Cheating on Copper with PEX! ??

[AP514]

How do you have COLD on the HOT side of that Manifold ?

 

[topcok88]

How do you have COLD on the HOT side of that Manifold ?

Took the cover off but you really can’t see it. There is an internal divider. Water in from main from center bottom, Y for cold in both sides, cold out top right to water heater, return from water heater on top left to the single row of hot.


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[Todd.Brock]

Guys- question for you... I like the idea of not restricting flow in the fittings of PEX -A, but it doesn’t appear fittings and expanders are readily available at Lowes/ HD. I’m looking at adding a hot/cold faucet on the outside of my house to replace just the cold under our kitchen faucet. Id mainly be doing rework other than adding a 1/2 bath rough in our basement.

My buddy has all the tools for PEX-B with the crimp rings. Is there that much to be gained with PEX A? The expander alone for Milwaukee is 300 bucks.


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[topcok88]

Guys- question for you... I like the idea of not restricting flow in the fittings of PEX -A, but it doesn’t appear fittings and expanders are readily available at Lowes/ HD. I’m looking at adding a hot/cold faucet on the outside of my house to replace just the cold under our kitchen faucet. Id mainly be doing rework other than adding a 1/2 bath rough in our basement.

My buddy has all the tools for PEX-B with the crimp rings. Is there that much to be gained with PEX A? The expander alone for Milwaukee is 300 bucks.


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Is your existing pipe Pex-A? If not - what does it matter? I doubt you would see an increase in flow or notice it. Just buy a Prier C-108 hot/cold faucet with the NPT ends and use NPT/Pex adapters with crimp rings. It’s really that easy. IIRC it was cheap like $100.

It is absolutely wonderful washing my cars with warm water in the colder seasons.

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[Busted Knucles]

Pex is cheap ****. They just install it because it is easier to install. Do it right and use copper if it is yours.

 

[toyotadriver]

Pex is cheap ****. They just install it because it is easier to install. Do it right and use copper if it is yours.

Ummm....not correct at all.

 

[TTMotorsports]

My parents and grandparents house built in the 60s in california with no frost or freezing BOTH had a water leak under the slab and were redone with pex overhead. No issues now and I used pex in my old shop bathroom and it was much much easier and faster to do than PVC or copper for sure. I even used PEX for my shop air lines and never had an issue and was able to plumb all the air lines for my 50x80ft shop in half a day where before I used black pipe and it took forever and cost much more. harder to hang and everything. My walls were white and i used white pex. Not even noticeable unless you were looking for it.

 

[OldNeons]

Pex is all fine and dandy until a bored rodent comes along. I would never do a cottage/cabin/garage/pole building in it.

Is this a known/common issue with Pex? Have to do some water lines in my partially finished barn. Unfortunately the mice like the barn too....

 

[harley jim]

I wonder if pex would stand a freeze that a copper pipe wouldn't...maybe an added benefit to fix outside exposed line we have heard about in Texas???
Searching I found.... "Andy Ward, owner of Republic Plumbing in Madison, Tennessee, says both types of piping are susceptible to freezing, but copper pipes pose the bigger risk when temperatures dip below freezing. “PEX will still freeze, but they won't burst,” he says.

I was told by a plumber Pex will expand 10 times its size before it will burst. I had the same questions about it. I ran a new line from the well to the house and several freeze proof faucets in the yard.

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[nadogail]

In the rental houses I bought that were built after 9-11-2001, all plumbing supply lines are PEX with copper stubs where the penetrate the walls.

Three houses, 18 to 20 years old and no problems with the PEX piping.

I almost never solder a pipe anymore, Shark Bite fittings have made waterheater replacements quick and easy.

 

[jimkinney]

I had an underslab leak in a copper pipe to the bathroom sink. Plumber shoved a piece of PEX through the pipe and connected it to the copper on both ends. Luckily it was roll tubing not stick and fittings.
Back in business in a couple of hours instead of days ripping up the basement floor.

 

[reader2580]

Guys- question for you... I like the idea of not restricting flow in the fittings of PEX -A, but it doesn’t appear fittings and expanders are readily available at Lowes/ HD. I’m looking at adding a hot/cold faucet on the outside of my house to replace just the cold under our kitchen faucet. Id mainly be doing rework other than adding a 1/2 bath rough in our basement.

Menards has the PEX-A fittings. Some tool rental places rent a cordless expansion tool. One place locally is $30 per day.

I did expansion mostly because it is much easier. For one connection probably not worth it. I used a manifold and the only connection that might benefit from the better is the tub. For me, I haven't taken a bath in 40+ years so I don't care.

 

[johninct]

Pex is cheap ****. They just install it because it is easier to install. Do it right and use copper if it is yours.

When you have to replace your copper pipes because of your water eating the pipes, you will come to appreciate PEX.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Just to close the loop- we installed the Woodford Hot and Cold faucet with Pex and the house has not caved in. Yet....

It’s nice washing off 2 muddy labradors with warm water, for me more than them.


Thanks all for the advice.


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[Shocker]

We redid our whole home in PEX. 70 year old galvanized pipe needed to go. Did it all with Uphonor. Works great!

 

[CJ7VFR]

...I almost never solder a pipe anymore, Shark Bite fittings have made waterheater replacements quick and easy.

They also work great for water softener replacements too!

I used the Sharkbite braided stainless steel supply lines for the inlet and outlet of the new water softener when I replaced the old one last year. It made the job quick and easy.

Jim