Any Plumbers? (Aquatherm vs. Uponor)
 

my building is looking into re-piping and the strata people are considering Aquatherm vs. Uponor. We will have to vote on one of these. Any idea which is better?

How long you going to be there? And what's the cost difference? For reliability, I'd take the PEX.

From a quick search, aren't they both PEX? Just different brand.

both are PEX.
will be here for a while.

Uponor has 25yr warranty - 4mil (it'll be pex + stainless steel)

Aquatherm is 10yr warranty - 3mil (it'll all be pex)

looking for opinions on which way to vote given 1mil diff.

Not a plumber but we do use Uponor at some of our off campus buildings at work. No complaints, good support when we need to replace parts (e.g. actuators for multizone in-floor heating system). No experience with Aquatherm.

Given the significant price difference and the likelihood that you won't live there past the 10 year warranty period, I would personally opt for the less expensive option.

Im an apprentice plumber. We had a guy from Uponor that came to our job site and explained to us about their warantee and products etc. Had a mini quiz at the end.
So technically. Im certified to use their products. In their data base. It says I'm Certified.
They started doing this because they wanna make sure people actually understand how to use their products PROPERLY!

If you buy PIPES from Uponor and use a FITTING from a different brand. If the PIPE burst where the FITTING and pipes connect. The warantee is voided. So you must buy pipes and fittings from the same manufacture.

If there is a leak from there products. They will inspect it to see if the fitting was installed properly or if there was any damage to the pipes. Having a piece of TAPE on the pipes can slowly destroy the pipes over time.

PEX is the type of plastic.

Thats all i remember at the moment

There are alot of good Plumbers who take pride in there work. There are also alot of crappy plumbers who do poor quality work. Keep that in mind. You can spend $$$ on pipes then hire a bad plumber. Leaks!

What do you mean by having a piece of TAPE on the pipes can slowly destroy the pipes?? tape as in scotch tape/ painters tape / duct tape?

Because of the residue it will degrade the pipe over time. Its rare but it could happen. Or even using a black marker to write on the pipe will degrade the pipe also.

Both systems are completely different in material (Uponor=polyethylene crosslinked, Aquatherm=polypropylene) and method of installation (Uponor=cold expansion, Polypropylene=hot fusion).
Having said that, both systems will probably last 50 years regardless of how long the warranty is.
My advice: pick the cheaper option (which is probably Uponor)

i've seen/heard of issues with Aquatherm. i don't have details and still under investigation but I would say be careful with the product. Not sure if it's an install or fitting issue or other.

personally i would stick with what's tried & true vs a special type of material.

Mind blown that aquatherm is cheaper and has less warranty than wisbro (Uponor). That stuff is major pain in the ass, from fusing fittings in tight areas, to irons not hot enough, the wait time between using the irons, always needing to have power ran to the irons, to parts being shipped from over seas, the 500°F burns to flesh :lol

When i first read your post i thought this was about pex (crimp) vs wisbor (expanding)

Go with wisbro for sure, you should also get a quote on IPEX-AquaRise.
Aquarise for the mains and anything under 1 1/2" go wisbro

Who supplies & install IPEX-Aquarise? Can you give a contractor name? I will email our council member.

No harm in getting a quote, but good luck using Aquarise in a building that's already occupied. The primer and glue is absolutely BRUTAL. Guarantee that you'll have people complaining about the smell.

Rehau is the industry standard, as far as I know. I'm not a plumber, but I design mechanical systems and used to commission buildings.

For PEX-a anways, any other variant, you'd probably be better off with another manufacturer.

Uponor is also pex-a.

Are you saying there is a better option that Uponor.
I've also been schooled at the Plumbing 101 class at Revscene.net that Uponor is just the brand and what i'm actually buying is Wisbro.

Is Rehau the brand or material?

Rehau is the brand.

https://www.rehau.com/us-en/mechanic...roduct-details

Uponor/wirsbo same company/same thing first developer of pex-a.