PEX plumbing tutorial

[pipopak]

FWIW Family Handyman magazine has a PEX plumbing installation tutorial at:
http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Plumbing/Plumbing-Skills/plumbing-with-pex-tubing/Step-By-Step
It may be useful to somebody.

[WEC4104]

A couple years ago I developed some leaks in the older style grey plastic piping.  I found out that a lot of that stuff was discontinued and folks were switching over to PEX.  I knew virtually nothing about the stuff, and found a couple of web tutorials like the one you listed. I decided to give it a try. I know there are folks that swear by the Shark Bite fittings, but I just didn't care for them (plus they are expensive).  I decided to use the crimp style fittings and invested in the crimping tool.  Great decision.  I ended up completely replacing all the grey pipe with PEX. Red for hot water lines, blue for cold.

[pipopak]

The grey plumbing system was a total fiasco. Manufacturer got sued and had to replace A LOT of already installed systems. Was replaced by CPVC (the yellowish plastic). Whoever has grey PVC already installed should seriously consider total replacement before **it happens.

[TomC]

I still have the Qest gray fittings.  I installed them in '94 and have been zero failures.  I realize that I will eventually have to replace the entire plumbing system, which will be fairly easy with all plumbing accessible (one of the main reasons my conversion took so long-making all systems accessible).  I know that Pex also has screw type compression fittings.  Does anyone know if those fittings are the same as the Qest fittings?  Good Luck, TomC

[chev49]

I am working on one of my apartments right now, and putting in a new kitchen  in one. I have used cpvc for years, but the PEX pipe at lowes isnt expensive and looks like the crimpers are about 50 bucks for each size on eBay.  I am going to try the PEX now that I read this thread, cause I hate the cleaner and glue, not to mention there would be less elbows, etc necessary. I don't want to mention cracked cpvc pipe in bus conversion several years ago that made a bit of a lake... Pex might solve that...

[thomasinnv]

I know that Pex also has screw type compression fittings.  Does anyone know if those fittings are the same as the Qest fittings?  Good Luck, TomC

I have used the pex compression type fittings you speak of when doing repairs to the quest pipe with good success.  they are interchangeable.

[Seayfam]

Thanks pipopak, Good info for guys using pex.
I have been using PEX for ten years now and I love it. In all those years building houses, I only recall one leak. I believe it was a bad fitting.
As far as the Shark bite fittings, They are real good fittings. They kinda work like the air fittings on your newer trucks, just push the pipe in, and your done.
They are very expensive and I wouldn't use them on a whole plumbing project. I only use them in the places you can't use a crimper. I did buy a new crimper when I plumbed my bus. It is more of a ratchet style crimper and uses more of a band style clamp instead of a crimp ring. The clamps are more expensive than the rings, but not too bad. The nice thing about this system is, you only need about 8" of space to use the crimper and on a bus there are a lot of small spaces.

I have heard a lot of people say you can't make pex look as nice as copper or cpvc, but you can make it look real good. They make 10' straight sections like cpvc and I just use more 90's and straps to make nice straight runs.

As far as freezing, they say it can freeze. I would worry about fittings though. In my bus I made sure I didn't use fittings in places I couldn't access.

Gary

[luvrbus]

Where I live in AZ Pex pipe is becoming a problem with failures, reading today they are blaming it on the chlorine in the public system I say it the heat lol you guys do know the largest manufacture of Pex is Vanguard and they were the manufacture of Quest time will tell same as it did for Quest   


good luck

[Singing Land Cruiser]

We ran the new Pex, not the gray, in Mrs. Jones and a little copper for the tight corners and it is holding up great! We also put it in the many houses we built. We are sold on Pex. M&C 

[luvrbus]

Pex is made from nasty chemicals from what I read today lol reading today's paper AZ is thinking about joining 5 other state in a class action suit over Pex pipe and fittings may not be as good as you guys think.
Fwiw Quest is still used in the RV market I am not sold on anything made from chemicals I worked when I was younger where they made VC a component for PVC that is nasty stuff too this day I will not drink from anything plastic glass or nothing and no China  made glass either

BTW a ? for the Callie people is PEX approved in California now it wasn't a few years ago if my memory is right

good luck  .

[Seayfam]

BTW a ? for the Callie people is PEX approved in California now it wasn't a few years ago if my memory is right

I would almost bet that it would cause some kind of cancer or birth defect in California. LOL!

Gary

[happycamperbrat]

I dont know if it is aproved or not.... I havent got to that part of the conversion yet. I do know it is not in my home and it isnt in my favorite hardware store... Ever since Desi said he had sex/pex all over the house and loved it, I have been looking for it so I could maybe get the same kind of joys 

[chev49]

I imagine PEX   IS made from nasty chemicals..... but so are all my medications...

[bevans6]

http://www.uponor-usa.com/en/Misc/Applications/California-PEX.aspx

Approved in California.

[luvrbus]

You are so right there Chev49 that is why I take none the Doc tried to give me some blood thinners after a little research I told him no way am I going to take rat poison he just smiled and said that is what it is made from


good luck