Although they are mounted in a complex process and might act robustly, PEX tubing is the most appreciative way to introduce installations in the building construction process. But can PEX be buried at all?
A lightweight and durable polyеthylene thermoplastic with cross-links is also known as PEX. [1]
If your question is whether PEX can be buried – the answer is yes – it can be installed in the ground, and below we offer you an explanation and some useful information that can help you in further work with pipes.
Hence, the present dilemma is very justified, since any step error can slow down the construction process, even set the job back a few stages, and before starting work, it is very important to have answers to all questions and dilemmas that may arise.
Can PEX Be Buried and Used Outside?
Working with these installations is not at all simple, but it requires knowledge and skill that will ensure quality and long-lasting pipe installation.
PEX tubing is produced so that it can withstand high pressure and extreme weather conditions, i.e. high or low temperatures. Because it has great flexibility and durability, the junctions at which it intersects are durable, so it needs fewer parts to assemble.
Extreme weather conditions, and exposure of parts to external influences, in this case, can not interfere with the installation of PEX tubing and they can be used outdoors.
Tips for burying PEX
Some advantages offered by this modified type of plastic are:
- Smooth inside of the pipe that easily leaks both “soft” and “hard” type of water
- They are durable in extreme weather conditions
- They tolerate low and high temperatures well (there is information that they can withstand up to 110 Celsius)
If you decide to install PEX pipes for your household, a few tips that may be interesting for you to work with them relate primarily to the fact that they are recommended for direct installation outside.
The expected life of PEX pipes is between 40 and 50 years, as they are made of durable and non-corrosive materials.
This installation in the ground reduces sun exposure, which can otherwise damage the pipes.
Also, the raw materials from which these pipes are made allow expansion, so their elasticity is a great reason if you want to use them since they are resistant to extreme weather conditions, especially low temperatures and possible cracking.
Can PEX Be Buried in Concrete?
Because its basic ingredient is flexible polyethylene, which guarantees flexibility and longevity, these pipes will give you a long life, regardless of contact with liquids at high and low temperatures. PEX can be ideal for burying in earth, sand or concrete.
The ideal conditions for placing PEX pipes below ground level are when you place them below the ground freezing line in sand or under concrete dust. [2]If your question is how deep do we have to install water pipes below the surface of the earth (how deep to bury PEX water line)?
Can PEX Fittings Be Buried?
If we are already talking about the duration of PEX pipes, as well as the flexibility that guarantees easy possibility of working with them, there is a certain dose of fear that joints and knees, as well as other fittings, cannot be buried.
Since they are made of the same type of material as the pipes, PEX fittings can also be buried into the ground. These fittings can withstand high pressure and can survive temperature deviations, whether it is freezing or high temperatures.
PEX pipes can be used with both hot and cold drinking water or with heating (for example, hydronic or radiant heating).
It’s possible to install fittings behind the walls, although they can’t be buried in concrete, since crimp rings are made of softened copper. So, if you have a dilemma, can you bury pex crimp rings, the answer is unfortunately – no.
What Type of Pipe to Install in Your Household?
For all those who understand the business, the dilemma of “PEX A or B for underground” does not exist because they know the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
If you are encountering these terms for the first time
The main difference between PEX A and PEX B is in the joining methods and different pros and cons:
The Price
What is usually the first motive when making a private choice when making any purchase is the price. Although PEX A is a bit more expensive, the more common choice may be PEX B.
Even then, pay attention to the total price, because it includes the purchase of supporting elements along the pipes, but also the installation and installation services that plumbers charge you.
Flexibility or Elasticity
Due to the high degree of elasticity, PEX A is a better choice, as it expands under the work of heat gun, and in seconds it returns to its previous state.
Because it is made of a slightly different material, PEX B cannot expand and contract. If it breaks, the only scenario in the repair is to cut the broken part and replace it.
This difference is repeated when you put the joining system as a criterion, where PEX A proved to be a more successful model for work.
We suggest using proper PEX tool while working with PEX pipes in home.
Risk of Bursting of the Pipes Under the Pressure
If you live in one of the countries where it is cold for most of the year, before installing pipes, you must seriously consider whether they can withstand all (extreme conditions) for the normal functioning and supply of water to your home. In the red, things shrink, the pipes freeze, and they can burst under pressure!
PEX A`s expansive material can handle up to 500 PSI, so it’s very important to mention this fact since it makes it reliable in extreme conditions, such as low temperatures.
Related: Why Is PEX Plumbing Bad
The Choice is Yours!
In the phase of planning the best plumbing system for your household, careful consideration is needed. Since you need an excellent economical choice for the plumbing system, PEX tubing can be the right solution, in it`s various forms. It’s easy to handle and manageable.
You can get the most efficient pipes if you make precautions and follow the tips given in this post. We wrote this text to offer answers to questions and dilemmas you have before installing a piping system, and hopefully not during the process itself. It can help you choose a system that is affordable for you, and does the job as you envisioned.
It is up to you to make the final decision that will improve your quality of life, at least when it comes to water supply.
Michael Davis is a heating & plumbing expert who currently works as independent contractor in SC. He also writes for Plumbertip.
For almost 10 years he worked on various plumbing tasks across South Carolina.
