Anybody here have any experience with the plumbing product, Pex? It sounds like it is much easier to use that copper pipe and has been around for a while, so it's got a track record. It looks like I will have to have my whole house re-plumbed, because my poly-butylene pipes are springing leaks everywhere.

I think you can pull the Pex in the walls similar to wiring.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

My Dad's manufactured home has PEX tubing and the taste/smell it leaves in the water while it stands overnight in the tubing makes it almost undrinkable without some sort of activated charcoal filter.

Based on that, I elected to use CPVC in my cabin.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

That's good to know. Thanks, Randy.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

What would you like to know -- I can say, I know quite a bit about it now... Wirsbo (Uponor), Rehau, etc... PexA, etc...

If you asking if it is better than PB, Duh. YES! If you're asking if it is better than copper -- well, better -- I can't say since we don't have as much history... I CAN tell you that if you are going to use a crimp and clamp type PEX you're a fool. Stick with either the Expander (ProPex) method or the APR type.

If you want more info -- let me know.

Pete

Thanks, Pete. I was thinking of using Pex to re-plumb my house because I thought it might require less demo to install if it can be pulled in the walls like wiring.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I've been curious about the pex stuff as well. From what I've heard it's been used in Europe for quite some time. Additionally, I think it can be pulled through non-conditioned space (the attic space) since it expands with frozen water rather than bursts as does copper. Not sure if that's all correct, just what I've heard. Home Depot is now selling the sharkbite fittings that are supposed to be able to be used on pex and copper. I like the idea of the pex setup with what turns out to be a "circuit board" for your water system. I've no personal experience with it - the bad taste aspect seems worrisome. Cu is still the best but the cost has gone through the roof on it and pex is less labor intensive as well it seems.

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-livin' in the terminally flippant zone

My wife redid our house in PEX about 6 months ago. I have not noticed any taste issue. It was extremely easy and took only 2 afternoons.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

Is it run "home run" style to a manifold or is it run more like copper would be?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Is it easier to work with over copper? Yes.

But don't be fooled into thinking you can "pull" it like you can #12 wire. No way. The radius bend, even for 1/2" isn't even close.

There is no taste issue -- at least for me, and the benefits is that you have far fewer connections. I did some home-run setups and some traditional T setups... but have their good and bad... in the end I think it is great -- at least the ProPex system -- that is what I use, I prefer APR, but it wasn't as cost effective and it is harder to do work in tight areas... I've done 1/2" and 3/4" -- 3/4" can be a ***** to get it to go where you need it to.

considering it needs to be strapped, etc. I don't think you're going to save much hassle with demo -- where you will save is in time running the actual line, and money. Figure you'll pay 1/3 to do it with ProPex, and that includes buying the tool and the head(s)... and you can keep the tool and head(s) after the job is done!

Pete

We used pex for the first time in the spec home we are doing now. It tested with no leaks first try.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Tom, how did the labor and materials costs compare with copper?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I added a water faucet on the front of my house this winter. The total run was about 120' and it was cheaper to buy 500' of Pex + the tool than it was to buy 120' of copper.

The Pex was super easy to run and crimp. I enjoy sweating copper fittings so it was not as much fun as copper, but it sure was easy.

Dee8- maybe you could have a GTG at your house with forum members to install the pipes....

__________________
"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Once concern I've heard of - rodents. Rats supposedly have been known to eat through the stuff, which isn't possible with copper. The resulting damage could be rather ugly.

I've no personal knowledge of how big a concern this is, and it wasn't enough to dissuade me from using it on new construction we just completed.

We've also not noticed any taste issues with the stuff, and we're pretty picky about our drinking water. We've got excellent quality tap water, and it tastes no different from my neighbor's older home with copper pipes.

I probably didn't save any labor since my brother did it and he isn't very fast, but we saved about 2/3 on the materials I seem to remember.

Rats might eat it but if they had a notion they could chew the copper too I bet.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.