Pex Expander?

[AEAdam]

Double the diameter, and you increase the volume by 4 times!

If I’m not mistaken, the fixtures limit the flow. So you won’t get an amazing fire hose shower if you run 1” PEX to it.

Running 3/4” to a shower or especially soaking tub can help tho. But you gotta check your min bend radius. Dumb to run big tubing and use elbows. I’m not a plumber, but I think there’s a difference between pressure and flow rate. Technically I don’t think you lose pressure with an elbow but you do lose some flow rate.

Theres a lot to this, is the point. Just because you have the tool to make the connections doesn’t mean this is a cake walk. You either need to know everything a plumber knows by reading, or maybe it’s better to hire a plumber as a consultant, pay him to help design your system. I think if you do all home runs with 1/2” PEX, that’s probably a simpler starting point, followed by sub manifolds. Traditional branch circuits are probably the hardest to design properly followed by recirculating systems

 

[rlitman]

... Technically I don’t think you lose pressure with an elbow but you do lose some flow rate...

You don't lose STATIC pressure, but you lose DYNAMIC pressure (pressure at your desired flow rate).

 

[Junkman]

As a "rule of thumb" when plumbing, a 90-degree elbow is equivalent to adding 8' of pipe to the system. Pressure and volume are two different things. A waterjet can cut steel, but a hose will only get it wet. A fire hydrant supplies water, but the piping to the hydrant determines the volume of water supplied. According to the NFPA, all fire hydrants should be color-coded by the volume they can deliver.

 

[KnurledNut]

If I’m not mistaken, the fixtures limit the flow. So you won’t get an amazing fire hose shower if you run 1” PEX to it.

Running 3/4” to a shower or especially soaking tub can help tho. But you gotta check your min bend radius. Dumb to run big tubing and use elbows. I’m not a plumber, but I think there’s a difference between pressure and flow rate. Technically I don’t think you lose pressure with an elbow but you do lose some flow rate.

Theres a lot to this, is the point. Just because you have the tool to make the connections doesn’t mean this is a cake walk. You either need to know everything a plumber knows by reading, or maybe it’s better to hire a plumber as a consultant, pay him to help design your system. I think if you do all home runs with 1/2” PEX, that’s probably a simpler starting point, followed by sub manifolds. Traditional branch circuits are probably the hardest to design properly followed by recirculating systems

Truth. A lot of issues don’t surface until after its done. Like the common shower rise problem from installers not knowing to run a 3/4 drop to the tub spout.

 

[tak1313]

I got the Milwaukee M12 because it was on a great sale a few years ago. So far, I've used it once and it worked great (I am, after all, a GJ member).

I don't know about other brand interchangeability, but I know the Dewalt and Milaukee heads are interchangeable for sure.

I like pexA better because it has less restriction than pexB.

 

[DGersic]

Gonna be re-plumbing a fairly simple farmhouse...one bath, kitchen, laundry, and down the road perhaps add a bath. I am planning Pex-A for this, and I am looking at expanders. Milwaukee and Dewalt seem safe bets, but I am curious if anyone is using the Vevor and liking it. I'm not a plumber, and this isn't a huge job. At the same time, I am not a fan of using garbage tools. So...just **** it up and go with the mainstream or give Vevor a shot?

I did this in my house a couple of years ago. My thread on the project may have some helpful things in it.

Thread 'Plumbing Project - Re-Pipe the House'
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/plumbing-project-re-pipe-the-house.509833/

I got a Milwaukee expander, new in box, off of FBM. The pipe and most of the fittings came from Menards, Sioux Chief PEX B. There were some things I ordered from supply house.com.