An endless selection of plumbing parts. Whatever I need, I’ll find it here. Often I only have a vague idea of how I’m going to do something, but being able to search through these shelves and dry-fit parts together tends to unlock solutions I hadn’t even thought of.
Then there’s also the immense calm I feel being in a space where everything is neatly organized in its dedicated places.
Replacing all the PEX piping and manifolds on customer’s house.
I have PEX. Now I’m worried. What problems were you encountering that this was the best solution?
None. This is for a customer who wants a peace of mind. If it was my house I wouldn’t be worried the slightest. However as a professional I’m required to acknowledge that 35 year old PEX has reached it’s end of life but as a civilian I’d say it’s still good for another 20 years at least. It’s plastic after all.
Edit: Oh, and I’m replacing it with new PEX.
Edit2: I might do a pressure test on the old pipes to see how much they can still handle.
35 years?! That can’t be right.
“PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) was invented in 1968 by German scientist Dr. Thomas Engel. It was first introduced for commercial use in Europe during the early 1970s and became widely used in North America starting in the mid-1980s, initially for radiant floor heating before moving into plumbing.”
I had no idea there have been commercial PEX installations going on 55 years old now.
I too was wondering the same thing. Cousin is a plumber and he seems fond of using it.
Nothing wrong with PEX - I used it in my own house as well. I consider it to be the second most reliable material to transport pressurized water in. Right after stainless steel.
I had that done to my place. Zero regrets.
You guys use compression fittings on pex? That’s bat shit crazy. And metal ferrules? Make it make sense. I assume Pex A is more prevalent with this type of fitting? The type that would be used with an Uponur tool? Gonna look nice though.
E: come to think of this I do see this on radiant heat systems. But that’s a much lower pressure then a domestic water system
I don’t see what’s crazy about it. PEX has the same outside dimensions as copper pipe, so the fittings are cross-compatible. The only difference is that with PEX you need to use a support sleeve inside the pipe to stop it collapsing under the olive - just like with copper that has gotten hot from soldering. I prefer joints that can be undone.
This is the first time I’ve seen a ferule called an olive.
I’m not sure what that is then I guess. Olive is the part in compression fitting that tightens around the pipe and creates the seal. My english plumbing terminology is admittedly kinda limited.
Yea we all talking the same thing. I’m stealing olive now. That’s sweet.
As long as your enjoying the work and make it look good. Rule number one, make it look sexy. Just a difference in view points:
For one, pex is generally a cost effective option. Those fittings probably cost 10x the pipping. Also a general plus of Pex is ease of installation. Lotta time using compression and leak testing. Also compression isnt used behind walls or unaccessible locations. And lastly to remove a fitting all you need to do is snip it off with a tubing cutter. Pex is a great product and has many benefits/ special use cases but for cost and ease of installation as a major reason.
It’s against the code to put any kind of joints in inaccessible locations. These pipes go inside a protective outer pipe in the ground under the house. They can only be replaced by attatching a new pipe to the old one and pulling it through.