If you’re familiar with hydronics, you know crosslinked polyethylene, or PEX, tubing has a history of use as distribution piping to transport heating fluids to and from various types of terminal units, including radiators, fan coils, and baseboards. And application options are continuing to evolve with PEX, especially as the industry incorporates the larger diameters of PEX pipe, now available up to 3 inches.
But a less common application that is gaining more attention is the use of PEX tubing for thermal storage. In such applications, the medium for maintaining the heat or cold is often a sand bed, typically located under the building.