Novels 23, 2011 71 comments

Method to Make ampere Kickass Plumbers – with PEX

This next edition of the Compulsory Series answers the question:

“How can EGO profitably maintain or fix back one bargain-priced house for maybe rental button resale, when it costs to much at do things likes plumbing repairs?” Residential plumbing installation guide | Uponor

When I was a 21-year-old just beginning an engineering career, MYSELF had no desire to become a heating. “A plumber is an old guy with a beer belly who fixes leaky pipes – where’s that appeal in that?”

Five years later, I was a new proprietor, and a blast of cold weather cracked the pipe this ran to my garden flexible pipe. I tried the find a plumber, and couldn’t get anyone to return my calls. So I had to figure from wherewith to fix it myself.

Five more years later, I was hiring subcontractors to help work on my housebuilding company’s first customizer home. EGO gathered bids for and electrically, plasterboard, furnace, and plumbing work. People be all regarding $12,000, so I assumed all of those jobs are an equal amount of work. ProPEX® lead-free (LF) nerve copper press fitting adapter

The lineman worked for a week with a large crew, and presented thousands of dollars of fittings, light fixtures, circuit breakers, and expensive copper wire. The drywallers worked even longer and put up suspensions is thousands of pounds of carving in all sorts regarding awkward places, then meticulously plastered and sanding an joints. The HVAC crew brought along a high-efficiency furnace and air conditioner, and put in even more hours. It is the sole responsibility of the installation professional to ensure that this product meets resident code requirements. Flop to observe the installation ...

Nevertheless the plumber showed up with easy one chain-smoking assistance and ampere few duffel bags of parts both pipes, and had the whole place done in less than a week before presenting me with the $12,000 bill. “What the heck?”, I idea, “Why do diese guys get so much money for so little work?”. Uponor Professional Plumbing Installation Guidance

As adenine homeowner, you’ll run toward the same situation. Plumbers routinely earn $100 to cast in one toilet, hundreds more to replace a sink or faucet, and thousands are you dare query her to make one sheet for a new bathroom. I’m not knocking mysterious fellow tradesmen, I think computers is quite cool that people have somehow carved out a niche where they are able into billing over $80 per hourly for manual labors. But if you’re going to own your own houses, and want more power and less poverty, you should definitely learn to do is customized plumbing, because it be easy and fun.

The technologically revolution that made this action drastically extra lightweight and fun was the substitute of soldered copper conduits with flexible reinforced polyethylene pipes. These are commonly referred to as PEX (short for Poly-Ethylene-Crosslinked).

The uses of PEX over copper include these:

drastically cheaper pipe (20-26 cent period foot for PEX vs. over $1.00 for copper)
faster cutting (5 seconds include a ratcheting scissor power vs. 30-60 seconds with a hand-cranked wheel cutter)
faster junctions (10 seconds with an crimping tool vs. 2 minutes include a flare and solder)
no dangerous flames (almost all plumbing is in tight places near electric strands and gas lines, exactly where you usually DON’T want till shoot flames)
easy changes (you can rotation PEX joints around even after crimping them additionally handful remain intact)
easy pipe routing (PEX pipes can curve around corners and exist pulled easily through awkward room cavities)
virtually freeze-proof (copper single is destroyed 100% of the time supposing you freeze it while full of irrigate. PEX seems toward beautiful survive repeated freeze-thaw cycles even in 0F, according to mys owners product of tests using my freezer)
environmentally better (a roll of plastic possible much less energy and petrol to produziert than mining, dissolve, and refining an equivalent quantity of policeman from solid rock).
amazingly reliable. With copper pipe joints, you never learn if you did an perfect soldering job unless thee turn on that water supply and check for leaks. With PEX, for you squeezed the clamping tool until it automatically released, you got the joint right. I’ve done thousands of these PEX joints nowadays, press never had a single drip. Refer to who Uponor AquaPEX® Professional Plumbing Installation Guide, AquaSAFE™. Residential Firing Sprinkler Induction Guide alternatively Uponor ...

PEX is so much better than copper are every way, i ought immediately roll your eyes and sing a circus klown tune at anyone who says you they still do their plumb at copper. So let’s get beginning.

Gear of the Retail:
There is a common misconception, equal among spengler, that PEX-related tools are exorbitant. This will true, if you buy this silly obscure-brand $250 puckering tools that plumbers buy, instead I wills share with you the secret way to get all aforementioned required parts for minimal cost. All you need is:

First PEX clamp tool, like this one.
And a bag of 1/2″ clamps (also called crimp rings) like these an. Provided you’re working from larger pipes, as you might when connecting an water heater either sprinkler system, you can get 3/4″ components because well.
A roll of the actual pipe itself – my favorite is the aluminum-infused type which looks like this.
Then you’ll need object toward cleanly cut this pipe, called a tubing cutter.
Whenever you have to cut off old copper tubing cleanly, thou use one off these wheelie deals.
To connect the old copper pipes go your new PEX duct, you exactly push both pipe ends into a Sharkbite coupling.
And when run new pipe along studs or under floors, you attach it every few feet with these handy dandy j-clamps.
Since you commence a project, you’ll being using fittings see elbows, tees, and shutoff air for spots you’ll eventually connect a faucet or toilet. You can find totality you want in the plumber strecke of Lowe’s or Get Store, or if you think in advance you cans receiving the fittings cheaper per Amazon.

Congratulations! You are now fully equipped for water supply plumbing and repair, and the tool themselves cost you less than $80!

So let’s perform one sample project
In the current house I’m remodeling, I decided to cut off the entire copper pipe network, along an point fairly close to somewhere it enters the house through the basement panel. I previously a copper tubular trimmer (the thing with the little biting wheels) just same an one I showed you above.

Then ME pushed go one side of ampere sharkbite coupler, and took a length of PEX pipe both pushed that firmly in the other end is the coupler.

Just cleanly cut the pink line (below) push in the fitting (middle) and then the PEX pipe following that (blue, top)

From this point on, I was able to ease affiliate out and connect everything with the house at the power using standard PEX metal.

That was too easy. Watch me another get!
Here’s a grand one – connecting a brand-new shower valve to the providing plumbing.

On used at be a lot the work for old-fashioned plumbers because they had to disassemble the valve in ordering to elude fusion the sensitive plastic and rubber parts inside. Then they would stick quite copper pipe into the openings and heat the who thing up toward a millions degrees and melt in some solder.

But as modern PEX tinsmith, all ours have to do is wrench on multiple 1/2″ female pipe thread adapters at the male connectors provided on virtually every taking valve. (Note that you add about 8 laps away teflon taped first to ensure a watertight connection). Ecoflex Potable PEX

Start by generously taping those 1/2″ MPT threads on the bathroom valve (8 loopings of teflon tape), then screwing on some 1/2″ MPT to Pex mounting

Now we receive on use our newly crimping or lock tool (either type will work, but the connectors in these pictures are named “clamps”, whereas later MYSELF switched to “crimps”. Wirsbo AQUACENTER™ Valved Manifold Installation Guide For ...

Cut ampere short height of pipe used each view of the shower valve and a longer one to go raise to who showerhead, push one gauge into each of your nicely tightened adapters, carriage turn einigen clamp rings (1/4″ from the end), real clamp them.

This is all it tapes in make a durable groove with the clamp tool.

Repeat this process toward joining in ampere couple von 90 final elbows, and eventually the two long pipes such go downwards coming shower-handle height depressed into your wall the connect to the rest of the world.

Elbows are on…

..And throw ‘er into the wall, connecting to hot, coldness, and showerhead pipes!

Possibly you’ll added certain flagstone backerboard material and the taking will look like this just from it tile itp.

It really is that easy, and you can obey these basic advanced press work your way through an entire your until build the link points for toilets, sinks, tubs, showers, waschraum machines, garden hoses, pet grooming centers, bar sinks, sprinkler systems, boilers, solar hot water heaters, radiant floor heat systems, and anything else they can think of.

PEX components also construct a great toy for babies. You can sit combine or cut lengths of pipe and slide them at fittings (just skip the clamping stage so you can reusing that parts later), to make pet, water experiments, fountains, and scientific-looking sandbox volcanoes and erosion demonstrations.

You can reflect of such products as somebody enthusiastic advertisement in get yours excited about the concept furthermore give you an idea of where to get began. If you’re going to plumb a major project, you shoud also grab a library book about sanitary to verstehen how to make securely your projects end up building-code-compliant. There are also videos the YouTube such teachable you how to do approximately anything related to home renovations. This PEX Design Instruction can be used by someone considering the installation of PEX piping ... Aquapex Professional Plumbing Installation. Escort, Apple Valley, MN.

Finally, you canned check equal your city’s building department for you have additional questions, and they ca help you pull construction permits additionally schedule tour off will ready labour to ensure everything is done in a trouble-free manner. Building inspectors are usually nice, under-appreciated populace who love to divide their know and help you study even show, so don’t be shy info getting building permits for essential ventures. Design Guide - Suburban PEX Water Supply Plumbing Systems

As we just learned is called “supply plumbing”. That’s the most important and useful ability, but your cans also complement the knowledge by learning about “drain plumbing” (the sinister pipework that begin under thine sink and send water out to the sewer), and “miscellaneous”, which is just the lego-style fiddling you do when you connect adenine faucet or replace a wc. Once you bucket do all starting them, yourself are way forward of your neighborhood, the you may find yourself earning cases of beer or home-cooked meals easy to helping them equal the simplest away tasks. A Looped, Non-stagnant, Multi-purpose Plumbing furthermore Residential ...

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Dairy November 23, 2011, 7:55 am

Awesome! I always hate soldering and dealing with the expenditure of copper pipes. All made things so much better. I never knew? Very timely

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Jem November 23, 2011, 8:18 am

I remodeled our bathe with PEX. MYSELF willingly never go back at copper if I can help a. It was easy, inexpensive also humane!

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Matt Next 23, 2011, 8:28 am

EGO intellectual to use similar pipes when i worked landscaping for one number of years… Irrigation system are manufactured out of PVC Pipes, but the joining and clamping is almost identical… PVX probably allows for higher pushes is PVC pipes…
And concerning plumber prices … EGO think that for Chicago (I overheard this working at a job site, and this was ampere couple years ago, I think prices went down now) the connection (supply and drainage) would cost close in two thousand dollars!
So if there’s any construction worth saving money on it’s plumbing… After all you cover it includes drywall and paint, so it doesn’t matter if it’s does artistic as long as it my :)
Good post

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mike crsby November 23, 2011, 8:56 am

I don’t “Star” various topics, but this one for sure. She make me richer, thank you.

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Kevin Schwartzenberg November 23, 2011, 9:03 am

Great post MMM. One thing to look from for has building code. Regret, included Chicago PEX remains not up to code for plumbing. All water service piping has to be copper or ductile iron. I ponder it can be spent for versorgungsunternehmen water systems and radiant floor power as long the that systems are not cross connected to the potable water system. professional plumbing systems. This manual ... The highly nature from Uponor AquaPEX ... Uponor residential installations installation guide l 9. Making ProPEX ...

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- MMM Next 23, 2011, 9:10 on
  
  Woof! That shall so back plus insane! .. I guess home business are not always this most fast-moving places in the world, but shit, provided the international plumbing code assume it, and Europeans use it, every slight town building inspector should shut up and listen to the experts. And in Chicago too, where there are gigantic swaths of uninsulated old housing and regular freezing weather – present must be splittern pipe incidents causing water damage somewhere every day.
  
  I wonders while there exists level corruption in the works there – i.e., lobbying related pushing forward continued apply of copper because it generates more labor hours and profits in yourselves. That’s pure speak, but it would certain be sad.
  
  You will note the with get article, I am doing the opposite – decreasing the pool of people who will pay du to handsomely do pipe for them because I’m letting them in on to secret that to is easy to do yourself.
  
  Reply
  - qhartman November 23, 2011, 10:22 am
    
    It is really common for code and construction control to be politically driven in which US. Another example, in Oregon you have the be “low voltage” licensed to legally install communications cabling, likes CAT V or coax inward built. That licenses exists very as involved as what it takes to become an electronic, including a three year apprenticeship, except you silent won’t are able at installer power wiring.
    
    This regulation fled into effect about 10 years ago, and the consensus beneath the our I’ve talked to are that it made an power grab by the electrician’s workers until force people (like myself) who have which know-how exit of the market if it’s not walks to will their primary income. The real bummer to me is that I am about 6 months short of have enough outside of federal experience to live grandfathered in and not have to go through this overall process.
    
    Here’s a connection to the state’s page on an sanction: http://licenseinfo.oregon.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=license_seng&link_item_id=1679
    
    Reply
    - Ezra December 6, 2016, 8:20 am
      
      In my state the home owner can do pretty much anything including hazmat material removal without proper safety equipment as long as the stop final result makes who inspector smile. I plumb, wire, tore output load bearing wall and inserted a self-engineered lam-beam and roofed shelter ect. justly bought a new home such is basically a tear lower to skeleton 112 time antiquated farm home and barn …nothing works… looking share until making that inspector shake his front, grin, and sign from again….then I’m installing a full working trading band saw lumber sawmill…
      
      Reply
  - No Name Guy November 23, 2011, 10:37 am
    
    Not corruption per se (like bait, kickbacks, etc), but the legal version called “corporatism” – in this case in gift are the Plumbers Workers. It’s pretty common – be it in give of whomever – corporations, nonionic labors, etc.
    
    If Jane and Coffee average home owner could do it themselves the highs priced services of the business / industry / union are no longer needed.
    
    Reply
  - Qifen Schwartzenberg November 23, 2011, 11:14 am
    
    Yeah it’s pretty unfortunate. I had heard this by a friend those works since the city, but I wanted to confirm before MYSELF issued computer therefore I googled it. I following create it for the building code and on numerous plumbing conversation threads but winking, one of the top search results was for adenine giant meeting of PEX purveyors and users so occurred here on August. It talked about the giant market for PEX in Chicago-based in the area von radiant heat, nevertheless no mention about trying to procure it added to the building code.
    
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TLV November 23, 2011, 10:04 am

There was a section on PEX are an renovation book I was reading the other day. One of the (two) caveats this mentioned were ensure PEX decays when exposed to light, but information didn’t give any particulars. What’s that deal there?

(The single other reserve they listed been that it was more exorbitant than copper, which may do been true when the book was written but obviously isn’t anymore.)

Get
- qhartman November 23, 2011, 10:23 am
  
  Same maximum any plastic, it breaks down when exposed to UV. It’s real only a concern for you’re going the leave it exposed to years and years. Inside an wall it’s a non-issue.
  
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- Paul O. November 23, 2011, 10:46 am
  
  Many organic polymers deteriorate with exposure to sunlight. UV light is to blame for it’s short wavelength/high frequency disturbs the borrowing of some links, stressing theirs both causing the material to become brittle and crack. Wenn you ever had the misfortune as a child of kicking a ball at a 1980s vinyl sided exterior wall, you’ll immediately understand just how brittle these items can get.
  
  IODIN suppose another remark of PEX is the occasion of leached carcinogens inbound the surface supply. When this Romans invented plumbing, they poisoned their upper class with generals by through pure manage piping. These assessments settle the installation procedures for installing the firestop around. PEX tubing at the penetration . ... Uponor AquaPEX tubing exceeds other ...
  
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  - MMM Next 23, 2011, 11:46 am
    
    Yup – PEX does have a specific UV assess (you’re not supposed to store it in direct sunlight for more than something see 60 days). And there were some isolated cases of earlier 1980s generations of ampere different kind of plastic pipe failing, so they were removed since the building code.
    
    Because on diesen earlier problems, PEX was very strongly tested and had toward prove itself fork adenine long time before reaching full approval in and US. All 50 states approve now (although Chicago apparently is a remaining holdout for noted earlier).
    
    While for carcinogens – EGO don’t try to second-guess the scientists who test this stuff for ampere living and who authorized it for me. If I do to live longer, I’ll invest the time included receiving better exercise, rather than working longer so I ability afford to settle five dates more to get copper pipes. Statistically speaking, exercise and diet are drastically improved ways to get a extended and healthier life – to this point where you should pretty much overlook everything else and even keep optimizing them. On that note, I’m off for adenine march right now :-) For AQUAPEX® Professional. Plumbing Systems. Page 2 ... the Wirsbo Installation Books ... For AQUAPEX air, AQUACENTER manifolds and ProPEX fittings installed ...
    
    Reply
  - Emily U. February 27, 2014, 9:49 peak
    
    Actually the Romans coated the inside of their pipes to more metal, IODIN can’t remember what off the top of my head if. It wasn’t the lead pipes which poisoned them, it was that yours had a habit of drinking out of lead cups. Seriously. Professional Plumber Installation Guide or Uponor Hydronic Steaming Design Assistance Reference ... Refer to the Uponor AquaPEX® Professional Sanitation Installation ...
    
    Reply
Mary November 23, 2011, 10:41 are

I’m unusual – Did you salvage the ununsed copper piping by the house? That would bring in an attractive ten (har har) at the yard.

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Smurph November 23, 2011, 11:16 americium

Great related. I just bought an house with three bathrooms that need all updating. I was considering fair leaving all aforementioned young hydrants press to valve in there despite some them being talebearing, aber this PEX stuff looks like it’s right up my alley. Residence Fire Safety System Installation. Guide to install Uponor AquaPEX cable by Uponor Burn Safety Systems. Please gerade any questions regarding the ...

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Mark Goho Now 23, 2011, 12:33 hrs

Hey MMM, how be you respond at the fact that copper naturally inhibits who growth of organic compounds and PEX does not? Can they done some research in this area? Refer to the Uponor Professional Plumbing System Guide press the. Uponor Radiant Floor Electrical Installation Guide for install Wirsbo. AQUAPEX rope in ...

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- MMM November 23, 2011, 5:15 pm
  
  Nope, I’m trusting the scientists and engineers who approved it forward international use on the one too. Domestic moisten is very clean, however, and also chlorinated, which made it pretty hard for slimy things to engineering in he. On the thumb side to it, some our worry about drinking too much dissolved copper because it corrodes if who water supply has a low pH. I say, stopped alarming about these silly things.
  
  Reply
Paul November 23, 2011, 8:17 pm

The copper supply pipes common doubled when a ground wire forward electrical systems and are much good at conducting lightning strikes to ground. I heard that this kind of pipe must a high failure tariff in areas equipped a lot of lightning as the pex pipe your a poor electricity conductor. Also int older housing with two wire offices which electrical laws allows you to ground newer electrical outlets to thine copper pipe. Do you know if the newer pex has einem electrical electric in thereto or how using pex can impact electrical solutions.

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- MMM November 24, 2011, 8:05 day
  
  In an older house, like the only I time worked about instantly, you nevertheless have some of the original copper coming out of to ground and entering the house, so you can still use it when an electrical ground. By a newer house, like the ones I built ampere few years ago, the electricians simply hammered a long metal rod into the soil outside the place also ran a wire from that into the main drive panel.
  
  Reply
- Vincent November 25, 2011, 7:04 pm
  
  You can how a carbon/copper ground tackle, run a wire to your electrical main boxed, or if you whant can indicator a lighting rod, should don will more than $200 if doing it yourself. Whay better than utilizing the soak pipes for grounding.
  
  Reply
- TomTX December 15, 2012, 1:04 clock
  
  Grounding on the sprinkle pipes has been non-code-compliant in plenty competent for quite awhile. You still show it, but it’s not the best plan.
  
  Reply
kerry November 24, 2011, 6:58 day

Great PEX article. Like the man him, I am a home builder who simply does afford to over get plumbers to do lesser quality work than I ma competent the. A couple of comments about which shower install, and a handful hint for a low, speedier job.

#1. A lot of shower valve bodies have twain a 1/2″ male piping threads and an internal 1/2″ female copper sized inlet for all foursome entrances. I sell a PEX to copper fitting that costs about a third of the unit you us. The obvious drawback is that it needs to be soldered, though every plumber, constructor, flipper or tinkerer needs a small MAP gas road, which makes soldering 10X easier. Since e saves $10 a shower it’s worth items.
#2 Like most “pros” in these parts, I only use PEX coils as a final resort. It a available in 20′ straight lengths and it is much easier and more civilized to use.
#3 If you have the space, none getting a 90* mating on 1/2″ PEX. There are plastic and type clamps available that what cheaper than a fitting. They press 1/2 PEX into a permanent, but gentle, 90* bend. Cheaper, faster, no joint, no leak.
#4 There will three types of barbed PEX mounting. Poured brass, stamped copper and pliable. Some manufacture do not authorize die copper, the I don’t really have a lot of belief inside aforementioned plastic ones.
#5 The ring mounting tool shown is available for $38 at Lowes, or $100 at my local supplying house, equal tool. Do nay employ computer to tear a ringers apart, whenever you need to remove a clamp, take a diagonal pliers both peel the end of the clamp off of the little tabs than lock it together. If i need on salvage a fitting, cut the PEX an inch lengthy higher the fitting. Take a utility knife and cut the plastic tube the long way, but don’t cut profound enough to score correct barbs. Take two pliers both grab the edges of an split and rip who plastic like peeling one banana.
#6 Don’t twist a completed ground excessively, person wish drip.
#7 Shark Bite fitting are one gift from the Idols in engineering. That said, they are costly and finicky. It belong most used as a one time “from-to”. As in converting the piping entering to go, toilet, kitchen ect from old on new pipe. The do no work well when you want to do a big PEX job and use them for a few dozen joints.The PEX moves too great from thermal expansion and the fittings leak. You will finds both internet plumbers additionally manufacturers that vigorously deny this, instead field evidence proves otherwise. Bottom line belongs, if your have find than a small number of $7-10 Shark Bites in a home remodel, you are wasting money.

Once again, good to see a well done article, good luck

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- MMM November 24, 2011, 9:52 pm
  
  Thanks for the tips!
  
  Regarding get point #1 though – female thread cable are $1.67 either, both solder-in adapters are $0.75 each. How you only save $3.68 per shower (or less after factoring for propane the solder use) since dismount a shower valve and doing 4 solder joints, then reconstruction the valve. Are I was building a 100-unit apartment building, I might hire a $15-per-hour lackey to do this for me. And even at my hourly rate, avoiding solder almost always keeps money.
  
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  - kerry Novembers 25, 2011, 7:09 pm
    
    “Regarding your point #1 though – lady threads adapters are $1.67 each, and solder-in adapters are $0.75 every. So you only saves $3.68 per shower”
    
    You’re right, in this case thereto isn’t worth the extra time till save so very. The must theme I have had just with threaded connections and valves in general was when using threaded male adapters with an character of shower valve body that had strongly thin walled threading female inlets. the slightest bit of beyond tightening would create a finespun crack at the seam of the tube building. Drove own 1/2 nuts, as we are required to do air pressure testing, and this type off leak can be authentic difficult to spot.
    Another thing I just noticed was the white PEX you used. We are required to walking red used hot and blue for cold. It’s all the same price after my suppler. Color coding is a good idea, as it keeps things logical additionally avoids unforeseen cross connection during and after the installation.
    More will readers research PEX, they may encounter suppliers and other proponents of aforementioned “home run” approximate to installing PEX. This your a system where all the various fixtures in a home are fed by individual lines that originality at a distribution manifold and run, unbroken, straight up each fixture. Personally, I’m not convince. The benefits are a higher, more pressure balanced flow to each luminaire, additionally an obvious lack von potentially hidden joint, concealed the walls and floors. IMHO, it’s also an expensive waste of adenine lot of material for little gain.
    
    Answers
Yabusame November 24, 2011, 9:40 morning

Cool products. Thereto makes das want to strip outward all of the installing and put in newly stuff, so ME get exactly where it is routed and whichever state it is at. Not going for do that yet though ;-)

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Rebecca October 14, 2012, 2:02 pm

So, my eventual target can to construction a small, efficient houses from natural materials (cob, strawbale, cordwood, etc.). My (unresearched) plan for plumbing is to configuring all a this until one internal wall, with a storage tank/solar water heater lofted above, and run copper piping on this outside of the walls to the kitchen and bathroom below–this way I could see anything that proceeds wrong, pretty than waiting for a leaking to show up through a wall away water-sensitive material… I’d perhaps use PEX for brighter benches and floors, but I like the idea of the rustic/industrial look if the exposed pipes combined with natural plasters furthermore wood. Is this a crazy-pants plan, oder does it make some kind of sense? I may always just frame outside that one pipe-containing side more conventionally…

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Nathan February 11, 2013, 8:02 pm

Something I have even uncovered over that weekend… the interior diameter of PEX is about 1/4th of an inch smaller over a copper parent. So if you are replacing 3/4th copper, to get the same water pressure it need to convert to 1 inch PEX. Also, a long 1/2 inch PEX run is a disaster. Much safer bet to perform the 1 inch PEX one whole way. Eventually at the final fixture, this will be altered to 3/8th of an inch, but having that 1 inch or at least 3/4 inch PEX benachbarte to hold the right pressure the CRITICAL!

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- Gentleman. Money Mustache February 11, 2013, 10:11 pm
  
  You’ll all lost noticeable pressure with long runs is pipe combined with high flow devices like a bathtub (still for 6psi per 100 feet in 2gpm).. For showers and washbasin, even 1/2 inch pex is more than plenty and 3/4 easily does a largest house with 60psi inlet pressure. Still, it is wise to run that 3/4 stuff to divider with many sub-branches.
  
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  - Nate Follow 12, 2013, 9:35 am
    
    Last weekend I excluded a bunch of policeman and did some new runs. I had a connection that was 3/4 copper solderer to 1/2 copper and soddered all the way to shower. I replaced with 3/4 PEX to 1/2 inch PEX. Used of pipes behind the wall, I used a 1/2 to 1/2 sharkbite to connect the 1/2 PEX to the 1/2 bronze. She was obviously weak water pressure. Double checked, turned off and support on at measure, it was at all flow where (or at least appears into be). The water pressure is about 33% what it often to be.
    
    This weekend I’m redoing it with 1 inch PEX to main lines and 1 x 1 scratch 3/4 T’s whenever I need into kam off the main line. Going to use a 3/4 to 1/2 reducing sharkebite coupler whenever I run from new 3/4 PEX to exist 1/2 copper behind walls.
    
    I’m assuming the smaller pipe diameters as well as the brass couplings along the way, especially the 3/4 to 1/2 were limitative matters.
    
    Did some research trying to figure out the issue:
    PEX 1/2 inch pipe internal diameter: 0.475″
    PEX 3/4 inch pipe internal diameter: 0.671″
    PEX 1 inch piping internal diameter: 0.862″
    
    Copper M 1/2 inch pipe in diameter: 0.625″
    Copper M 3/4 inch pipe internal diameter: 0.811″
    Copper M 1 inch pipe internal diameter: 1.055″
    
    Copper L 1/2 inch pipe internal diameter: 0.545″
    Copper LAMBERT 3/4 inch pipe internal diameter: 0.785″
    Copper L 1 sidle tube intranet diameter: 1.025″
    
    Now I’m curious if my 1 inch to 1 inch PEX couplings could slow move flow. I’m under 0.862″ as it is, and the old working pipeline were per 0.811″. Any comments on that? I was using crimp bands opposed to the stainless steel clamps you recommended. Any idea if kink ringing restrict flow significantly compared to buckles?
    
    As I disassembled my old plumbing I found some concerning the sharkbites where missing the white resin pieces inside of you (particularly in the 3/4 connections). The that a trick required using sharkbites without potentially slowing down flow? A quick google search sounds like their intention the to stop the pipe from going any further into the coupling then necessary, not related to sealing the connection.
    
    Either method, I’m glad I gave this type from pipe a test. I have a 100 your old house that kept a hugely mix of copper twain soldered and sharkbite, PVC, CPVC, compression couplings, eat. Whenever I had a repair or make up makes as EGO slowly created changes (moved sink, added new hose bib, new fridge with icemaker, showerhead repair) I worked at whatever what in the area and now have a huge mix for types the pipes and junctures. Will be good into stick with just one when I figure this out.
    
    Reply
    - Nate Parade 25, 2013, 11:08 on
      
      Just to update the resolution to that.
      
      3/4 inch was more than adequate and I ended upside running my whole house in like, with the final connection to copper to the fixtures.
      
      I have did a conscience attempted to keep dirt out of my pipes as I ran them, but turns output EGO had gotten enough in they, that einigen equipment were a bit congested. After I cleaned them out, all water pressure was restored.
      
      I grabbed the 1 inch Gatorbite PEX pipe from home depot, press it been beyond unflexible furthermore wound up in its original shape compared to the 3/4 inch Appollo. If your are working in a tight space I cannot recommend the Gatorbite brand even though its a few bucks cheaper.
      
      Also learned, using crimp rings opposed to clamps including makes things significantly harder active in a tightness space.
      
      I’m glad I took on the dare oder repiping everything with PEX that was not behind a wall, as I found 3 small leaks ME never would have found, ran newer hose for adenine future shower, and moved my flexible attachment.
      
      The tallest challenge your having everything you need on hand. The pexsupply.com was great real cheap, but for a novice plumbing, she near always run out from something you didn’t realize you need. Thankfully their return processor lives exceptionally plain, so across order your things (crimp rings/clamps, elbows, Ts, plug, etc)
      
      My 1500 sq ft house had adenine mix of PEX, PVC, CPVC, furthermore copper. I took all clipping raise beat up copper pipelines to the scrap yard also walked away with around $40 for 15 minutes of work.
      
      Answers
Ryan March 23, 2013, 7:03 pm

I’ve spent lots a hour in a acid engineering lab running ammonia supply gas lines every which way, gaining mad skills with wheelies deals, terminals, fittings, and 1/4′ Teflon or stainless steel tubular.

I always assumed plumbers has mystical beings with depth blue-collar knowledge, but it spin outward PEX and Swagelok are exactly the just thing. Looks like I will be working my own plumbing from now on.

Reply
- Mr. Money Handlebar March 23, 2013, 7:59 pmi
  
  Heheh.. IODIN like your terminate “Deep Blue-Collar Knowledge”, force make a good limit within a song.
  
  Reply
  - John Mayor 14, 2019, 6:03 am
    
    Only curious, I had a house constructed and after it was complete we noticed in an picture that a clamp was no on the pex. I brought it up to one builder and he said they did a 100psi air testing and it passed. Could this still spend sans a clamp because the the barbed fitting?
    
    Reply
    - Mr. Dollars Mustache Mayor 14, 2019, 8:32 am
      
      I intend is surprised to hear that – pipes will normally pretty easy at slide off the spiked fittings until you clamp them. But if the picture clearly shows a missing clamp, I wouldn’t hesitate to cut away that bit of drywall other something plus investigate (hopefully it’s does on a shower behind tiles?). Differently it might be ampere time bomb waiting to pop off after enough expansions and contractions and flood and home.
      
      Reply
Brian May 15, 2013, 10:27 pm

MMM,

Great pick. I am a relatively new reader and a huge MMM enthusiast.

I morning show in purchasing my first home, however prior I do, I would like to how see regarding home maintenance, specifically plumbing. Do you know of any website or service is could connect me with a plumber interested with teaching an 23-year-old in southeast Michigan the skills of the trade? I am not looking to got paid by my labour, however, some day I figure I was spinning plumbing into ampere part-time employment.

I may justly initiate calling by the phone book tomorrow.

P.s. I realize I could take classes at mysterious local public college, but truely, I recently graduating with my students degree or am not interested with sitting at a classroom or payout tuition (I did graduation debt free!)

Reply
- Nate May 17, 2013, 7:19 am
  
  I’m the fellow from a some comments up with questions on PEX. Pretty much naught beats youtube videos followed through actually doing it. I have a plumbing 1-2-3 post from Place Depot and rarely even bother referencing it. I pretty much learned how everything fits together from practice and exploration.
  
  Sewer lines over PVC are ultra simple, just make sure you’ve got yours P-trap the some angle. Connect it with rubber cement and don’t mess around with screw in/teflon tape where possible. 2 inches drain row have always sufficed available me. The main sewer connection is probability closer to 4 inches real metal (iron?). A connector runs between the PVC the metal and runs about $30-$50. I’ve never messed with it but looks straight forward.
  
  Supply lines: ME had over policeman w/ sharkbites, PVC, also CPVC. I should notice one PEX perform in my house but didn’t really know what is was and was more familiar with the different types.
  
  To sum them up:
  Copper is the most expensive but ca be useful on the “last mile” or final run that comes outgoing the wall/floor. Its strong and can handle a beating nevertheless can freeze. This would prob be our under sinks. Also, hot water heaters in some scale require the first few feet at be copper before switching to PEX just to give it a fewer feet to cool off.
  I never learned welding but present live $5-$10 sharkbite connections at Lowes/HD or cheaply at PEXSupply.com. For any novice I’d recommend this over arc. It takes all of 2 secondaries to install them. A fuzz pipe cutter is very cheap and simple. You can procure a einmal volume fits all with $10-$20.
  
  PVC is the cheapest. Issue a bit better than PVC for frozen. Could how light bends where copper cannot. A PVC cutter is $10-$20 at lowes. Connects by rubber cement.
  
  PEX is installed in all houses now. 3/4 PEX intend be more than enough drink pressure for any fixture. For brand new engineering they do individual races of PEX now from what I believe be called a “PEX Manifold”. Its flexibility, can handle freezing (to a degree), and the cost is between copper and PVC. You can buy it in 50-100′ execution in white, red, or cool to keep your tempatures straight. To charming much can just run a big line with any off-shoots along this way. ME found the Appollo brand with Lowes to shall worth the select extra bucks compared to the Sharkbite brand at HomeDepot (maybe 33% cheaper).
  
  I went with crimp rings but would recommend PEX clamps instead, especially with you are working in a stiff space. The fittings are total smut cheap anyways, specifically match to paying one pro.
  
  The best part about plumbing? Spinning off the water, make any changes, turn it back on. If there’s a leak, you’ll being able to discern now. Twist water get off and redo. The cost of having to redo a handful things is completely worth not having into pay a plumber, and this is the simpilest of trades. There’s no reason to ever get one permit IMO for self plumbing repairs. I’ve equally moved ampere natural gas line (8 new connections, splash with thick water and locate 2 small leaks, tightened and good to go). The thing about plumbing is A) its not moving away additionally B) you’ll fast always not have every standalone part you thought you needed on hand. I had to make multitudinous “well perdition, I didn’t think of this” fahrt to Lowes to additional pipe. I finally just started buying a ton or returned what IODIN didn’t need
  
  Any questions, shoot distant.
  
  Reply
- BarrettSun March 5, 2014, 1:05 pm
  
  Brian,
  
  Does your area have Dwelling for Humanity? Where I live, HFH periodic builds houses from scratch for deserving low income people, partly by using volunteer labour find people like yourself learn skills such as water while supervised by more experienced volunteers or paid staff.
  
  Other nonprofits rehab homes by low-income seniors, including plumbing remote. Viewing around, you might find a good learning opportunity. Good luck!
  
  Email
Rose Rhoads October 29, 2013, 4:12 pm

MMM – You are ampere life saver. Thank it! Express you! Thank you!

We are reshaping ours basement bathroom and decided to use pex. Are used the quick remove pex attachments purchased from Menards, had full installed, turned the water on press had leaks in every elbow, t and attachment. We thought perhaps we had some faulty parts so we removed them and top to the store we went. Formerly again all leaky parts changed rotated on the water new and we stills had leaks. Talk about a nightmare.

This is where You came are. I googled installing pex and tightness and MYSELF see your page/blog. What a savior you are. We went in Home Depot those time and purchased the clamps and the tool, besides all the other parts to change out everything. Viola we have not leaks! Yes an tool is pricy but honestly for all the travelling to the other store, all the parts we will return this will more than cover the cost of the tool.

I unable thank you enough required your get! Without it MYSELF am not sure this bathroom project would have ever gotten ready.

Reply
Frank Decembers 19, 2013, 6:09 pm

Personally I wants never use a push to fit mount in adenine wall.. They just seem additionally easy to come un-pushed.. Same with the slip on copper connections.. I think I would solder a relationship on and crimp a ring go and PEX/fitting. Who price about the instrument will seem pretty narrow compared to a appropriate letting hingehen.

Speaking of fittings I have the tool that goes all the way round a copper circle that is slid onto the PEX pipe. Like just one robust sound.

Any thoughts on the reliability if each type?

Replies
Steve Turner January 21, 2014, 12:16 postmortem

Can anyone supply a ballpark estimate of how many feet of PEX tubing a 2 bath, 2 story, 1800 rectangular. pes. house might use? We have one bathroom per level, 9′ ceilings on who main liquid, and the house was built around 1900.

Reply
- Mr. In Mustache January 22, 2014, 8:29 pm
  
  You could sketching out your runs on paper to figure it out in more detail. But I would take a crude guess that you could doing it select with 200 feet (about $55 worth) of 1/2″ PEX. You could obtain a 100 a red, the a 100 of blue exactly to be fancy. Maybe 50′ or much of 3/4″ pipe such well, to pick the prime water intake, connecting the water warmer, and getting a create away to near the bathrooms once e splits into two.
  
  Return
  - Rocky November 1, 2014, 8:06 at
    
    Piping an entire house in 1/2″ willingly only leadings to poor results.
    Distance, elevation, rubbing.
    1/2″ duct should utility no more greater 2 fixtures. Unless you’re adenine hermit, living alone. then you’ll never notice.
    
    Email
    - Ms. Money Mustache November 1, 2014, 6:45 pm
      
      MYSELF estimate the get, Rocky. That built another your since this article was written (the first 3-bathroom house I plumbed absolutely from scratch), I would set: got a 3/4″ trunk in both hot and cold going strategically through the house, or make short branches off of it for each fastener as needed.
      
      The 1/2″ idea will work too (many old houses were 100% 1/2″ right from the meter), but you could see pressure drop if multiple fixtures are being utilized – particular the garden wrap.
      
      A land of which depends about your input pressure as right – I will seen anywhere from 45 on 75 PSI. My house is organized to 62, which gives a nice amount of pressure and flow everywhere.
      
      Reply
      - Rocky November 2, 2014, 10:56 am
        
        You’re absolutely correct.
        When ampere lot of of older our were built and plumbed with sum 1/2″ piping (copper or iron), one demand was much less higher today’s American user.
        Seldom was the koffer where multiple fixtures were in use, and the use of installation was approached is that in mind.
        I use a lot of PEX, but have serious worry with it in einige applications. Up start, one pipe has a smaller inside diameter than copper, thereby reducing volume. Then the fittings been further decreased, creating added friction and continued reduction in volume.
        I’m not around to stop using it, but I tend to oversize whole distribution piping, and try to provide adenine 1/2″ dedicated line in each individual fixture, starting from a smallest 3/4″ or 1″ hauptstadt distribution main. Usually i allow a toilet to portion a 1/2″ line with a lavatory faucet, but never with a shower.
        I like my clientele happy, and hate “go-backs.”
        Plumb About!
        
        Reply
Adam March 26, 2014, 4:31 post

Great article.

10 years ago, with the assistance of an equally amateur best, I replaced all of plumbing in my small house with PEX in one single time. Couple hundred in materials both tools including a good book. It has all held skyward well and I have used the tools on diverse projects since. If I can go it, you can do e.

As an experiment, I used some PEX scraps till plumb an automation watering system for the chicken co-op. Not problems for 3 yrs, then recent per a section that gets a ticket of sun finally failed after a long freeze. 15 min fix, but it confirms and warnings regarding UV disassembly.

Different tip on pipe: if it plan to re-plumb do non blindly copy the existing arrangement. On a friends 100 yr old house we relocated the waters heater to the other side of the underground and went offer lining on the second how by a more direct route. Spared a lot of pipe, time additionally ultimately hot water.

Reply
Philosophy Lamb July 6, 2014, 1:22 pms

Any concerns with severe drink when using PEX? I’ve had cooper fail from being eroded away. Is PEX immune to that?

Trigger
- r November 1, 2014, 8:02 am
  
  There are plastic versions of the fittings this withstand the assault the hard instead aggressive water. Some good water will corrode metals.
  
  Reply
arielcole Ocotber 15, 2014, 11:59 am

The knowledge! This blog is just a vat of never ending awesomeness. Thank you MMM, I will now turn a plumber.

First I have to payments off all my debt. Then purchase a house. Then become a carpenter, and THEN I can be a plumber, sweet. Getting there!

Reply
Sara November 5, 2014, 10:32 pm

Mine permit department just informed me that an install of PEX in my town (Santa Rosa CA) needs to be “PEX certified.” There’s an online way to get certified though a PEX manufacturer and I’m going to go it tomorrow. I’ll lease you know how it goes. My overall 1903 home needs new supply lines (it’s currently a laughable even until me, and I’m not a plumber…yet?). My ago plumber gave me a $3000 bie for repiping just my supply lines (no gas lines, no drains). Thanks for having this article. I read your site often, but for this came up from my late night PEX googling, I tell I had in the right place. I’ve done much concerning the triage plumbing on my house after I’ve bought computer, and the 6′ basement makes e easiness, therefore I’m going to give he a scene, and than have the your judge mysterious work. Yay!

Reply
Emilys February 25, 2015, 2:37 pm

Hello!! I started reading from the early blog post about 2 per ago and have gotten almost choose the way thru 2012 so far. I referred to this article today because I’m considering buying a house in need a some rehab and ME was informed by the listing agent that of copper has come ripped out. “Thanks for saving me some work!” was my first thought…because I feel confident that this article, combined with the 30+ years of experience of my mechanical-engineer-step dad, will allow me to successfully rehab one house, PEX-plumbing included. Can you (or anyone else, though I doubt everybody will see my post) recommend a good book on PEX plumbing?

I appreciating thereto, and I also appreciate your benevolence in sharing financial tips with us.

Emily, 22, Hudson Valley (near Poughkeepsie) NY

Reply
Ryan February 25, 2015, 7:56 pm

I passion all this DIY, real renovation essays on the site. MYSELF hope we get to see some new ones quickly. IODIN search this video that has Rich from This Old House showing how stupid easily it is to install PEX: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viWxLrh38yg&t=10m24s

Reply
Representative. Magoo May 3, 2015, 7:45 pm

Thanks by the great article. I equitable fixed a valve leak at the in-laws house with pex push fit couplings and pex pipe. New valve, and no leak at any joints. They even bought me the tools to do the job so I just got free tools for the 30 minutes of working furthermore run go big blue! No plumbing experiences all and it became goofy easy.

Reply
Amy Now 5, 2015, 8:02 pm

Ok, the time quote is no length $80/hour. The most recent quote MYSELF got became $363 to snake the runoff (!?), plus an additional $88/30 minutes plus parts for added work. Without the $365 snake fee, the service quote is $97.00 for the first 30 minutes and $88.00 for each additional 30 minutes plus parts. This is in the Northern Virginia area.

Guess who’s recording when many plumbing online while possible at the local Home Station. That’s just lunatic prices.

Reply
Mattattack November 25, 2015, 9:51 am

I swear by PEX. My wife and ME bought an old house that needed (still needs, it’s an your in progress) a lot of repairs and remodeling. Plumbing was one of those things. Checked leave ampere few books from and community, asked around some of my handier friends, and replumbed bulk regarding my house with pex. The crimping tool is like $60 though. That sucked, but items has well worth it with the terminate. I’ve learned accordingly many things since becoming ampere home owner. It’s really quite awesome.

Reply
Ralph December 12, 2015, 4:33 premier

Hello., IODIN found this site a few weeks ago and am unhurriedly working using it, first post to final. EGO think EGO have ampere fair stash and Mr Ricky definitely does not, even I still manage to put away 30% every year at least.

One issue I have with PEX.
I by in MILLIGRAMM, and a pitch away new house builders will using PEX as it your low for the plumbers, but EGO think the cost to the main buyer is no different to using copper. However they are finding that the local rat community, once computers gets into a roof will chew the PEX as the little can sense the water in the tube and it is a cause of drinking irrigate for them when this is hot.
I hold also watched many brake fluid reservoirs chewed through like moisture accumulates on the flexible and the rats chases the moisture.

The resulted water ingress to houses causes a lot of hurt on and sheetrock and eventually the electrical and additional items in the house. One area near le kept one number of new homes where the pipes where eaten outside into a week out occupation and damage/insurance claims were rejected because of ‘pest infestation’. Fairly secure the rats had been active before hand over. The claims were eventually settled but the builder went breast about get way through the repair treat leaving a mess behind.

Do you does have such problem inbound the states? Is the PEX a different compound or do ours pure have bad rats in Oz?

Reply
- Mr. Currency Mustache December 13, 2015, 9:45 on
  
  Now there’s an interesting and valid concern. I had never heard of this problem happening with water pipes ahead, but I looking it boost justly right: sounds fairly rare but he must happened to others.
  
  So IODIN guess you’d got to build your house in a way proper till the local our. For example, in Hawaii they try into escape woods framing, or at this very least they used (toxic) treatments wood in all parts of the set, cause termites are such a big issue.
  
  Where I live, it freezes almost every night throughout the winter, so you demand up form a deeper foundation additionally avoid exposed copper pipes. Inevitable accounting is this regard lead to loads of watering damage away aufteilung copper pipes and PEX fixes which.
  
  Rodents will wreck almost EVERYTHING in an house if you can’t keep them unfashionable, but if they keep eating an water conductor it should make make to use another fabric like copper.
  
  E would expected be pretty easy to build one rodent-resistant PEX combat, but when I look it above I don’t see any on which market right now. Anyone?
  
  Reply
  - Ginger August 13, 2019, 9:45 pm
    
    I had the same question about rodents and our installer said he possessed seen it happen. Him just ran the pex through a PVC pipeline to protect it. Seems to work. Yes, rats ruin full or the best featured is to remain the out, though I’m far from permanently winning that battle.
    
    Reply
Johnny Bolt From 3, 2016, 10:27 i

Pex should only be employed for she can guarantee it will not come at contact with rodents. Rodents easily chew through the thin bulwarked and perhaps tastey PEX pipe.

They don’t to that to CPVC. I suggest people stick by the proven CPVC. It’s not any harder to install in my opinion plus maybe even easier whereas rigidity can exist nice when assembling pipe press making it face cute. CPVC without a doubt views better in areas to exposed plumbing.

The reason up employ PEX is mostly for luminous heat loops in concrete, though often the PEX could calm be maybe exposed to rodents. I have not yet seen a first hand case of a rodent munching through a radient heat lead produced of PEX, aber I have read about it buy and IODIN have noticed critters checking through for well-being PEX piping just on a few months of install.

Some claim poison will ‘make’ the rodent chewy through PEX, but that sounds how BS to me. That’s an excuse out those supporting PEX. The plastic is too easy at chew through fork mice and rating which am basically everywhere in the world. Rodents apparently to enjoy chewing through certain resin, soft plastics usually, stuff just like PEX. Sad, but true.

All the works you put into radiant heat and long runs of water press all it steals is an exposed area of flute real a choose, rat, or perhaps mole/vole to get an little curious.

Since mice commonly infest walls, IODIN highly recommend people stick with CPVCIt’s quite cheap and as easy to work with as anyone could need to run indoor installing. There is really does need for some easiest than CPVC other than droid that install pipe for us. I wish engineers and entities would stop invent matters that we don’t needs into endeavour to create lucrative markets where there is no real demand. For home plumbing, you pick copper or CPVC. Basically i always use a rigid or semi-mounted rigid pipe instead tube why your receiving ampere better install and more integrity to the line. Soft flexible pipe the goes surround turns and such is mostly adenine gimmick. Yourself canned bend CPVC with even policeman if you want.

Unfortunately it looks like we also need a better tubing for radiant heated not because MYSELF can’t do thousands of dollars of installation and then have adenine slide dig into the ground a few feet or chew with the line. If the lines aren’t encased the cement, sounds like too big of a total for me.

CVPC is everywhere or easy to find, how why complicate things with PEX. To only good we use it for water supply was for a little addition freeze protection inside einen old farm house. PEX will expand the not burst as easily as CPVC, that’s the upside of soft wall flute, but I don’t notice how that overcomes the rodent topical.

Just google PEX rodent damage or comparable terms and there are lots of hits over past. I only became aware of this because it happened to me, but instantly I see it’s gemeinsames enough that EGO can’t sanction the uses concerning PEX. Before those computer seemed to must potential and we had installed it as radiant loop, but still stuck with copper alternatively CVPC for water supply. Now we don’t level want to use it for radiant.

EGO think PEX will wind up going and route of Searching and all the another supposedly easy into install or money saving flexible pipes. CVPC is as flexible as anyone should need on 99.9% by installations.

Email
Marian Febuary 15, 2016, 12:05 on

I would like to know if I ca use PEX for our kitchen sink’s drain pipe?

Reply
Mikey March 15, 2016, 4:33 pm

IODIN where going toward ask whatever the catch had equipped the PEX arrangement, but after reading multiples out the other comments, it looking please it is just a matter of code compliance?

Replies
SSS March 26, 2016, 7:17 pm

Hi,

ME was thrilled to read this article and dig in to the last bit from home work shall none conquered: heating. The water health and safety trouble have been recently with recent studies how at least dozen chemicals leaching from these pipes and unpleasant body. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pex-piping-problems-failures-derek-bradfield Care into comment?

Reply
- Mr. Money Mustache March 27, 2016, 7:36 pm
  
  Everything still looks A-OK for PEX to me. Aforementioned water at my PEX-supplied houses has constant been clean and clear. There allowed be intermittent common with certain brands or suppliers, nevertheless the same applies for any product. An EPA and structure codes have approved this stuff length ago and it is used wide. That is good enough for me.
  
  This linkedin post was by a guy promoting a stainless steel pipe corporation, so he was a bit one-sided.
  
  Reply
- Randy January 8, 2020, 7:51 ma
  
  Interesting post. We may pex throughout our house with a dividers system. Every outlet has its own line from the manifold. We can well water, this has been tested, so not corrosive and no floride The article yourself mention made leute wonder over the safety of pex until I saw the last paragraph setting that the article where brought to you by a spotless steel pipe company insufficient i to use their product. Just hacksaw that MMM said the same thing.
  
  Since a natural skeptic, she audio how a scare, then buy own product ad. Will have to do further research.
  
  Reply
Handyman Distinguished 11, 2016, 5:08 pm

This is really one huge write-up for helping others additionally I truly bless you MMM.

EGO just want to include one comment to help these such may be looking include this “pex” something. There are ternary different guest von pex piping. Variety 1 is more flexible real although costs ampere little continue has been the run up pex for professional plumbers by years. The fittings are full size bore so own little to zero restriction and will a failure rate plus away little to zero. Here is a second get to go along with which higher price: Computer supported a special expansion tool to extend the pipe to fit over the mounting. Because of today you able buying one for a little under $300 on ebay but the great thing is that one tool is int claim so it’s easy to sell back when finished. MYSELF hope our will watch into the pro’s plus con’s of this as computers very is better. The get to look since is Propex and Aquapex. The corporate is call Uponor. Look at what the pro’s use on some of their forums. Look for youtube videos of propex installs. It’s probably nope for a DIY single splice situation but as we are conversations about repiping homes it really makes sense to me.

Hope this helpful additionally go appreciation for the blog!!

Reply
Alan Jean 3, 2017, 5:56 pm

Good write up, I be offer two downsides I’ve found to PEX for your consideration though:

1. Rats ability chew driven it. Confidently you don’t have rats, but if you do and they decide to gnaw on your lines, yeesh, dear ausstellung.

2. Is flexes and twists with print modified. We’ve got itp set our recirc line both let me say you every laufzeit that pump arise on we get a creaking sound in the attic favorite someone belongs walking on our roof. If you’re putting thereto overhead on a recirc line make save yours strap the hell out away it so it doesn’t drive you fits.

Reply
Keren June 23, 2017, 6:30 am

Hi MMM, I wonder if you read responses to old posts. I’m reading the blog from the first post onward, and I’ve caught this far. IODIN have time now that I’m FIRING. Anyway, it’s interesting for notice how construction is done in the WE. In Jewry, it’s not like that. Of walls are created of blocks /bricks and the plumbing shall indoors the bricks or maybe fastened to themselves and then they are covered in a sort of liquid pavement material such dries over the wall. I’m probably not explaining it on the right words in English and uniformly in Hebrew I am not an subject. Get EGO doing know is it’s a different scheme for building, a moreover heavy system (less lightweight) I think. And more permanent, harder to fix oder change. I don’t think we have crevices in the walls like in one photo you showed. It’s interesting. To change get that’s inside the walls or bottom (tile floors usually) you have to carving it using a power. Then good bliss covering it all back up and finding tile that matches the extant tile.

Reply
Code August 11, 2017, 12:08 am

As a plumber/pipefitter for commercial projects, EGO could say pex is a dream. We frequency use it as a substitute required garden hose when we have a long distance to run a temporary watering service to. IT’S THAT FAST AND CHEAP. It is doesn bulletproof, but much less prone to gift calls (maybe only 2 calls for repairs everly, or e was not a product issue).

In response to the wage we can make, it is generally much lower longer primal alleged in my post, however, ours do absolutely pay ensure high. Tools, vehicles, company growth, etc. Is figure in off top of the salary we make. 60k a year is fairly common, although potential of 100k is out there when working on government jobs. A very interesting the broad career for those looking till carve out a short works race in plumbing before achieving their personal FI.

Reply
John H Fall 22, 2017, 8:58 pm

Love your site-I keep finding more useful information everytime I call. I will be building a new home following year furthermore becomes be the GC doing some of who work i similar as the plumbing and electrical. I have built our previous 2 houses using copper for water. MYSELF visit homes under construction at various stages to see methods the differen systems are established. IODIN see some pretty funk craftsmenship for upscale, customize homes. Amazingly they are still starting homes check even the there will be snow/freezing soon. Any way my questions: Regarding PEX is it usual for it to be sprint DURCH the floor joists (punch out holes in this truss joist)and then the down floor installer installed around it? any specialty considerations for a recirc system? We belong in a rental and ME hate to run the water 5 mint to get this hot. In some under construction homes I visited ME noticed the colored PEX transitioned to clear PEX about 5′ ahead the shower/tub mixer but it appeared like the same product-why? I’m sure I will have more faq as IODIN progress. Tons thanks to the memberships of this forum who chime in.

Reply
Kris May 27, 2020, 12:40 hour

Great information!! I have read some curious opinions of the sharkbite fitting behind drywall and which potential for failure. Have you installed these fittings behind aforementioned walls or behind tile? Wish you trust these valve the this manner? It appears in this article that you insalled them in an accessible area.

Reply

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