Exploring Plumbing Rough In
Plumbing Rough In
Plumbing rough in is a topic that we cover on every new home project. It is important to understand that plumbing rough in for your home begins in the basement if you are planning one. With a basement you need an exact layout of your plumbing rough in before the concrete floor is poured.
Plumbing rough in describes the piping that is installed before the finished walls are in place. The most common products used for plumbing rough in today are PEX tubing for potable water systems and PVC (polyvinylchloride) rigid piping for DWV (drain-waste-vent) systems.
PEX Plumbing
PEX has become the drinking water supply product of choice because it has the following desirable properties. PEX resists corrosion and scale buildup, it maintains its strength and flexibility at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. PEX is a cross-linked polyethylene which is relatively new technology but it has been around since the 1980’s.
Let’s talk about the fresh water system of our plumbing rough in system first. PEX stands for Poly Ethylene Cross (X)-Linked. It is the cross-linking process that makes PEX strong, safe and reliable, and it is how this process is done that determines what grade, or category, the PEX belongs to. Depending on the grade of PEX that you choose, the flexibility, strength, and uniform nature of the material will be affected.
The letters tell you how the PEX was created and the quality of the PEX, with “A” being the highest grade, followed by “B’, and finally “C”. PEX-a is made using the Engel (or peroxide) method to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. With this method, the crosslinking is done at a high temperature above the melting point of the crystals. This “hot crosslinking” produces an incredibly uniform material with no weak spots.
The Engel method produces the strongest, most flexible PEX tubing possible, allowing for an installation with fewer joints and fittings than any other type of PEX. PEX-a also features a strong thermal memory and freeze protection, which means that once the tubing is expanded or contracted, it will naturally go back to its original shape. Since the process takes more time and more sophisticated equipment, PEX-a tends to be a bit more expensive than PEX-b or PEX-c. AquaPEX is the only PEX-a material available for plumbing applications.
If you have ever experienced the sound of a gurgling drain after a toilet is flushed or a tub drain empties then you have experienced the result of an inappropriate or improper vent system.
Each drain outlet needs a venting line that runs up and out of the home. These vents can be connected in an attic space so that they discharge from a common location out of the building so long as the venting system continues to flow in a natural upward direction with no restrictions.
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Monday, April 23rd 2012 at 6:40 am |
[...] PEX-A is made while using Engel (or peroxide) method to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. Using this method, the crosslinking is done at the high temperature above the melting stage of the crystals. The Engel method produces the strongest, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also incorporates a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Since this process takes added time plus more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products appear to be the more costly type. AquaPEX could be the only PEX-A material available for plumbing applications. While samples of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Monday, April 23rd 2012 at 6:49 am |
[...] PEX-A is made while using Engel (or peroxide) solution to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. Using this type of method, the crosslinking is conducted at the high temperature higher than the melting stage of the crystals. The Engel method produces the strongest, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also features a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Simply because this process takes additional time plus much more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products appear to be the costliest type. AquaPEX still is the only PEX-A material designed for plumbing applications. While examples of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Tuesday, April 24th 2012 at 12:32 pm |
[...] PEX-A is done while using the Engel (or peroxide) solution to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. Using this type of method, the crosslinking is conducted at a hot temperature above the melting level of the crystals. The Engel method produces the strongest, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also features a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Since this process takes more hours plus more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products appear to be the costliest type. AquaPEX could be the only PEX-A material available for plumbing applications. While samples of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Wednesday, April 25th 2012 at 11:07 am |
[...] PEX-A is done while using Engel (or peroxide) approach to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. With this method, the crosslinking is performed in a high temperature above the melting stage of materials. The Engel method produces the strongest, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also features a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Simply because this process takes more hours plus much more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products appear to be the priciest type. AquaPEX is the only PEX-A material available for plumbing applications. While types of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Friday, April 27th 2012 at 6:17 am |
[...] PEX-A is made using the Engel (or peroxide) solution to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. With this method, the crosslinking is performed with a very high temperature above the melting point of the crystals. The Engel method produces the strongest, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also features a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Because this process takes additional time and more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products are most often the more costly type. AquaPEX could be the only PEX-A material designed for plumbing applications. While examples of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Tuesday, May 1st 2012 at 4:20 am |
[...] PEX-A is created while using the Engel (or peroxide) method to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. With this particular method, the crosslinking is completed at the high temperature over the melting stage of materials. The Engel method produces the best, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also incorporates a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Because this process takes more hours and more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products are the most expensive type. AquaPEX could be the only PEX-A material designed for plumbing applications. While samples of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Saturday, May 5th 2012 at 5:24 am |
[...] PEX-A is made while using Engel (or peroxide) method to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. With this particular method, the crosslinking is conducted in a hot temperature higher than the melting level of the crystals. The Engel method produces the best, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also comes with a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Because this process takes additional time plus much more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products are the more costly type. AquaPEX could be the only PEX-A material intended for plumbing applications. While examples of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Sunday, May 6th 2012 at 4:56 am |
[...] PEX-A is done with all the Engel (or peroxide) solution to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. With this particular method, the crosslinking is performed in a hot temperature over the melting level of the crystals. The Engel method produces the best, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also features a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Simply because this process takes additional time and much more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products appear to be the priciest type. AquaPEX still is the only PEX-A material available for plumbing applications. While examples of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Friday, May 11th 2012 at 3:39 am |
[...] PEX-A is created while using Engel (or peroxide) solution to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. With this particular method, the crosslinking is done in a very high temperature over the melting point of materials. The Engel method produces the best, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also features a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Simply because this process takes more time plus much more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products are most often the more costly type. AquaPEX still is the only PEX-A material intended for plumbing applications. While instances of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Sunday, May 13th 2012 at 3:49 am |
[...] PEX-A is done while using Engel (or peroxide) method to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. Using this method, the crosslinking is performed with a hot temperature above the melting level of materials. The Engel method produces the best, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also features a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Because this process takes more hours plus much more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products are most often the costliest type. AquaPEX could be the only PEX-A material intended for plumbing applications. While types of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Wednesday, May 16th 2012 at 5:15 am |
[...] PEX-A is manufactured while using Engel (or peroxide) approach to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. Using this method, the crosslinking is completed with a very high temperature above the melting level of materials. The Engel method produces the strongest, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also features a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Because this process takes more time and much more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products seem to be the priciest type. AquaPEX is the only PEX-A material readily available for plumbing applications. While samples of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Sunday, May 27th 2012 at 8:41 am |
[...] PEX-A is manufactured while using Engel (or peroxide) method to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. Using this method, the crosslinking is performed in a hot temperature higher than the melting stage of the crystals. The Engel method produces the strongest, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also features a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Because this process takes added time and more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products seem to be the costliest type. AquaPEX remains the only PEX-A material available for plumbing applications. While types of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Sunday, May 27th 2012 at 11:37 pm |
[...] PEX-A is manufactured using the Engel (or peroxide) solution to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. With this method, the crosslinking is performed with a extremely high temperature higher than the melting stage of materials. The Engel method produces the strongest, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also incorporates a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Simply because this process takes more time and much more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products are the more costly type. AquaPEX remains the only PEX-A material available for plumbing applications. While examples of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Saturday, June 2nd 2012 at 7:09 am |
[...] PEX-A is done while using Engel (or peroxide) approach to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. Using this method, the crosslinking is done with a extremely high temperature over the melting stage of materials. The Engel method produces the best, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also features a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Simply because this process takes added time plus more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products are the more costly type. AquaPEX could be the only PEX-A material intended for plumbing applications. While types of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Tuesday, June 12th 2012 at 3:24 am |
[...] PEX-A is made using the Engel (or peroxide) approach to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. With this particular method, the crosslinking is performed with a extremely high temperature above the melting point of materials. The Engel method produces the best, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also incorporates a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Since this process takes added time and much more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products are the most expensive type. AquaPEX is the only PEX-A material intended for plumbing applications. While samples of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Sunday, June 17th 2012 at 5:14 am |
[...] PEX-A is made while using the Engel (or peroxide) method to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. With this method, the crosslinking is conducted at the hot temperature above the melting stage of materials. The Engel method produces the strongest, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also includes a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Simply because this process takes additional time plus much more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products seem to be the more costly type. AquaPEX remains the only PEX-A material intended for plumbing applications. While types of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Monday, June 18th 2012 at 5:33 am |
[...] PEX-A is created using the Engel (or peroxide) approach to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. With this method, the crosslinking is performed at the extremely high temperature over the melting point of the crystals. The Engel method produces the best, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also includes a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Because this process takes additional time plus much more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products are the most expensive type. AquaPEX remains the only PEX-A material available for plumbing applications. While examples of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Monday, June 18th 2012 at 5:33 am |
[...] PEX-A is made while using Engel (or peroxide) method to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. Using this method, the crosslinking is completed at a high temperature over the melting stage of materials. The Engel method produces the strongest, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also comes with a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Simply because this process takes additional time plus more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products are most often the priciest type. AquaPEX still is the only PEX-A material available for plumbing applications. While examples of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]
Saturday, June 23rd 2012 at 4:32 am |
[...] PEX-A is made while using Engel (or peroxide) method to crosslink the molecules of polyethylene. Using this type of method, the crosslinking is completed with a high temperature above the melting level of materials. The Engel method produces the best, most flexible PEX tubing possible. PEX-A also features a strong thermal memory and freeze protection. Because this process takes added time and much more sophisticated equipment, PEX-A products are the more costly type. AquaPEX remains the only PEX-A material intended for plumbing applications. While instances of PEX-A for radiant heat include ThermaPEX and hePEX. [...]