Copper - CPVC - PEX

AlbrightPM

If you were re-plumbing a home, or a large remod, what pipe would you use for supply lines? Why?

Pro's and con's of each?

steve

mdshunk

Steve.. PEX is here to stay, and it is the absolute first choice for a re-pipe. You can fish it as easily as wire. You're nuts if you don't do a re-pipe on a flip or a rental property with PEX.

AlbrightPM

I was checking out the tools... appears I'd need a crimper and an expander tool. I have nothing against copper, but its time to step into the 21st century and use something else.

What the proper way to join an old copper system to PEX? Sweat on a threaded fitting and go from there?

steve

mdshunk

Yup, there is a fitting for this exact purpose.

Not all PEX systems need the expander. Just the crimper. Research what materials are locally available, and stick with that "system".

AlbrightPM

So there's a copper fitting made just for transitioning to PEX? Cool, beats using three fittings to get from point A to point B, eh?

So you're saying that PEX is made by different companies? With different fittings? I'll need to look into that and see what the local plumbing supply stocks, as well as Lowes and HD.

Thanks, MD. I appreciate the help. Plumbing is one trade I haven't done a whole lot of.

steve

Ron The Plumber

You have two types of fittings

(Wirsbo) this type requires the expansion tool.

(RTI) this type requires the crimper tool.

__________________
Fix it right the first time, so you won't have to fix it a 2nd time.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

troubleseeker

[quote=AlbrightPM;25617]I was checking out the tools... appears I'd need a crimper and an expander tool. I have nothing against copper, but its time to step into the 21st century and use something else.

What the proper way to join an old copper system to PEX? Sweat on a threaded fitting and go from there?

steve[/quote

Still would be copper for me. Of course I'm more interested in having pipes that will last for 50 years in my walls than I am in "stepping into the 21st century" just to jump on the latest trendy item.Ask the tens of thousands of people who owned homes plumped with polybutylene about stepping into the next century.

Ron The Plumber

Steve,

Don't let anyone scare you away from pex pipe, it's been used in Europe long before it has been here and been around for many years now, you can't ask for a more superior pipe then pex, copper will freeze and split, this will not happen with pex. Take it from the ones on here that are using it. If it was no good, I'd be the 1st to tell you about it.

__________________
Fix it right the first time, so you won't have to fix it a 2nd time.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

AlbrightPM

Thanks for the info, guys. I'm gonna check around Monday and see whats available.

steve

Bonus

I use pex almost exclusively for residential. The crimp type. It is so fast and user friendly. I have done countless crimps and never had one drip or weep. You can pull long lengths of it through stud walls, take it around gentle corners, you can also put it together while the stuff is wet. I love the stuff.

To switch from Cu to pex you can get a sweat-to-crimp fitting.

gitnerdun

wirsbo is the way to go. The cordless expander is cool too.

wannabuild

Hi - I just ordered an Uponor Hand Expander and a bunch of tubing & odds & ends. Can you give any tips or suggestions to shorten the learning curve? Do you like copper or EP plastic fittings? I'm thinking modified home run looks like best method - do you agree? I hope it's as easy to make connections as reading the manual seems to say.
Do you attach the small manifolds to framing or just use nail on clamps on tubing nearby and let the manifold hang free?
Thanks for any advice.

747

I say wirsbo. I don't think ron uses that he goes with RTI

Actually my plumber doesn't mess with pex. He is still copper all the way. I asked him. His brother however messes with pex he is a plumber also with his own buisness in the town just up the road. He does alot of new construction in fact he was handling all the new plumbing and heating on the new country club. My plumber doesn't mess with new construction he is existing plumbing and heating and airconditioning.

ron schenker

I miss lead. That was great stuff!

majakdragon

ron schenker, I agree that lead was great, in it's time. When I was in my apprenticeship, we had to wipe lead fittings, form pig eared corner shower pans and solder them and pour lead joints. Then came no-hub cast iron and slip-seal and lead was gone. I needed to re-pour a joint (horizontal) and could not find a "running rope" anywhere in the city. Luckily, I found some asbestos and made a dam that worked for what I had to do. Nothing against the new products, EXCEPT, they seem to have taken the "Plumb" out of Plumber. Hate seeing spaghetti runs of piping even though it is fast and efficient.

__________________
If you have never made a mistake, you haven't done much.