wall and exits near the ceiling and return air
falls back into the basement via floor registers near outside walls.

Nick

 

Isin't PEX made by taking aluminum pipe and lining it inside with a
layer of plastic as well as encasing it in a similar layer of plastic
on the outside?

If so, then it would make a very poor heat radiator, given that the
plastic acts as a thermal insulator.

Yes?