In this month’s video blog, we explain how to connect the Retro-Line Mini in-pipe heating cable system to PEX pipe. The focus is on the two PEX sizes most commonly used with Retro-Line Mini: half-inch PEX and three-quarter-inch PEX.

Retro-Line Mini is a factory-finished in-pipe heating cable system designed to provide reliable freeze protection for small-diameter water supply lines. It installs directly inside pipes as small as half-inch ID and is supplied with an end seal, fittings, and plug end for easy installation on the job site.

For three-quarter-inch PEX, installation is straightforward because Heat-Line offers the Retro-Line Mini in a CTS tee option.

This compression style tee allows the installer to:

1. Loosen the adapter nut
2. Ensure the PEX pipe is cut flush
3. Insert the pipe until it bottoms out
4. Tighten the fitting hand tight
5. Complete the connection with a quarter turn using a wrench

Half-inch PEX requires a different approach because Heat-Line does not offer a half-inch CTS specific tee. In this application, a half-inch female Schedule 80 PVC tee and two John Guest ProLock male adapter fittings can be used.

This setup allows the heating cable to pass straight through the assembled tee using the Retro-Line Mini with male adapter, while the water flows through the 90° path. During installation, the compression nut on the Retro-Line Mini male adapter fitting should be disengaged to prevent the heating cable from twisting.

Watch the video now and find out more about Retro-Line Mini at https://heatline.com/product/retro-line-mini/