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[Pinehouse4]

Hi Guys,

I should be firing up my P+M BL 34/40 by month's end. It will be heating the house and shop using cast iron radiators, as well as two DHW tanks with side arms.

This week I will be getting pricing from two very experienced plumbers that both have hydronic heating experience. Each man has already expressed their recommendations re the pipe to use.

One man recommends I use pex, because if you use black steel " your always cutting and threading . "

The other believes in the use of black steel, he sets up his equipment then cuts and threads at the back of his truck.

I can appreciate the benefits of each.

Your advice would be welcome,

thank you,

Bob

[slimjim]

How about copper, more pricey out of the gate for parts but labor is reduced from black iron and doesn't look like it's hacked in like pex

[userdk]

Pex. Simpler. Cheaper

[LittleJohn]

Just remember Black Iron Pipe (BIP) WILL RUST!!   ...so does copper but not as bad, I feel.

Any leaks or condensation you get on the metal pipes will leave some real nice rust stains; thats why I choose PEX, also with PEX its a bit easire to fish thru walls and what not.

[american-pacemaker]

LittleJohn, how can copper rust it is a nonferrous metal ?

[LittleJohn]

LittleJohn, how can copper rust it is a nonferrous metal ?

Copper is still metal!     It does not rust like steel, but it can still oxidize.
http://answers.wikia.com/wiki/Does_copper_rust

Plus who wants to see cruddy old metal pipes anyway

[slimjim]

The same guy who doesn't like to see funky looking fittings and spaghetti pipes all over his basement! I made the mistake of using Rehau on my mother in laws room with the single nail up clips, good thing she takes her hearing aides out when she sleeps otherwise she would wake up every time that zone calls for heat, I wanted to get to replacing that this summer with Vega but never got around to it.

[Jwood]

You want to switch hers to copper slim? And what Rehau fittings are you using, anyone ever use the everloc fittings?

[slimjim]

No I have since used Vega, Fosta pex, it has an aluminum barrier that makes it quite ridgid and no noise!

[Jwood]

I sure like the everloc system but the tools need are spendy and the fittings are not cheap either!

[atvalaska]

I went  with wisbor/uponor ...and  i'm', the proud and poor owner of Both the m12 and the m18 tools ...1/2 to 1 1/2 heads ....I got them new at great prices and e bay will sell them for me when i'm done !!  I figure to break even or "have the lowest rental fee " in the world !

[Jwood]

Is it possible to rent the rigid propress tool, has anyone ever rented one?

[LittleJohn]

I went  with wisbor/uponor ...and  i'm', the proud and poor owner of Both the m12 and the m18 tools ...1/2 to 1 1/2 heads ....I got them new at great prices and e bay will sell them for me when i'm done !!  I figure to break even or "have the lowest rental fee " in the world !

ATValaska, can't agree with more about the $$ for the Uponor/Milwaukee m12 & m18.  But you should look at the prices for some of there previous expanders  , makes the milwaukee ones almost seem affordable, by comparison