Uponor PEX-A for a Newport Beach Repipe: What Makes It Different and Why We Use Expansion Fittings
Uponor AquaPEX is a PEX-A tubing made with a cold-expansion fitting system. How it works, how it compares with other pipe, and what it means for Corona del Mar,…
When Newport Beach homeowners start comparing repipe proposals, one name comes up again and again: Uponor. Uponor makes AquaPEX, one of the best known PEX-A tubing lines, along with the ProPEX expansion fitting system used to connect it. Here is what that means in plain terms and why it matters for the homes in this city.
What PEX-A is
PEX is cross-linked polyethylene. There are several ways to make it, and PEX-A is made with a process that cross-links the material while it is still being formed. The result is a tube that is highly flexible, can be bent tightly without kinking and has shape memory, so it returns to its original form when heated or expanded.
How the expansion connection works
With Uponor's system, a ring is placed over the end of the tube, an expansion tool widens both together, and a fitting is pushed in. Over the next few moments the tube shrinks back down onto the fitting, creating a tight seal. The inside of the fitting is close to the size of the pipe, so flow is not choked the way it can be with some insert fittings.
Advantages in a real home
- Fewer fittings, because the tubing bends around corners instead of needing elbows.
- Smaller wall openings, since flexible lines can be fished through walls and ceilings.
- Resistance to the pinhole corrosion that affects copper in many Orange County homes.
- Tolerance for freezing and for some movement in the structure.
- Color-coded red and blue tubing so hot and cold are always clear.
Things to know
PEX of any kind should not be left in direct sunlight, and it must be supported and kept away from heat sources like flue pipes. Installation quality matters as much as the brand, which is why we use matched tubing, rings and tools.
Newport Beach homes we see
From mid-century homes in Newport Heights, Corona del Mar and Eastbluff to 1970s and 1980s homes near Back Bay and on Balboa Island, many still have original copper or galvanized lines. Coastal air, slab foundations and decades of use add up to pinholes and slab leaks. A PEX-A repipe routed through attics and walls avoids the slab altogether.
Permits and utilities
Water in most of Newport Beach is supplied by the City of Newport Beach Utilities Department, with some areas served by Irvine Ranch Water District. Repipes are permitted and inspected through the City of Newport Beach, and we coordinate with associations on parking and work hours.
Related reading
See how a PEX repipe affects home value or compare type L vs type M copper. Neighbors can visit Costa Mesa, Irvine and Laguna Beach, or see every city we serve at repipeinc.com.
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Repipe OC, 23821 Hillhurst Drive, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, (949) 524-2362, CSLB #1087885 C-36.
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Written by Repipe OC · CSLB #1087885 C-36 · 23821 Hillhurst Drive, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 · (949) 524-2362