Copper's great, but honestly, I'd be cautious about using PEX too close to boilers. Seen a few cases where heat caused fittings to loosen over time. Maybe I've just been unlucky...but copper near high-temp areas still feels safer long-term.
Have you checked out PEX-AL-PEX yet? It's rated for higher temps and holds shape better than standard PEX. Might bridge that gap you're worried about...though copper's still my go-to near boilers.
Yeah, PEX-AL-PEX is pretty handy stuff. I've used it a few times when standard PEX felt a bit too floppy or wasn't rated high enough for the temps I was dealing with. Still, like you said, copper near the boiler is hard to beat—especially if you're dealing with tight bends or need something rock-solid. One tip: if you're using PEX-AL-PEX, make sure you've got the right fittings and tools handy; it's a bit less forgiving than regular PEX if you mess up a connection... learned that the hard way once.
I've had decent luck with regular PEX even near the boiler, to be honest. I get why copper is the go-to for most people—it's sturdy and reliable—but I've found that if you're careful about supporting standard PEX properly, it holds up surprisingly well. I did my boiler plumbing about two years ago and haven't had any issues yet.
One thing though, I totally agree about fittings and tools. Messed up a connection once myself and ended up with a slow drip that took forever to track down. But I'm curious—have you actually noticed a significant difference in rigidity between standard PEX and PEX-AL-PEX once it's installed and secured? I mean, sure, straight out of the coil regular PEX feels floppy, but once it's clipped into place, does it really matter?
Also, price-wise, isn't copper getting pretty steep these days? Last time I checked, it was way pricier than any kind of PEX. Makes me wonder if the slight increase in hassle with fittings for PEX-AL-PEX or even just using standard PEX might be worth the savings. Just thinking out loud here...
I've used both standard PEX and PEX-AL-PEX, and honestly, once they're secured, the difference in rigidity isn't huge. Sure, PEX-AL-PEX feels more solid initially, but after clipping everything down properly, regular PEX doesn't budge much either. Copper prices lately though...ouch. Makes me glad I switched to PEX a while back. Has anyone tried those push-fit fittings near boilers? I've heard mixed things—some swear by them, others say they're asking for trouble...
