Best way to connect rads with AluPex pipe?

[AlexReds]

Hi all,

I was just about to place an order for 10 radiators, 20-16-20 press tees, 20mm press-fit to 15mm chrome elbow tails for the rads, and 100m of 20mm AluPEX pipe. But then I realised — once I run my AluPEX along the wall and bring out the tails, they won’t line up cleanly with the radiator inlets.

What’s the standard or preferred way of connecting radiators when using AluPEX and routing the pipework along the wall surface? Especially when avoiding visible boxing or overly awkward connections?

Appreciate any advice or pics of how others have done it cleanly.

 

[Madrab]

There isn't really a standard for using PEX to create a system backbone and rad feeds like you wish to, PEX is more a standard for UFH loops. What you propose is a more bespoke setup and it would be a design as it goes approach, I would suggest. Especially along a wall. If PEX was used as part of a combined UFH/RAD then it would be more likely to be run under floor and then tails up to the rad valves, which would be a much more straightforward approach.

 

[AlexReds]

That's the thing, I can't go under the floor unfortunately. that would make everything way easier, It's an old bungalow with old concrete floor, have to stick to the pipes on the walls, behind skirting boards. Believe me, everyday I contemplate about braking the floor we installed and grooving channels for the pipes. but its a pipe dream for now
I found this tee with built in rad tail. But its cost is insane. Something like that I think would sort my problem at first glance at least.

Alpex F50 Profi Radiator Connection Tee - 20mm-15mm CU -330mm

Pressing contours F & TH

www.macdonaldplumbingsupplies.com

Although, it looks like it might noot reach my 83mm distance and I don't want my rad valves tilted. I actually can't believe my design is such a rare thing to do. AluPex pipes are so much easier to work with and they are superior to regular pex or qualpex.

Another idea I have is to invest in an expensive pipe bender and make my own tales, that would commit straight from the 20-15-20 tees. But I need to figure out if it can bend it enough to meet my distance requirements.

 

[Madrab]

Forgot to ask, are you investing in an expensive pipe press fit tool and it's relative sized jaws or is it something you already have? Quite an outlay for a DIY project unless your buying a manual set but you'd still need to get the specific 16mm and 20mm jaws.

Yeah - you are going down quite a specific/bespoke route, any time that happens it tends to get expensive.

 

[AlexReds]

are you investing in an expensive pipe press fit tool and it's relative sized jaws or is it something you already have? Quite an outlay for a DIY project unless your buying a manual set but you'd still need to get the specific 16mm and 20mm jaws.

I am going to buy one, a hydraulic one. I rented an electric one in the past and loved it. I am planing to replumb a lot of piping up in the attic so don't mind adding it into my tool arsenal. I am looking at either this or this one. They have all the nescessary dies. Most likely will go with the latter one, cause from what I gathered you need more manual force in the plier ones. Cause the last thing I want it is to underpress when my hands get tired. If you have any input on that I'd be delighted. It's a been quite a hurdle to figure it all out to be honest. Local builder providers shops aren't much helpful. It seems like the "slap and go" type of plumbing is more in demand, so they sell only most basic fittings. I have friends living in Germany, Norway and Estonia and they all used it in their houses for various projects and all the necessary fittings and tooling is readily available. Here in Ireland it's like an exotic.

Any chance you know anything about pipe benders? It's quite a rabbit hole as well. Here in the video he shows different benders and their respective bending capabilities. I'd need something like the last two. But their tool costs crazy money. So, I am tinking of something like that would do a similar job. It's a bit of investment, but the cost of 20 chrome rad tails comes just slightly under the price of it anyways.

P.S.
Attic wise, anyone heard of manifolds with 20mm outlets? Just want to tidy up my hot press-plumbing hub. Probably another super exotic and bespoke thing to do.

 

[Madrab]

I am looking at either this or this one

All I'll say is, with pressfit, I think it's a case of you'll get what you pay for.

Bending PEX is relatively straightforward and can easily be done freehand but using formers will always get a more accurate bend. Wouldn't need anything too extravagant as far as benders are concerned I wouldn't think.

 

[AlexReds]

All I'll say is, with pressfit, I think it's a case of you'll get what you pay for.

Bending PEX is relatively straightforward and can easily be done freehand but using formers will always get a more accurate bend. Wouldn't need anything too extravagant as far as benders are concerned I wouldn't think.

So I thought or at least in not so tight spaces where it's not so important. but in a tight spots like mine under the radiator I have very little wiggle room, so I need a very narrow radius/arcs. By hand you can do max 5xDo(which amounts to 16*5=80mm wide angle, but it starts ovalling). I need under <50mm radius, which is 3/3.5xDo max. The one I linked doesn't that by the way. The specs says 16 mm Ø 110 mm which is ~6xDo. I am playing around with a 45 degree bend. that might allow me to bend it by hand with a spring/mandrel.

 

[polesapart]

Going bespoke like this is a tad risky in terms of future maintainance.

It would be wise to hamster a few fittings and some pipe in case someone in ten or twenty years puts a nail through a pipe - no emergency plumber is likely to have the right gear on his van!