[soonerce]

Hello, I am currently working on installing a whole house humidifier and am having trouble figuring out how to plumb the waterline to it.

The closest existing line is in my water heater closet, and the line I need to cut a tee into is 3/4-inch PEX. The humidifier calls for 1/4-inch O.D. copper. I would also like to put a shutoff valve right after I cut into the existing PEX.

The nice lady at Home Depot put together a package of fittings totalling over $90 and it included 6 sharkbite connections (2 to tie into the existing PEX, 2 between the sharkbite tee and the valve, then two reducing it down again to 1/4"). If at all possible I would like to eliminate as many of these connections as possible, as I have heard they tend to leak over time.

I have read that some people have used a fitting like the Watts P-667, which does it all, except that it is made for existing 1/2" PEX and I have 3/4".

Can anyone help me figure out a more streamlined solution? Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[rjniles]

3/4 x 3/4 x 1/2 Sharkbite tee $14
Short stub of 1/2 copper or PEX tubing (say 3") $1
1/2 Sharkbite male adapter $6
1/2 Threaded ball valve $8
1/2 x 1/4 brass bushing $4
1/4 compression male adapter $5
1/4 copper tubing to humidifier


If you have access to PEX crimp tools you can eliminate the Sharkbites (expensive) and use regular PEX crimp fittings

 

[soonerce]

Thanks for your reply. I have access to a PEX crimping tool.

So, 3/4x3/4x1/2 regular tee
Short stub of 1/2 PEX
1/2 regular male adapter (do they make this?)
The rest the same?

 

[rjniles]

Rest the same. Plus a few 1/2 and 3/4 crimp rings

 

[soonerce]

Do you have pictures of these two items?

1/2 x 1/4 brass bushing $4
1/4 compression male adapter $5

The other stuff I'm pretty familiar with, but these two are the elusive ones.

 

[TheEplumber]

I'd go 3/4x1/2 tee. Then 1/2x1/4 angle stop. You should be able to find both in sharkbite. From the stop valve run 1/4" to the unit

 

[rjniles]

Eplumber has a great idea:

1/2" PEX barb to 1/4" compression stop.

 

[soonerce]

I'd go 3/4x1/2 tee. Then 1/2x1/4 angle stop. You should be able to find both in sharkbite. From the stop valve run 1/4" to the unit

I had come to this conclusion as well at the store, then an assistant manager came to ask me if I needed help and talked me out of using sharkbite, saying they will leak. Then he sent me his plumbing manager that loaded me up with sharkbite.

I guess the real question is, do they leak? Is it worth spending a little extra money to eliminate them?

 

[soonerce]

Eplumber has a great idea:

1/2" PEX barb to 1/4" compression stop.

I like it! So...
3/4x3/4x1/2 PEX Tee
Small piece of 1/2 PEX
1/2" PEX barb to 1/4" compression stop (as shown above)
1/4" Copper to Unit
Two 3/4" and 2 1/2" PEX rings

I'm guessing I won't find that 1/2" PEX barb to 1/4" compression stop at a big hardware store.

 

[rjniles]

I had come to this conclusion as well at the store, then an assistant manager came to ask me if I needed help and talked me out of using sharkbite, saying they will leak. Then he sent me his plumbing manager that loaded me up with sharkbite.

I guess the real question is, do they leak? Is it worth spending a little extra money to eliminate them?

I would not be afraid to use them in that application, but I am a cheap a$$. The Sharkbites are a lot more expensive than regular PEX fittings.

 

[rjniles]

And the orange or blue aprons are not the best place to get advise.

And be real careful about listening to any of us. LOL