Need to run pipes on the wall for hot/cold water in the kitchen and bathroom. Cannot run inside the wall. The water has a low pH value, which should not be a health hazard, but it limits the choice of pipe types.
PEX was the first thought, but it's difficult to make it look nice. It twists on the wall due to temperature differences. Or is there any way to prevent that?
Alu-PEX (also called LK PAL) could work, it doesn't have the same thermal expansion, but it has odd dimensions (16 mm instead of 15) which means you can't use standard fittings. There are two ways to mount fittings: press fittings that require a special tool that's expensive (are there alternatives?). Or you buy half fittings specifically for PAL, which you then mount on a regular T-fitting, etc. I haven't found an all-in-one T-fitting for PAL, is there one? Or do you have to piece it together with half fittings?
Anything else I can use? I assume copper is out due to the low pH value. Or are there copper pipes with a plastic-coated or chrome-plated inside?
Maybe it's possible to run PEX inside another nicer-looking pipe that doesn't twist along the wall?
Grateful for tips.
Björn
PEX was the first thought, but it's difficult to make it look nice. It twists on the wall due to temperature differences. Or is there any way to prevent that?
Alu-PEX (also called LK PAL) could work, it doesn't have the same thermal expansion, but it has odd dimensions (16 mm instead of 15) which means you can't use standard fittings. There are two ways to mount fittings: press fittings that require a special tool that's expensive (are there alternatives?). Or you buy half fittings specifically for PAL, which you then mount on a regular T-fitting, etc. I haven't found an all-in-one T-fitting for PAL, is there one? Or do you have to piece it together with half fittings?
Anything else I can use? I assume copper is out due to the low pH value. Or are there copper pipes with a plastic-coated or chrome-plated inside?
Maybe it's possible to run PEX inside another nicer-looking pipe that doesn't twist along the wall?
Grateful for tips.
Björn
Do you know which acid gives a low pH? I would mostly be worried about connections of bad mässing.
Have you checked stainless steel (A4) pipes?
Have you checked stainless steel (A4) pipes?
Very tight bracing.B BjörnBygger said:
The fact that it's an odd dimension doesn't matter, you still need to use fittings specified by the respective pipe manufacturer when it comes to PEX. Never mix brands/types. As far as I know, there are different variants of compression fittings for all PEX systems, which only need to be tightened using wrenches.
Thank you for the response.
Checked a bit on stainless steel but didn't find many good parts. Do you have any site recommendations?
It's usually carbonic acid when the pH is low, but I'm not sure. pH 5.9, which isn't uncommon in wells out in the countryside.T Thomas_Blekinge said:
Checked a bit on stainless steel but didn't find many good parts. Do you have any site recommendations?
Have you succeeded well with that yourself? C-c measurements? Tried in various places and can't get it right.T Thomas_Blekinge said:
I've Googled thoroughly for compression fittings for 16 mm PAL (AluPEX) but come up empty. Like T-fittings etc. Where can I find such things? They aren't available at Rinkaby Rör, Sigro, and others.H hempularen said: