PEX Weak Link Overlooked

Carl Brahe, CHI, CCI

Another latest, greatest, building material is causing damages and resulting lawsuits. PEX, cross-linked polyethylene, is formed into tubing, and is used in hydronic radiant heating systems and domestic water piping. Its estimated life expectancy is up to 200 years.

PEX itself is not the problem. It has proved no corrosive even buried in concrete. It saves a great deal of time in installation because it can be run like a garden hose instead of soldered together like an erector set. Connections are made by compression using no chemicals or solders. Failures have been reported in one company’s brass fitting that connect the PEX tubing.

Zurn brand brass fittings have been reportedly failing after as little as two months. The fittings crack from the inside due to a manufacturing defect. Failure has resulted in both slow leaks and gushing cracks.

Zurn paid for damages and replacements when the problem first emerged. After claims from individual plumbers grew into hundreds of thousands of dollars, they denied responsibility and stopped reimbursement. A class action suit has been filed.

PEX connectors made by Zurn and brass connectors made by other manufacturers have not been associated with reported failures.

Zurn brass connectors usually have “QPEX” stamped on the body. Elbows and tees are the most likely to fail although other types of connectors have failed as well.

If your home was built or remodeled in recent years, you may have PEX tubing in your home, particularly if you have radiant heat. PEX heating and fresh water plumbing systems usually connect to a central distribution manifold that may be made of copper, brass or stainless steel. Individual supply tubes connect here directing water to radiant heating and plumbing fixtures in the various parts of the house. If you have a manifold with red, white or blue plastic tubing connected to your heating or plumbing system, you may have suspect connectors.

Since PEX is flexible, it can run for great distances without connectors. This may make the actual connectors hard to find. If you have a PEX system, particularly if the tubing is red, white or blue, have it checked by a plumber to see if you have ZORN, “QPEX”, brass connectors. If you have these connectors, contact zurnclassaction.com for further information.

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