Project Highlights
- Chris McGinnis, owner of Tucson Plumbing and Heating, needed a reliable plumbing system that would stand up to the aggressive water and soil conditions found in the Arizona desert.
- Uponor’s flexible PEX-a tubing, Wirsbo AQUAPEX, is not only resistant to corrosion, it also eliminates many joints necessary in rigid plumbing systems, saving valuable time and money as well
- All of McGinnis’ 60 plumbers are trained to install Wirsbo AQUAPEX and have found it to be an impressive solution to the problems presented by copper, CPVC and other plastic alternatives.
Background
Plumbers and homeowners in Tucson, Ariz. have a common concern when it comes to plumbing systems — reliability. They want a system that will withstand the aggressive water found in the Arizona desert, and metal pipe, because it is susceptible to corrosion damage, is not the answer.
This is what originally led Chris McGinnis, owner of Tucson Plumbing and Heating, to look at alternative plumbing materials. McGinnis needed a quality product that was reliable for his customers and easy to install for his plumbers.
He achieved all that and more when he discovered Uponor’s plumbing system which features Wirsbo AQUAPEX tubing and ProPEX fittings.
The flexibility of PEX tubing eliminates many of the joints necessary in rigid plumbing systems, saving plumbers both time and money. Additionally, it holds up very well against the aggressive water and soil conditions in the southwest.
ProPEX fittings use the shape memory of Uponor PEX tubing to form a connection that is fast, permanent and reliable. The connections are easily made with a tool that expands the tubing enough for the fitting to be inserted. The tubing then shrinks around the fitting as it returns to its original shape. ProPEX fittings allow for visual inspection and eliminate the need for torches, glues and gauges.
Uponor's patented drop-ear bend support provides an easy, connection-free exit from a wall.
Benefits
Reliable ProPEX Fittings
Uponor’s ProPEX fittings eliminate the use of torches, glues and gauges so McGinnis’ plumbers can make fast, secure connections they don’t ever have to second guess.
Installation Options
Proven Reliability
Comprehensive Training
Corrosion Resistance
ProPEX Delivers Results
“My plumbers like how easy the ProPEX fitting is to install and they also appreciate the time savings that results,” McGinnis says. “Rigid systems require more connections and more time without the assurance of a positive connection. Also, using Wirsbo AQUAPEX has eliminated many of our call backs, which is also a nice benefit.”
Tucson Plumbing and Heating has been successfully using Wirsbo AQUAPEX and ProPEX fittings since January 1996 for water distribution within the house and for the yard service. McGinnis says he is most pleased with the positive connection feature of the system.
“The ProPEX connection is the most positive connection available,” McGinnis says. “My plumbers can tell just by looking at the fitting if they’ve made a good connection.”
He goes on to state that convincing his customers to switch from other plumbing systems to Uponor was easy with all the features and benefits the Uponor system offers.
“We have been very successful convincing all 30 of our builders that Wirsbo AQUAPEX is a better system,” McGinnis says. “They now understand all its benefits — how it’s clean and healthy, offers a 25-year warranty and is proven reliable in over three decades of use.”