[Greenbuilding] Al Pex for Solar Heating System

[Dan Antonioli]

Sacie,

I'm currently reading Bob Ramilow's "Solar Water Heating" and he  
strongly discourages the use of any PEX, unless it's on the cooler  
return line. PEX, he claims, will hold up for a few years and then  
begin to break down under high temperatures.

It's tempting, I know. I have a couple of thermal projects coming up  
at my home and I want to make it easy and use PEX. Sure would be nice  
if a high-temperature PEX could be developed to last thirty years!

Dan Antonioli



On Jan 2, 2008, at 8:55 PM, Sacie Lambertson wrote:

> When we built our house we plumbed it for a back-up solar water  
> heating
> system.  Unfortunately this was before I learned that PEX could not be
> used.  Now I'm ready to complete the job (our propane bills have  
> gone from
> $350/yr to $750/yr) but I'm told that AL PEX should NOT be used  
> either, that
> it can't take the extreme heat of the glycol coming out of the  
> solar panel.
> I would appreciate hearing some opinions and best advice on this.   
> Copper is
> the only recommended carrier this knowledgeable source told me  
> (though he
> had heard of using copper for the first six feet, with an  
> alternative after
> that, but didn't think this a good idea either).  I really don't  
> want to use
> copper if I can help it.
>
> A follow up question: what is the best insulator for the copper/ 
> alternative
> line which will have to be buried for 20 ft before it enters the  
> house?  Yes
> I know that copper must be contained if it is going to be buried in  
> the
> ground.
> Thanks
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