You can also use a hybrid system where you run 3/4-in. PEX is a very good conductor. One complaint about working with PEX is that the coils have a mind of their own. Worst-case scenario: You'll end up with leaky pipes and water damage. They're readily available and relatively inexpensive, and you know when they're installed properly because the tab of the clamp will be visibly pinched. PEX's flexibility makes it easy to work with. You can install PEX fittings supply just like you would other pipe, with main lines and branches to each fixture. Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Tighten the fittings before crimping the PEX water line. There are several different manufacturers of PEX. piping and 1-in. Have a helper feed the line to avoid kinks and snarls. Codes commonly require PEX to be at least 18 in. Now, it's time to choose a new valve. piping. If you're adding a guest bath or finally getting to that laundry tub you've been promising for the past five years, you'll have to join PEX to the existing system. gap for the barbed tee. PEX has been used for decades in other countries, where there are thousands of homes with 30-year-old, leak-free PEX. The word derives from the Latin for lead, … Reconnect the gas line and water lines. You can run PEX line as you would in a conventional plumbing system, with 3/4-in. The plumbers we spoke to said they were willing to use any of the types in their homes. But they actually simplify plumbing runs and reduce possible leaks by eliminating the need for tees and other fittings between the main supply line and the fixture. The inside diameter of 1/2-in. of the face of a stud or joist. For water lines there are three PEX supply grades: PEX-A, PEX-B and PEX-C. They’re manufactured differently, PEX-A being slightly more flexible. If you get a minor kink in the middle of a long, straight run and you don't want to cut it out, heat the pipe with a heat gun and then cover the damaged area with a hanger or abrasion clip. We like the one-handed version shown in the photo because you can hold the ring in place with one hand while tightening it with the other. holes for 3/4-in. Warmboard, through their in-house sales videos, attempts to demonstrate a vast superiority of their product’s performance over other radiant products. Have a helper feed the line to avoid kinks and snarls. Probably not. This method doesn’t require soldering, which can be a big time-saver. Also, since PEX is more flexible and available in long lengths, it can work better for ‘fishing’ through walls in remodeling situations. This saw is flawless so far. PEX, a flexible tubing that comes in long rolls, offers several advantages over traditional piping. No. to gain access probably not. If you're running PEX through joists or studs, drill 3/4-in. To avoid this, use bungee cords to help keep your coils in check. We offer HUGE discounts on normal rates. PEX cutters like this Plastic Pipe and Tubing Cutter are available at home centers and online. To check your flow rate, just see how many gallons of water flow into a 5-gallon bucket in one minute. PEX is smaller than that of 1/2-in. Use the special transition fittings shown (left) to transition from copper, CPVC or steel. A simple way to test water pressure is to hook up a hose bib pressure gauge (sold at home centers) to your spigot. Some manufacturers recommend adding abrasion clips at each hole. If the piping is going to be exposed, say for a pedestal sink or a toilet, buy a copper stub-out and crimp it onto the PEX. You add fittings simply by crimping metal rings over barbed fittings using a special crimping tool. PEX is plastic, and plastic melts. If you have just a few smaller runs or short lengths to install, buy sections of straight pipe—it's a lot easier to work with. Not all products have recognizable markings on them, so leave a few of the packaging labels on-site to appease the inspector and for future reference. You can install PEX with main lines and branches to each fixture, but “home runs” are better. branch lines. The work is to be done in a very low clearance (14" crawlspace and spans about 50' between where the water comes in and the garage where the manifold will be located. But a rotary tool (Dremel is one brand) fitted with a cutoff blade works great for cutting either type of connector (see photo). Solder, glue or thread on the transition fitting, then crimp PEX line on the barbed fitting. There’s a special tool for cutting off crimp rings, and you can use side cutters to remove cinch clamps. The heart and soul of the PEX system is the barbed fitting/crimping ring combination. If the existing water lines do not line up, you can use flexible PEX tubing to make the connection. Then make short runs of one-half inch PEX water line tubing to each fixture. It's best to cut kinks out and use the shorter sections of pipe elsewhere. We will finish our walls with a big overkill, Roxul Flexibatt R22 RSI 3.87 – For 2×6 studs 24″ on centre for … Crimp rings are a band of metal, usually copper, that you slip over the fitting and compress with a crimp ring tool. First, a PEX doesn’t require glue, which means you don’t have to work in well-ventilated spaces or wear a respirator. Once you've run your main line, go back and mark the location of each branch line, leaving a 1-in. Leave the cords on and unroll just the amount you need. You can repair kinks with a heat gun, but PEX tends to rekink in the previously kinked spot, especially if the pipe needs to make a bend at the kinked location. Many plumbers prefer to run PEX directly to the fixtures so they don't have to bury fittings behind the walls. Use drop-ear fittings designed for PEX for shower arms and tub spouts. If you mix and match materials, you will void your warranty and may fail your inspection. You may have to pay a few cents more per foot and install a coupler or two, but you’ll avoid frustration and kinks. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Ask your plumbing inspector. First, a PEX doesn’t require glue, which means you don’t have to work in well-ventilated spaces or wear a respirator. The main drawback is that you’ll need either separate crimping tools for one-half inch and three-quarter inch fittings, or a universal tool with a swappable insert (not shown). main lines and 1/2-in. The building had no heat, and all the pipes and fittings were freezing cold. holes for 1/2-in. On long runs, it’s a good idea to install a loop as shown to allow for contraction. Another method is to solder in a tee and a PEX supply adapter. As soon as the banding is removed from the coils, they tend to explode out in every direction. piping and 1-in. Run your main lines first. Use a drop-ear bend support to hold the tubing in a tight bend (right). Run your main lines first. Water heater bypass valves are not needed on tankless hot water heaters. PEX supply expands and contracts more than copper, so don’t stretch it tight. Home runs require more piping but deliver a stronger and more consistent water flow. Several years of even the slightest movement can wear a hole in PEX pipes, especially if they're rubbing against something abrasive. Before starting your PEX plumbing job, check with your local inspector for specific local requirements. There are many different ways to connect PEX to fittings, but cinch clamps are one of the easiest. There are several methods. Another advantage of the loop is that if you mess up and need a little extra tubing, you can steal it from the loop. It can be bent around pretty sharp corners without the need for an elbow fitting. In order to avoid dragging the PEX tubings back and forth inside the … We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. copper (and even smaller with fittings). If the connection will be visible, like under a wall-hung sink, and you would prefer the look of a copper tube coming out of the wall, use a copper stub-out (left). It's definitely worth it if you are running new pipes or the existing pipes are easily accessible, but if you have to lift boards etc. Our plumbing expert, Les, knows a plumber who did a job in northern Wisconsin in the middle of winter. There are several methods. PEX piping (shorthand for cross-linked polyethylene) costs less than half the price of copper and installs much faster. Pipes that are encased in concrete (for in-floor heating, for example) are OK because the concrete holds them in place. Most PEX manufacturers recommend you work with pipe at temperatures above freezing. But don’t go running around town looking for it; the difference isn’t that big. You can protect your pipe with abrasion clips, cover the pipe with inexpensive pipe insulation, or enclose it with a larger pipe. Crimp special PEX water line shutoff valves into the hot and cold lines. The easiest is to cut out a section of plumbing pipe and slip in a stab-in tee (left). If you're working on a house that has less than 45 lbs. Use plastic straps instead. Also, installing home runs is fast and requires only two connections (one at the manifold and another at the fixture end), which reduces leaks. You simply push the pipe into the openings. If your coil comes wrapped in plastic, don't remove it. You can snake long runs through joists and studs. Manufacturers are reluctant to say so, but reports from the field suggest PEX can withstand freezing. Sometimes you can just feed out pipe from the innermost section of the coil. And don’t use metal straps to attach it. For most jobs, you’re better off buying 10-ft. “sticks” instead. Kinks happen. The whole length of the pipe doesn't need to be warm, just wherever you make a connection. Lay out the walls: Bathroom walls are typically made from 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 horizontal wall and floor plates and vertical wall studs. You can also use a stab-in tee to connect PEX fittings supply to CPVC. If you’re ordering online, go ahead and spend a few cents extra for PEX-A. PEX has several advantages over copper pipes: A PEX supply and CPVC cost about the same. Some manufacturers recommend adding abrasion clips at each hole. Heating and cooling (HVAC), waste removal, and potable water delivery are among the most common uses for plumbing, but it is not limited to these applications. Connections for most PEX supply jobs require a special tool. Specialties: Repipe 1 is the Pioneer of PEX repiping in California. After you remove the crimp ring or cinch clamp and pull the PEX supply from the fitting, cut off the end of the tubing to get a fresh section for the new connection. Use threaded PEX water line fittings for shower valves. Cut the copper pipe with a tubing cutter. If you’re using a manifold system with valves, you may not need to install a shutoff valve at the fixture. Installing a bend support will prevent this, and it will also protect the pipe from abrasion. Once the pipe is cut, use a reciprocating saw to take out the stringer with the old valve still attached. With the home-run system, you install a manifold in the utility room or some area that’s close to the main water line and water heater, and run a separate PEX tube to each fixture as shown above. You can connect a compression-type shutoff valve to the one-half inch copper stub-out and then connect your fixture. The same tool works for all sizes of cinch clamps. Yes. A combo kit with interchangeable crimp jaws starts at about $100. Some people prepare for any water infiltration “water will get through…” by leaving a half inch space, if only to keep your walls square and true(dry). But check with your plumbing inspector if you’re planning to bury this connection in a wall or ceiling. A home run is one line that runs directly to a fixture, starting at a manifold. Third, joints are easier. It's hard to keep PEX perfectly straight when PEX exits the wall, so another option is to use a 90-degree copper stub-out when you run a line to a toilet or other fixture where your shutoff valve will be visible. First extend a pipe 18 in. Manifolds look intimidating. with special PEX clamps to reduce sag. from your water heater and connect the PEX to the pipe. Cut the PEX off perfectly square for leakproof joints. So keep your PEX pipes away from hot stuff. Reconnect the existing electrical connections. holes for 3/4-in. And stay well clear of furnace flues, wood-burning stove pipes and any other item that gets hot. It is very important that you know which brand of pipes you're working with and install only that manufacturer's connectors and fittings. PEX can’t be directly connected to a water heater. Press the outer ring onto the fitting to release the pipe. PEX is less likely than CPVC to burst if it freezes. We recommend our users to update the browser. Don't take a chance on crimping the PEX at corners. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. If your pipe is in contact with a joist, duct, electrical box or steel stud, or it is passing through a block wall or concrete slab, it needs to be protected with an abrasion clip or a suspension clip. Whichever method you use, be sure to add a couple of extra fasteners next to the stub-out to increase stability. PEX comes in red and blue colors to help you keep track of the hot and cold lines. These fittings don't require a special tool. So working with a coil of PEX is like wrestling with a giant Slinky. PEX expands and contracts with changes in temperature, which causes the pipes to move back and forth. You slip the cinch clamp tool over the protruding tab and squeeze to tighten the cinch clamp. That means you can shut off just that fitting to do some work—you don't have to shut off the water to the whole house. So I’m installing new base board in my master bedroom, master bath, and the front hall way of my sprawling ranch style home. Some areas don’t allow stab-in fittings to be concealed. Then use standard shutoff valves. You must use them for PEX that goes through metal studs, and nail protection plates when the tubing runs within 1-1/2 in. Then slip the PEX supply tubing over the adapter and attach it with your chosen connection method (right). But there are a few reasons why PEX may be a better choice. Just be sure to center the ring over the barb and depress the crimping tool's handles completely. Copper Repipes PEX Repipes Emergency Repipes We take care of Slab Leaks fast. PVC sleeve hangers for PEX tubing; Author: sum (FL) In another thread I mentioned I am doing a repipe of my supply line from polybutylene to PEX. The valve is mounted to a stringer running between the studs. And since it’s flexible, PEX makes remodeling jobs easier. Had to run the pex from the basement through and in the living room walls to the radiator locations The saw was instrumental in making chase ways and altering wood beams and studs for the job. We recommend adding one, though. This system uses more tubing, but is fast and only requires two connections: one at the manifold and another at the fixture end. That will help the pipe keep its shape. Even plumbers who run miles of PEX every year often buy sticks than coils. piping. Read the label to find the compatible fitting. Also, since PEX is more flexible and available in long lengths, it can work better for ‘fishing’ through walls in remodeling situations. You can also use standard shutoff valves with threaded fittings to transition to PEX. Cinch clamp tools start at about $40. holes for 1/2-in. It doesn’t increase the cost much and is more convenient than running downstairs to shut off the water when a repair is needed. line to each fixture from a central spot. Use stab-in fittings only where you have access to the joint. First, you can usually make long continuous runs, eliminating most elbows and joints. Another cool thing about home runs is that each fitting has its own shutoff at the manifold. The only other special tool you need is a scissors-like cutter for the tubing. But if you try to bend it too much, you'll end up kinking it. PEX is also popular for in-floor radiant heating systems, though you need PEX tubing with an oxygen barrier. You should still protect the tubing from freezing. PEX has a strong “memory;” it always wants to spring back to its original shape. And pipes running straight through wood studs and joists are fine too—just protect the pipe in areas where it bends as it passes through. There's no need for solder, glue or pipe wrenches—just position the crimping ring over the end of the PEX pipe, slide the pipe over the barbed fitting and use the special crimping tool to compress the ring. SharkBite is one common brand of stab-in fitting. Then make short runs of 1/2-in. Heck, you can even warm a pipe in a thermos of hot water. There are several types of shutoff valves that connect directly to PEX. Plumbing uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. hot and cold lines to a set of fixtures—for example, in a bathroom—and install a smaller manifold behind an access panel. One of it's uses is for under floor heating systems, so if you are using it for delivering hot water the it's definitely worth insulating it. For more information on pipe transitions, see How to Join Dissimilar Pipes. Make sure you shut off the main water supply, then drain the lines. Where the pipe runs along a surface, be sure to support it every 16 to 24 in. When plumbing with PEX, you can use stab-in or compression fittings to make the connections, but they’re too expensive to be practical on large projects. A plastic bracket forms the sharpest 90-degree angle permitted for this brand of PEX. But since it can expand and contract, it’s less likely to break than rigid piping. There are several PEX supply connection methods, but only two affordable enough to be practical for DIYers: crimp rings and cinch clamps. You can use white PEX for everything if you prefer. There is no unified national plumbing code. In our case, this is simply not the case. You can also use a “manifold” system, where you run a 1/2-in. Also, since PEX moves as it expands and contracts, make sure to drill oversize holes through studs or joists so it can slide easily. Second, PEX doesn't sweat under high humidity conditions, and it's also resistant to bursting, even if the lines freeze solid. You can heat those cold pipes and fittings with a heat gun or hair dryer, leave them in a warm vehicle for a while or keep fittings in your pocket. We recommend our users to update the browser. If you're running PEX through joists or studs, drill 3/4-in. PEX is less likely than CPVC to burst if it freezes. of pressure or a flow rate of less than 4 gallons per minute, make sure you install home runs, and consider going up in size to 3/4-in. In areas that are concealed, like under a kitchen sink or vanity cabinet, you can eliminate a joint by running PEX supply directly to the shutoff valve. All copper… Cinch clamps work more like the traditional band clamps you’re probably familiar with. If the stub-out will be hidden, inside a cabinet, for example, or you don't mind the look of exposed PEX line, use a barbed PEX shutoff valve. There are a couple of options for bringing PEX out through a wall (stub-outs). If you're tearing out copper and replacing it with the same size PEX pipe, the water flow to the fixtures may be noticeably lower when you're done. When the furnace was fired up and the water turned on, they sprang dozens of leaks. Install the new heater control panel on the interior of the RV somewhere within reach. Most of the problems with PEX systems, in the United States and elsewhere, were due to sloppy installation or faulty fittings rather than the tubing itself. Make tight turns with 90-degree angle fittings. pipe. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. away from the water heater and 6 in. Let it droop a little between fasteners. But you lose a lot of the benefits of PEX with this system since it requires so many fittings. Cut the pipe going up to the shower, as well as the hot and cold lines below. You can also use a hybrid system where you run three-quarter inch hot and cold lines to a set of fixtures — for example, a bathroom — and install a smaller manifold behind an access panel. While 2 x 4 lumber is more typical in most construction, "wet walls" that contain major plumbing lines are often built with 2 x 6 lumber, which provides more space for running the plumbing pipes. lines to each fixture. Sure. Crimp rings and cinch clamps are the two most common methods for sealing PEX water line joints. Repipe 1 does not use subcontractors. away from single-wall flues on gas water heaters. If you damage the fitting with the rotary tool, replace the fitting rather than risk a leak.