Tricks to making PEX fit in small area?

1599 Views 12 Replies 3 Participants Last post by WhatRnsdownhill, Feb 1, 2016

gizzygone

Discussion Starter · Feb 1, 2016

Excuse me for my stupid question:

I'm adding a hot/cold spigot to the house to replace a failing standard cold spigot. Since I'm plumbing the entire basement as well, I ordered a Spigot with PEX connectors, and I soldered on a ball-valve PEX stop onto the copper water supply.

I have abou 8inches between the spigot and shutoff valve: I already installed the spigot, and siliconed it as well.

Last night I decided to connect the PEX, and being the first time I've ever used it, ran into an issue: the PEX doesn't have enough flex to connect to the fixture to the supply.

Are there any tricks to this? Or do I need to cut the spigot out, and connect that way?

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gizzygone

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 1, 2016

SeniorSitizen said:
Not an answer but my inquiring mind needs to know why a stop valve is needed at that location.

Maybe I used the wrong term? It's a 1/4 turn shut off valve.

I live where it can freeze, so most spigots have shut offs inside the house... But it's also useful in some instances to keep people from stealing water. (I came home in my old home to find a contractor hooked up to my water supply fixing the cement sidewalks in the neighborhood without permission.... And water isn't cheap over here)

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gizzygone

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 1, 2016

ShtRnsdownhill said:
just soak the piece of pex in super hot water, you can even boil it and it will become like a limp noodle..

Does it affect strength at all? Any issue using the Uponor PEX expansion tool with them hot?

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gizzygone

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 1, 2016

ShtRnsdownhill said:
no effect whatsoever, after you have the pex on the fittings you can wait a few minutes till it cools down and then crimp...there are temp ratings printed on the pex tubing..

Sounds good. Maybe I'll try a heat gun first? That way I can attach one end, cut to size, then heat the middle to add some pliability.

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gizzygone

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 1, 2016

It's a straight shot, so the PVC wouldn't work. But I think since I only have 8" of length getting enough bend to get onto the nipple is difficult.

I'd rather not try and remove the spigot so I'll go with some heat.

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gizzygone

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 1, 2016

ShtRnsdownhill said:
you should be able to get that no problem, even if you kink the pex by mistake, just heat it up and it will go back to original shape with no weakening of the pex..

I'll give it another go tomorrow night after I pick up a heat gun. Its located between joists and framing, so getting hands in there is tricky, let alone trying to work against the clock (PEX expansion fitting, so you only have a few seconds to work with)

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