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| CASE STUDY |
Additional Resources
Project Profile
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: Residential Home
System Type: Plumbing Systems
Installer: Interstate Plumbing and Air Conditioning of Las Vegas
Uponor products mentioned in this case study
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RESIDENTIAL: Plumbing Systems
LAS VEGAS RESIDENCE
Interstate Plumbing has completed over 4,000 installations with Wirsbo AQUAPEX and they couldn’t be happier about the switch from copper.
Downloadable Resources: Case Study (.pdf) | Text (.txt)
Since then, they have completed over 4,000 installations with Uponor’s Wirsbo AQUAPEX® tubing and they couldn’t be happier about the switch. Unlike other plastic plumbing products, Uponor PEX tubing has been used in radiant floor heating and plumbing systems around the world for over 30 years. Wirsbo AQUAPEX offers Interstate’s 270 plumbers and their customers a clean, healthy and reliable plumbing system.
“We wanted to switch to a system that would save us time, eliminate our copper theft problem and ensure quality and reliability,” says Jim Manning, president of Interstate. “AQUAPEX has proven itself to be a system that can do all this and more.” In fact, Manning likes Wirsbo AQUAPEX so much that he installed it in his own home. “AQUAPEX tubing is clean, it doesn’t corrode and it’s not affected by the corrosive water and soil in Las Vegas,” he says. “It even comes with a 25-year warranty when installed by an Uponor-trained plumber.” The flexibility and durability of Uponor PEX tubing means many of the joints that were necessary with rigid copper are eliminated. Fewer joints mean more time savings, lower material costs and lower risk of leaks. Best of all, Uponor’s revolutionary ProPEX® fitting system is quick, easy and permanent. ProPEX fittings use the shape memory of Uponor PEX tubing. A ProPEX expander tool expands the tubing enough for the fitting to be inserted. The tubing then compresses around the fitting as it returns to its original shape.
“It’s a huge advantage that our plumbers can tell just by looking at the connection that it is good,” says Alan Carducci, general manager at Interstate. “We no longer need torches or gauges on the job site because ProPEX fittings allow for visual inspection. This has virtually eliminated our call backs.” Unlike some of the other flexible fitting systems available, ProPEX fittings are created and designed for use with Uponor PEX tubing. They have been proven over years of successful laboratory and field testing. Interstate has also found success in using 1" Wirsbo AQUAPEX for service water from the meter to the house. In fact, Interstate is using Wirsbo AQUAPEX for the service water on almost every house they plumb. Interstate has now converted the vast majority of its business to Wirsbo AQUAPEX, and is actively educating builders and homeowners about its benefits over other plumbing materials. “We wanted a system we knew could provide us benefits now and far into the future,” Manning says. “Wirsbo AQUAPEX has proven itself to be that system.”
Summary of Benefits Proven Reliability — Wirsbo AQUAPEX tubing has a proven 30-year history in plumbing systems. Jim Manning wanted his company to switch to a product that he knew was proven to be reliable and had been used as long as its warranty. Wirsbo AQUAPEX offers a proven history unlike any other flexible plumbing system on the market. Corrosion Resistance — Because the water and soil in the Las Vegas area are very aggressive, Interstate needed a plumbing material that would survive in extreme conditions. Unlike copper, Uponor PEX tubing does not corrode, pit or scale. It holds up very well against corrosive environments. No Reclamation Value — Interstate lost thousands of dollars each year due to theft of their copper plumbing materials. Using Uponor PEX tubing solved their problem because it has no reclamation value. Reliable Fittings — Uponor’s ProPEX fittings allow Interstate’s 270 plumbers to make quick, easy and permanent connections without torches, glues or gauges. Plumbers can also check visually if they have a good connection. And since ProPEX tools do not need to be calibrated, there is no concern with making an improper connection because the tool is out of calibration. Comprehensive Training — Uponor offers a training course to ensure all plumbers installing Wirsbo AQUAPEX maintain the quality of the system throughout the installation process. All 270 of Interstate’s plumbers are Uponortrained Wirsbo AQUAPEX installers. The design information in this case study is provided for illustrative purposes only. The actual requirements of similar projects will depend on regional climatic conditions, project-specific heat loss, owner expectations, applicable building codes, etc. Please contact your Uponor representative for assistance in designing your specific projects. # # # For more information about the benefits of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing, contact a reputable manufacturer, such as Uponor North America (www.uponor-usa.com). For editorial assistance, contact:
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Any plumbing company needs to think very carefully before switching materials. Interstate Plumbing and Air Conditioning of Las Vegas (Interstate), one of the city’s largest plumbing contractors, did just that when they decided to switch from copper to Uponor crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing for hot and cold potable water systems.
