A lot of people are calling them crimp rings regardless so if you're a first time plumber looking to buy materials, what they used in this video are pinch clamps. Crimp rings require a different tool than pinch clamps so read the descriptions carefully at the store or you'll be very confused and making a second trip. I sell these and it's a very common mistake. Also, the reason they state in the video that you need to use copper for the tub spout is because the inside diameter of pex is only 3/8" so you end up having water back up and run out of your shower head when you're using the tub spout. The valve send more water through to the tub spout than that 3/8" can handle. Copper has a larger inside diameter than PEX. If you really want to just use PEX pipe, you can adapt the 1/2" female thread of the mixing valve to a 3/4" pex fitting and use 3/4" PEX for the tub spout only.
@@markomus1 with a cut off wheel on a side grinder or a die grinder and cutting the protrusion that your crimper fits over. Cutting vertically through the outside face of the protrusion being careful not to knick the PEX, then spread the clamp or crimp apart and away from the PEX. However, it sounds as if you have made an error in the original crimping or the PEX got damaged somehow so you will need to remove the PEX either damaged or not to put a new crimp/clamp back on and that may be difficult getting off the barb especially if it has been crimped so you may need to utilize a heat gun to soften it up or cut the PEX along its run (with a utility knife) at the barb area to allow it to spread and be removed then replace with a new length of PEX.
Plus, PEX doesn't make for good tub spouts anyway. It'll wiggle around in the wall and you'll eventually damage a PEX tub spout pipe by pulling and pushing on the diverter. It needs to be a solid material like copper pipe, or a brass nipple for the threaded type of tub spouts.
I've run a little PEX in an existing home. I have to say its fast, cheap and pretty much leak free. If you pay attention to your angles and straight lines you can also make the job look pretty nice too, plus no one is going to break into your house and strip all of the PEX out to sell the way they do copper pipe.
Tweakers and thieves might not mess with your PEX piping. But rats will.... be sure to run foam insulation on all of your exposed PEX in your basement or crawlspace. The rats won't chew on the springy foam insulation - just imagine taking a bite out of egg crate foam. It's not very appetizing and the texture is super funky. Rats hate the stuff.
I was going to hire a plumber to connect the 4 stage water filtration system I designed. After seeing this video, I can do it myself. I thought PEX would be more difficult. It is actually easier and cost-effective. Thank you for this video.
@Maximus D. Meridius And THAT is probably the biggest single reason so many old school plumbers hate pex - DIYers can avoid all the labor expense of copper pipe installation (which does require a higher skill level).
I've been running pex pipe with copper crimp fittings for 10 years now and have never had a service call over a leaking pex pipe. it expands if your water lines freeze and is 20x faster and easier to install than copper. if crimped and braced properly it works better than any other water pipe for my home remodeling projects
To bad its inferior to PEX-A using the connection expansion method connectors have the same ID as pipe VS PEX B or C using crimp connectors have a smaller ID restricting waster flow with increase pressure. In addition to being more elegant in design and more idiot proof to install. And avoiding metal parts that even unlikely could corrode is 1 last advantage.
Robert Smith... pex B does not expand...that would be pex A which is wirsbo by far the best pex out there...and crimp fittings suck...you think they would have learned their lesson from the old quest crimp style crap....
Why would a brass fitting ever fail from freezing on a pex system. The pex will expand easier than brass therefore all the expansion will occur in the tubing and the brass will be fine. Make up a closed loop with fittings and throw it in the freezer. Pex a is superior to pex b but there is way more pex b installed than pex a and with proper installation it does just fine. Once you use pex A I doubt you would go back to b assuming you have a power expander and not a manual one. Also in the long haul pex A will be a more cost effective install. Anyone still messing with PVC or CPVC for supply lines do yourself a favor and try pex.
My brother's install PEX pipe throughout my whole house approximately 10 years ago also. Never a problem. Never weird taste. Excellent piping. Since it was tried and true in Europe prior to down south here can't beat it! Great invention.
I broke into the business in 1968. The changes I've seen in the industry are nothing short of amazing. I wish my first boss was around to see what it's like today. Knowing him he'd probably call it junk. Lamp wick and compound to this in 60 years, not bad.
@@wadebarnett2542 my first boss was a licensed NYC plumber, no easy feat back then. He'd call these new changes "Rube Goldberg" applications. He was tough but he taught me the value of a trade and hard work. I apprenticed during the days of cast iron and 6 foot steel wrenches. My back aches just thinking about it.
@@basilfromeen I was a volunteer fire fighter for over 20 years. In a training class I was told that the slang term "fire plug", referring to a fire hydrant, was coined because the very first hydrants were nothing more than a wooden plug in a hole cut in wooden water pipes. In case of a fire you just removed the plug to fill buckets for a bucket brigade.
@@tonyg1958 some of the first water services from street main to a residence were hollowed out wooden logs. Water contacts wood, wood swells up forming a perfect seal. Yup, makes total sense
Great video. I'm not sure if your children told you, "Dad! You should at least add some sick music in the background to make it super sick!" It didn't - it is just an annoying distraction. Your great step by step explanations with clear camera work and editing is all we need - you are enough. Thanks again for the great video.
Hard pass on background music as it's way to painful to listen to some of the crap people use. So painful I usually just close out the window and look for another video.
i have to admit i didn't watch the video, but just want everyone to know these things to think about! I have been a contractor for over 40 years, I do electrical, hvac, and plumbing along with carpenter work and sheetrock work, this is to let you know i'm no novice! I started using pex about 10 years ago and the truth is pex is great for the installer, they can rough in a whole house with a couple of guys in 1 day, it is easy to make repairs on my rental houses. i can do a repair in 20 minutes or so, but here are the main problems I have had: 1. I ran a main line into one home a few years ago and it had to be dug up each time within a year (3 times) due to gravel making holes in it. if I ran another main line I would put it inside a pvc pipe sleeve! it was in chert which is rocky , but I've never had problems with any other piping type doing this! 2. next I had a brass tee fail under a house (my fault) due to the crimp ring which was in a very hard to reach place was installed slightly crooked, it was good for 4 months then we went to check on the house (which was empty), due to getting an electric bill that went from $80 a month to $500, the fitting had a small leak that started under the crooked crimp ring then it eventually cut a groove almost all the way through the tee body. 3. another problem, (which caused the last one) is a lot of times you can't get a crimper in the right position to make a proper crimp usually due to floor joist/framing or other obstructions like heat and air ducting ect... 4. The last problem which I just experienced was a tennent called and said he had to replace the pressure reducing valve and when turning the water pressure back on, he had a leak in the basement ceiling, I go over and cut the ceiling sheetrock out and I had to cut out 3 different areas of sheetrock and eventually we had to replace over 35 ft of the pex both hot and cold, the surprise was it had hundreds of teeth marks almost through the pex, rats and or squirrels had eaten the plastic up everywhere, I guess the new press. regulator was set a little higher than the one that failed and it kept blowing through the more sections I replaced the more leaks we found. RODENTS DONT EAT COPPER PIPES! one of these ---the problem getting a crimper into tight places is easily fixed, although real expensive, just us the upanor type (expandable tool and fittings, you just expand the rings , then by hand slip them onto the fitting, the expansion can be done in an open area. Just want everyone to read this when deciding on what to use to plumb your project!
Another good thing I like about pex is the fact you can drill your holes thru the wall studs & pull it all the way through like you would wire w/out having to cut between each stud & solder them back again & again! But again just make sure you loop a loop in it between a stud somewhere a couple feet or so between runs so to allow expansion & contraction. Also be sure it's not installed in direct sunlight as this will have a bad effect on it. If it friezes, use a hairdryer on it & not your torch. L.O.L I am a good man to have on hand, I am Dave the handyman! May God bless his own people.
You really don't need to loop anywhere. Pex requires 1/8 inch per foot for expansion, so roughly 3/4 inch per 10 feet. You can simply leave slack in the pipe here and there and be fine.
I like people like this. I've been using it for years. Learned early on to use 3/4" instead of 1/2". The inner diameter of the fittings for 3/4" gives similar flow to 1/2" copper pipes. I prefer crimp fittings too. I've seen these cinch fittings leak before. I don't know why. But I know I've had great success with the crimp ones.
@@TheBootyWrangler I wouldn't trust them to get enough pressure on the PEX to keep a good seal. I definitely wouldn't do it that way if the joints will be behind walls or hard to access. If I was on a farm and was doing something in an old shed or something where a leak wouldn't be a big deal I might do that. But the rings and crimping tool aren't that expensive and it's the best way to be sure of a good connection and seal.
I learned years ago to use low flow showerheads and sink aerators, This saves a HUGE amount of money on water, sewer and electric(or gas) Then I can use 1/2 pex, which reduces the amount of hot water it takes to get to the fixture!
Repiping my whole house atm, cutting out all galvanized old pipes and running pex a everywhere....and love it, easy amd flexible to fit anywhere, with a pipe expansion tool makes connections so easy. Love it so far
Brought some pex tubing and fittings lately, the tubing is definitely cheaper but the fittings take your savings right back, they are ridiculously expensive ! .61 cent for a half inch copper coupling versus $6.76 cent for a SharkBite one
Don't buy Sharkbite fittings - those are just for quick plumbing repair jobs. Regular, brass crimp/clamp PEX fittings are between $1-$2, only slightly more than a copper fitting. Obviously, buy them online, because Lowes/HD will charge you for the convenience.
PEX Tubing was developed and first used in Europe in the 1960’s. This product entered US market 30 years ago and has been growing in popularity ever since.
I’m using pex b but bought the Milwaukee m12 pex a with the 3 heads 2 batteries and charger forn$500 idk if I’ll keep the Milwaukee or use my ryobi for stainless steel clamps still pex b has been awesome
Yes, PEX is BPA free. PEX/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) that is tested for BPA levels as part of the NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 plumbing standard. This standard confirms that BPA is not detected in PEX pipe. GREAT VIDEO Thanks!
I'm not a plumber, but have done plumbing. My 35 year-old home has copper pipe. Never had any problems in the 25 years in our home. Pex on the other hand is a relatively new product. What if it starts falling apart after 35 years? What do you do, re-do all the water supply lines in your home? The construction industry has a history of using products that don't stand the test of time. I wouldn't buy a new home today unless I had it custom built with products known to last a very long time.
My home was built in 1970. In 1987 I started getting random pin holes in pipes (some in the walls). My well water was on the acidic side and eat through the copper. Had the entire house plumbed with CPVC with no issues yet. Then municipal water was installed on my road and that was when I found out about pex. I used 1" to bring in the supply from the meter. Was very impressed with the pipe, but I'm not sure I will ever completely trust the connection methods.
pex was used in Europe in the 1960s for Both potable water and in floor heating, but there's 2 types 1 for water 1 for heating . problems with copper 2 grades light and regular builders use light to save money , but copper fittings are often if not most china made. and both pipes and fittings and made with recycled copper and brass in larger content and less new copper . and i never heard if copper tubing as well as raw copper is imported fl has a real problem lightning sets up electrolysis and about 15-20 yrs repining is required older poly grey pipe used was not much better than copper used in some homes pre 1996 and lot of mobile homes 2 problems quality install was a problem and depending on fittings leaks and it pinholes too
Third time trying to fix galvanized section with three nipples , two unions and two tees with elbow . verry unforgiving galvanized need it to be super tightened . will likely try pex next time . it'll hold good supply pressure right ?
I use n like the expansion joints n couplings!!!! Even faster ! BUT !!!!! Joints ONLY at attic(basement) supply lines , n at the 1/4 turn shut offs !! We don’t use the manifold system either !! BUT we install 2-4 emergency shut offs at the baths,washroom n kitchen ! If there is a problem ! Shut that area off ! Usually can still have water to most of the rest of the home ! GREAT Video !
Thats the best way if using pex, all home runs with pex A because less fittings in the wall and it bends tighter than pexB. If you have acidic water this install wont last more than 5 years before leaking in the wall. The acid will eat the brass. There were many cases of bad brass fittings which made it worse. Pex B fittings also greatly reduce flow because they are smaller than the ID of the pipe. You can also get bacterial growth inside of pex tubing if your water isn’t chlorinated, like on a well in this situation. Copper is anti microbial, so not an issue. But Pex is cheaper until a fitting leaks and ruins your house.
Pex is best with a manifold I think. The id of the tubing is the same as copper but with pex every fitting you put on it is just another restrictor since they go into the tubing
With pex B (crimp style) you have restrictions at fittings. With pex B the fitting have the same ID of the tubing and you expand the pex to make up the connections.
Good video boys. Looking to add a half bath in a 100 year old house in South Dakota. I appreciate y’all sharing your knowledge as I’ve never used it before, but understand that it’s the way to go. Thanks again.
I've been a Master Plumber for 37 years now and I can already tell u that u spend alot of money on fittings alone. Them fittings are from home depot and they cost alot. It's cheaper if u buy it at a Plumbing Supply Store
That is a good tip. Would you have installed the shutoffs on the shower (assuming they aren’t going to be accessible). My understanding is those aren’t required by code for showers and tubs.
I was a diehard copper pipe plumber but, Cautiously Idid start installing pex only in accesable areas such as basements,mechanical rooms etc. About 10 years ago and in that time the copper crimp rings have not failed so Ihave begun installing behind the drywall for about two years now and so far I have had no complaints or call backs thats with box store pex and copper crimp rings
Whelton recently published a study examining PEX piping in Journal - American Water Works Association.“PEX pipes caused greater odor than the polypropylene pipe and released more organic carbon as well as volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. Water quality impacts were less after 30 days. Regulated and unregulated contaminants were found in three PEX plumbing systems. Drinking water odors were attributed to toluene, ethyl-tert-butyl ether, and unidentified contaminants,” the study said.
What exactly is Pex Pipe? Is it a plastic combination? Is it true it is not rodent proof? I like the ease and price of it over copper and also understand copper has to be replaced after so many years otherwise it develops pin holes which cause leaks. How long will Pex last?
If you live in the country, wildlife can gnaw through it very easily. Especially with climate change and the droughts that are now the order of the day. Reminds me of the PVC window frames they said would last forever. Turns out forever is about 7 years of life in the Texas sun.
I live in a house with pvc doors and windows in direct sunlight and never had an issue with them. The only place I noticed a fault is a single screw cover that was eaten away by heather but everything else has been spotless for 15-ish years. Not a single sign of issues.
In finland se use pipe in pipe system. Uponor is from finland, and its Been around 30 years. You can spot the leaks one of the ends. Nice video, and greetings To a fellow plummer!
my house was built in 1995 with pex plumbing and a manoblock distribution system and in all that time i never had a leak or pipe failure so needles to say i'mvery satisfied with my plumbing
Count me in, my house was built in 1997 and I have never experienced a leak. Replaced a faucet last year and cut off the fitting and it was like new. I live in Las Vegas and our water supply is loaded with corrosive elements but my fittings are still like new. I used Wirsbo Aquapex, it is awesome.
Yeah all these people saying they wouldn’t trust pex, they skip over comments like this. I have never used pex, but plan to do so for my house replumbing in the near future
just a bunch of complainers in comments more than likely plumbers that are pissed because they can't charge hundreds of dollars for pex because it's cheap and in my experience reliable. unlike hard plumbed copper a little pulling or tugging isn't going to make things leak at connections.
@1234 Trust me. I have seen DIY electrical work and I'm not the least bit worried what by what someone who watched a video on youtube did. I actually welcome it because those were never a customer anyway and a lot of them get stuck and call anyway and if I have to undo what they did first, it'll cost more.
agree with you.I got a house that needed some water repair and when the guys came to give me an estimate the bill was around 2500 CAD.I did it myself in just 2 days with ZERO experience and cost me nothing.I had old pipes in the shed and also had glue.
@1234 agree with you. Actually from a friend of mine who is a professional architect know that many people are lured to go and take plumber certificate because they make crazy money doing complete BS simple jobs and ripping you off. I am currently owning a house that needs all kinds of repairs and this for me is the moment when I have the opportunity to learn to do it myself and such videos are really helpful.I already did a French Drainage that cost me 3 000 when the company that wanted to do it wanted me to pay them 11 000. I saved tons of money.
In my area in Florida, when getting homeowners insurance, my agent specifically asked about PEX in my house. I have none but apparently insurance companies have a problem with PEX installations and are either not covering damage due to a problem or charging you a premium if you have it in your house.
I think this is because when pex was first used in the states, Florida was where it was used and in very expensive homes - then they had a lot of failures and water damage due to the crimp rings that they used- it was found that when manufactured in china that the rings that are made from 2 different metals and because when forged together the heat made them some what brittle and prone to failure- this was identified and the rings were changed and since then I have heard of no more failures, but the insurance companies are still touchy , even after some 20 years
The major insurers left the state-due to moral hazard of of the repair industry and their influence on homeowners taking undue advantage of insurers. A recent law passed to curtail this. The insurers left have jacked up rates, massively, and are very picky on claims. In the past, Florida has proven really fast and loose with regulation and laws: Note massive building' failiures and opioids being recklessly sold at strip center storefronts.....
Tricia Pyke you may want to price it out before saying it’s cheaper. Brass connectors are 5 times the cost then copper. The savings is the labor though.
@@vipleather how long does it take you to prep a copper fitting to solder it? About 2-5min depends on person. Soldering cooled down total? 5-7 min a fitting..add it up..i can tell u for a fact its faster
Good video but the background music is annoying and unnecessary. It is amazing to see how fast and efficiently these pex tubes can be installed. Much faster than copper, freeze resistant and cheaper. I might never go back to copper. Thanks for the demonstration.
NIce. One thing you are not mentioning is - there is PEX-A and PEX-B systems. Fitting are very similar and very easy to mix up by somebody not skilled in recognizing the A and B fittings. Pex A is Expension ring connection, while Pex B is Crimp Ring connection. Systems are not interchangeable. Thank you
It's somewhat more fuzzy now: Certain pipe and fitting regs recently have opened up-, somewhat--seemingly allowing a lot more discretion. Your suggestions are more likely code. Thanks for pointing this out here--some of us also noted this, too.
Forget about BPA. BPA is in everything. Every person alive has consumed lots of it. BPA (bisphenol-A) is a basic feed stock which is used in everything. You couldn't eliminated BPA from your life unless you stopped eating and drinking and that will be 1 million times worse then BPA. BPA fear is total hype.
Forget about cigarettes. Second hand smoke is everywhere. Every person alive has consumed lots of it. Cigarettes (Camels, etc) are a basic product that is sold everywhere. You couldn't eliminate second hand smoke from your life unless you stopped breathing and that will be 1 million times worse then smoking. Cigarette fear is total hype.
PEX A is better. It's easier to fix, the tool is easier to use since it only takes one had to operate the expander (kind or a pain to use a big honkin' two-handed set of crimping pliers in tight spaces and attics), and if you accidentally kink PEX-A, you can heat it up with a heat gun or plumbing torch and it will "remember" it's original shape once it cools - without compromising its integrity. You can't do that trick with PEX-B.... once you kink it, it's compromised.
I use Pex, but in junction with a viaga mana block manafold. Sure I have to run every piece of appliance and faucet to the manafold but for the sake and piece of mind if I need to work on one thing I just go to the utility room and close a valve and there, no problem. I can still run my bathtub and fix my vanity plumbing with out having to shut off 1/2 the house.
I have used pex pipe for a few years as a handyman. Copper for sure is better but pex is excellent. I only use shark bites. I personally don’t trust those crimped connections. Never had a call back. Interested on what you other guys think.
What do you think of plastic fittings, including such as faucets, with stainless steel crimp bands. Brass does not cut it underground, it corrodes inside and out? The system is 47 years old and uses PVC piping, which appears in perfect shape except for slight mineral deposits, possibly due to valve failure. (Well water system, 60 psi max.)
They said the same thing about polybutylene........ By the way it's not copper "pipe". Its copper tubing. And it's been in service for thousands of years......
Thanks for the good info. I am going to use PEX in my camper since I THINK it should be faily easy to install. Never done this type of work before but there is a first for everything and never to late to learn. Good stuff!
@@carladurland5194 water inside of PEX pipe still can freeze but the pipe itself is soft plastic that expands with the ice instead of busting like metal and PVC pipe. The only trouble I've had was one fitting got a slight crack after being frozen. The fitting was the cheaper PVC style instead of brass. PEX can also be bent into an elbow at times which saves buying extra elbows.
Both come in red, blue, or white. The lettering tells the difference. Both can carry hot water. Color makes no difference in whether it can handle hot or cold water. I don’t think anyone would purposely use blue for hot water though.
@@alirezashirazifard8990 Any crimp can potentially fail, so I prefer uninterrupted runs through walls & floors. Bend supports can be used to bend 90 degrees without kinks in the tubing.
my entire house is plumbed with PEX however, at bends, the just bent the tubing and did not use any fittings. i'm being told that this is installed correctly however, 4yrs later, now we are having water leaks in all these bends. am I wrong?
What was the type of leak you are having? Was the pex radius to tight? was it bent tightly around edges? I would really like some more info one this. It just doesn't sound right if installed correctly.
I believe Pex-A type is more reliable. Copper and stainless rings are not that safe,also corrosion could occur even in copper or brass fittings because of the chlorine in the water..
PEX-A using the connection expansion method connectors have the same ID as pipe VS PEX B or C using crimp connectors have a smaller ID restricting waster flow with increase pressure. In addition to being more elegant in design and more idiot proof to install. And avoiding metal parts that even unlikely could corrode is 1 last advantage.
If you have that much moisture in your walls to cause the crimp connectors to corrode then I think you probably have a larger problem then your crimp connectors such as mold.
@Todd Brill It's not about a SHITHOLE neighborhoods. It's about building in what was formally pasture, or heavily wooded land (encroachment). Tract builders around here (DFW Tx) are buying up land, land that is described as above to build communities on. OR, if like me, buying rural acreage (former pasture land) to build on. Any suggestions OR are you just prone to making STUPID ASSumptions?
When roughing in a kitchen sink, what is the proper sizes and measurements or if there is a rule of thumb? So far, I assume that the drain needs to be 1 1/4 to1 1/2" and the supply lines be 1/2", 20" off of the floor and about 8-10 inches apart. Please correct me if this is wrong, thank you!!
Why the red pex pipe from the valve to the shower head? if it’s not only hot water that will run through it, sholdn’t it had been the white pex pipe since both hot and cold water will run through it?
I would say he's a moron or lazy and wanted to get in and out as quick as possible. Blue is a cold identifier, red hot line identifier. In my rental unit they didn't put a single support for any of the pex in the house, just a giant rush job. So you can have shitty diy people no matter where you go unfortunately.
@@TheSeniorTaco I do not like PEX! But you should educate your self as much as possible on PEX reading as much as possible on the subject. here is something I found. www.plumbermag.com/how-to-articles/residential_commercial_plumbing/making_the_connection_with_pex_the_good_the_bad_and_the_ugly Good luck to you! LG.
shitty crimp rings, good pipes. Next time get pex rings with bulk fittings . Those fittings in singular packaging costs so much compared to packs of 50 or 100
Those guys are Home Depot hacksters. Everything in their reality is 'so simple' and quick and cheap. Well. Let's see how long THAT plumbing goes before springing a leak.
oh, man, I went to Home Depot ready to buy all the stuff for copper soldering and the guy said Wait you do not want to do that dangerous thing ....here let me show you and he grabbed Sharkbite and said just cut the pipe and use this just stick it at the end of the pipe and that is it. I went home and in just 5 min everything was finished, Amazing stuff.
@@gyver471 I agree with ya...but on the back end..half the man hours,no gas,no fire watches,and spending weeks material moving,and no ones going to steal your material..and they are still doing the service calls and charging the same
It's all good minus the mess in the basement but I assume at the time it was still a work in progress. Only problem with pex is it will breed mold if the system is not used for awhile. Copper is naturally anti microbial.
installing a sanitary on it's side?...and then vertical dirty arm to another sink on same arm? waste & overflow assembled with thin wall compression? all this plumbing will work fine...but a knowledgeable plumbing inspector would tear you a new one...and those crimps turn to rust in days when building next to the ocean....go Uponor
@@gettingittogether424 there are many alloys called stainless, some will rust not just gaul but RUST and unless the rings are SS316, you should not use them in ground or near the ocean. And I have seen crap Stainless coming from china that claimed to be SS316 but was not. EASIEST way to tell is use a magnet.
Without going on a "California sucks" or they're idiots or socialist morons - can anyone tell me why they recently made it illegal. I live in Canada and my newly purchased home has some PEX installed in it. Thanks.
i come from china,and i need to learn a lot about PEX,thanks a lot, my company is good at manufacture the ground heating module,if helping someone who wants and need to heating or being cold in house ,you can know my company,thanks
This is a love it or hate it system. It does not look professional but it is cheap and fast. This guy should not be putting joints inside the walls if all possible. The one big plus I like about PEX over copper is that it is "Quiet". Real quiet. Water running through copper just makes a loud hissing noise and expands and contracts therefore making creeks inside the floor and walls. I am building my next house this coming spring and it will be back to PEX again. Better job then the one you see in this video though. I use the copper crimp rings.
G Greier I definitely agree with the love it or hate it system. I am seeing more pex A than I used to. I never have been a huge copper fan, I just wanted to say if copper is installed and sized properly there should be no hissing or creaking. Normally the cause of that is strapping it direct to a joist or stud or not using a proper insulator while going through the joist or stud. Wood seems to be a great noise amplifier. Just my opinion.
Depending on what style of pex you use. Zurn pex or wirsbo. Zurn pex uses a crimp style of connection. ....wirsbo uses compression. Two different styles of tools. Please make sure what you're purchasing.
PVC for plumbing is one of the best products they have ever come up with. You have to make sure you use the PVC cleaner first(and that's required by the plumbing code, the cleaner is purple ( see the picture) so the inspector can see that you used it) or the connection will not be as good as it should be.I have never used PEX except for supply tubes for faucets. I am older now and I don't do much but I still stick with copper supply tubing with solder if I do.On the plus side for me, if everybody uses PEX, copper prices will be cheaper. I do believe the PEX tubing is good but I feel insecure about the connections. Yes the tubing may give when frozen but the fitting will not. Basically, other than the time saving, I don't think PEX is that good of a deal. When you go to turn a valve off using PEX, the tubing will flex just like stupid CPVC does. You need the mechanical strength of copper when you want to turn a valve off. I believe that plumbers will be the first to use PEX, because they will do anything to get the hell out of there and they know that most problems will occur long enough after they are gone so that it will be your problem.
There is a reason why there are holes in most pex valves to allow them to be anchored to a piece if wood with a screw, or nail. You cannot use PVC for hot water. It is not designed for that, only CPVC Is rated for hot water. The big downside to installing copper other than the cost, and wasting resources, is the risk of burning down someone's house while soldering with a torch. This is especially true for older people.
Been a plumber for 40 years, In 2002, when i built my personal home, i used CPVC, that was the best option then, pex was just coming out in this days... sorry i couldn't use it, it's all i use now! First of all, i would never install pex like this guy did, we start with a manifold system, all pipes are single ran to each fixture, there is never a elbow, or a tee anywhere in the walls. I use continuous pipe insulation on all pipes in the crawl space ( first house i did, over 200ft of pipe under floor in unheated space, that winter went down to 0° for 3 weeks) never froze! Ps my CPVC has failed me in 3 female adpt. The hot- cold cycle killed the temper in the threads ( the new CPVC fittings have a stainless insert now
...enjoy your cancer from drinking out of PVC piping (highly carcinogenic). And as far as "issues" with valving goes. You transition to copper, plumb in your valve, and strap that bugger to get the mechanical strength you're looking for. Copper will split when it freezes, but I've never seen a PEX fitting pop. It'll swell a little, but when it thaws (PEX-A anyway) it'll return to its original shape. It's even less likely to happen if you insulation it.
I bought a house in '93 which had an early version of pex already, that uses the same pipe but different fittings and it has been good. we get severe winters and the pipe won't split if there's a freeze in the line and it's safer to do repairs than soldering in an old home.
its incorrect but its basically only liquid waste ...it'll work forever...when I see old bell and spigot constricted with rust down to about 1" in diameter (or less) and still working? ....anything plastic will work forever if it has a little fall.
My dad is having a new home built, I noticed that the contractors used PEX entirely. Time will tell if it holds up. To be honest, I am worried about small leaks in the wall that will go undetected for quite possibly years.
How do you figure? I have been seeing PEX fittings that leak. Of course you're only going to see the "bad" online just like you'll only hear about the "bad" when it comes to reviews on things because the happy people just go about life and don't care as much as a person who has a problem, but, with copper, the solder joints are absolutely solid if done correctly and unless the pipe freezes your pipes are guaranteed to last a century at the least. PEX on the other hand is plastic, plastic gets brittle over time. Also, have you ever had a screw clamp fitting that didn't loosen up over time and require you to tighten it? Hell, even the OEM "spring" type hose clamps that auto manufacturers use lose their tension and end up leaking over time, when their entire design is intended to eliminate the need to tighten them as periodically as screw type clamps require.
PEX-A using the connection expansion method connectors r basically idiot proof and have the same ID as pipe VS PEX B or C using crimp connectors have a smaller ID restricting waster flow with increase pressure. In addition to being more elegant in design and more idiot proof to install. And avoiding metal parts that even unlikely could corrode is 1 last advantage. And it more likely a copper will leak since it takes skill to sweat a pipe. And I had copper pipes fail over time due to corrosion or freezing. Also they have used PEX since the 60s in Europe. So with any luck the sub knew what he was doing. Good Luck.
Blaine Bugaski it's been around 30 plus years in the US 50 in UK, without getting brittle, so I believe you are assuming something that may not happen. This is not a new product. Easier install (ie more cost effective) easier to expand and with a manabloc or manifold, you have total control of each toilet, sink, ice maker line etc. Added benefit of will not freeze burst which is huge benefit in cold climates.
Blaine Bugaski. I almost forgot, you typically get hot water about twice as fast as each line is independent to each fixture and the 'plastic' insulates the water better.
Pex looks great to install, but the real question is: Will Pex pipeing pass the building inspection by each and every city inspector? With lead seeping into our home water systems, this method seems more sanitary than copper or steel pipes. But again, will the city building inspectors allow this type of plumbing to exist in new or old home pipe improvements?
It’s a crawl space. Waste time and money down there if you choose, but neither the water, nor the end user, can tell the difference. Looks great to me.
tub spouts use a compression fitting to grip the pipe. some ladies rest their foot on the spout while shaving. one tool does both sizes of crimps - 1/2 and 3/4.
I don't like the crimp connection with steel clamps. I recommend the expander tool, sure it cost like 200 bucks but it is a more secure connection over time.
A lot of people are calling them crimp rings regardless so if you're a first time plumber looking to buy materials, what they used in this video are pinch clamps. Crimp rings require a different tool than pinch clamps so read the descriptions carefully at the store or you'll be very confused and making a second trip. I sell these and it's a very common mistake. Also, the reason they state in the video that you need to use copper for the tub spout is because the inside diameter of pex is only 3/8" so you end up having water back up and run out of your shower head when you're using the tub spout. The valve send more water through to the tub spout than that 3/8" can handle. Copper has a larger inside diameter than PEX. If you really want to just use PEX pipe, you can adapt the 1/2" female thread of the mixing valve to a 3/4" pex fitting and use 3/4" PEX for the tub spout only.
Thank you for explaining it to us . It’s very thoughtful .
How would one undo: 1) a pinch clamp and 2) a crimp ring?
@@markomus1 with a cut off wheel on a side grinder or a die grinder and cutting the protrusion that your crimper fits over. Cutting vertically through the outside face of the protrusion being careful not to knick the PEX, then spread the clamp or crimp apart and away from the PEX. However, it sounds as if you have made an error in the original crimping or the PEX got damaged somehow so you will need to remove the PEX either damaged or not to put a new crimp/clamp back on and that may be difficult getting off the barb especially if it has been crimped so you may need to utilize a heat gun to soften it up or cut the PEX along its run (with a utility knife) at the barb area to allow it to spread and be removed then replace with a new length of PEX.
Looks like crap
Plus, PEX doesn't make for good tub spouts anyway. It'll wiggle around in the wall and you'll eventually damage a PEX tub spout pipe by pulling and pushing on the diverter. It needs to be a solid material like copper pipe, or a brass nipple for the threaded type of tub spouts.
I've run a little PEX in an existing home. I have to say its fast, cheap and pretty much leak free. If you pay attention to your angles and straight lines you can also make the job look pretty nice too, plus no one is going to break into your house and strip all of the PEX out to sell the way they do copper pipe.
Tweakers and thieves might not mess with your PEX piping. But rats will.... be sure to run foam insulation on all of your exposed PEX in your basement or crawlspace. The rats won't chew on the springy foam insulation - just imagine taking a bite out of egg crate foam. It's not very appetizing and the texture is super funky. Rats hate the stuff.
I was going to hire a plumber to connect the 4 stage water filtration system I designed. After seeing this video, I can do it myself. I thought PEX would be more difficult. It is actually easier and cost-effective. Thank you for this video.
@Maximus D. Meridius And THAT is probably the biggest single reason so many old school plumbers hate pex - DIYers can avoid all the labor expense of copper pipe installation (which does require a higher skill level).
Did you do it yourself? How did it go? I'm thinking of trying.
Hire a plumber bud 😂😂😂
@@youngtim5861 Why do you say that?
I've been running pex pipe with copper crimp fittings for 10 years now and have never had a service call over a leaking pex pipe. it expands if your water lines freeze and is 20x faster and easier to install than copper. if crimped and braced properly it works better than any other water pipe for my home remodeling projects
To bad its inferior to PEX-A using the connection expansion method connectors have the same ID as pipe VS PEX B or C using crimp connectors have a smaller ID restricting waster flow with increase pressure. In addition to being more elegant in design and more idiot proof to install. And avoiding metal parts that even unlikely could corrode is 1 last advantage.
Robert Smith iin
Robert Smith... pex B does not expand...that would be pex A which is wirsbo by far the best pex out there...and crimp fittings suck...you think they would have learned their lesson from the old quest crimp style crap....
@KelMaster Construction
I'm a plumber. Installed properly pex is the best...
Why would a brass fitting ever fail from freezing on a pex system. The pex will expand easier than brass therefore all the expansion will occur in the tubing and the brass will be fine. Make up a closed loop with fittings and throw it in the freezer. Pex a is superior to pex b but there is way more pex b installed than pex a and with proper installation it does just fine. Once you use pex A I doubt you would go back to b assuming you have a power expander and not a manual one. Also in the long haul pex A will be a more cost effective install. Anyone still messing with PVC or CPVC for supply lines do yourself a favor and try pex.
My brother's install PEX pipe throughout my whole house approximately 10 years ago also. Never a problem. Never weird taste. Excellent piping. Since it was tried and true in Europe prior to down south here can't beat it! Great invention.
Marie Apple keep mice out. They will chew plastic.
Pex is good for like 20-30 years I believe
@@21gonza21 the pex lines are good for around 50 years, and they are immune to corrosion and mineral buildup.
It's also really quiet since there's very little cavitation in the water lines.
I broke into the business in 1968. The changes I've seen in the industry are nothing short of amazing. I wish my first boss was around to see what it's like today.
Knowing him he'd probably call it junk.
Lamp wick and compound to this in 60 years, not bad.
I read that the Pex basic material was invented in the 1920s. I don't know when pipes were first made of it, or when plumbers decided they liked it.
@@wadebarnett2542 my first boss was a licensed NYC plumber, no easy feat back then. He'd call these new changes "Rube Goldberg" applications.
He was tough but he taught me the value of a trade and hard work.
I apprenticed during the days of cast iron and 6 foot steel wrenches. My back aches just thinking about it.
@@wadebarnett2542 by the way the first pipes in NYC were made out of wood. Holes were run through lengths of slim tree trunks and limbs. True story
@@basilfromeen I was a volunteer fire fighter for over 20 years. In a training class I was told that the slang term "fire plug", referring to a fire hydrant, was coined because the very first hydrants were nothing more than a wooden plug in a hole cut in wooden water pipes. In case of a fire you just removed the plug to fill buckets for a bucket brigade.
@@tonyg1958 some of the first water services from street main to a residence were hollowed out wooden logs. Water contacts wood, wood swells up forming a perfect seal. Yup, makes total sense
Great video. I'm not sure if your children told you, "Dad! You should at least add some sick music in the background to make it super sick!" It didn't - it is just an annoying distraction. Your great step by step explanations with clear camera work and editing is all we need - you are enough. Thanks again for the great video.
Hard pass on background music as it's way to painful to listen to some of the crap people use. So painful I usually just close out the window and look for another video.
I'm just stoked that this was all info, no fat or stories how your brothers girlfriends dad did it lol. Solid video telling me exactly what I needed.
i have to admit i didn't watch the video, but just want everyone to know these things to think about!
I have been a contractor for over 40 years, I do electrical, hvac, and plumbing along with carpenter work and sheetrock work, this is to let you know i'm no novice!
I started using pex about 10 years ago and the truth is pex is great for the installer, they can rough in a whole house with a couple of guys in 1 day, it is easy to make repairs on my rental houses. i can do a repair in 20 minutes or so, but here are the main problems I have had:
1. I ran a main line into one home a few years ago and it had to be dug up each time within a year (3 times) due to gravel making holes in it. if I ran another main line I would put it inside a pvc pipe sleeve! it was in chert which is rocky , but I've never had problems with any other piping type doing this!
2. next I had a brass tee fail under a house (my fault) due to the crimp ring which was in a very hard to reach place was installed slightly crooked, it was good for 4 months then we went to check on the house (which was empty), due to getting an electric bill that went from $80 a month to $500, the fitting had a small leak that started under the crooked crimp ring then it eventually cut a groove almost all the way through the tee body.
3. another problem, (which caused the last one) is a lot of times you can't get a crimper in the right position to make a proper crimp usually due to floor joist/framing or other obstructions like heat and air ducting ect...
4. The last problem which I just experienced was a tennent called and said he had to replace the pressure reducing valve and when turning the water pressure back on, he had a leak in the basement ceiling, I go over and cut the ceiling sheetrock out and I had to cut out 3 different areas of sheetrock and eventually we had to replace over 35 ft of the pex both hot and cold, the surprise was it had hundreds of teeth marks almost through the pex, rats and or squirrels had eaten the plastic up everywhere, I guess the new press. regulator was set a little higher than the one that failed and it kept blowing through the more sections I replaced the more leaks we found. RODENTS DONT EAT COPPER PIPES!
one of these ---the problem getting a crimper into tight places is easily fixed, although real expensive, just us the upanor type (expandable tool and fittings, you just expand the rings , then by hand slip them onto the fitting, the expansion can be done in an open area.
Just want everyone to read this when deciding on what to use to plumb your project!
Another good thing I like about pex is the fact you can drill your holes thru the wall studs & pull it all the way through like you would wire w/out having to cut between each stud & solder them back again & again! But again just make sure you loop a loop in it between a stud somewhere a couple feet or so between runs so to allow expansion & contraction. Also be sure it's not installed in direct sunlight as this will have a bad effect on it. If it friezes, use a hairdryer on it & not your torch. L.O.L I am a good man to have on hand, I am Dave the handyman! May God bless his own people.
You really don't need to loop anywhere. Pex requires 1/8 inch per foot for expansion, so roughly 3/4 inch per 10 feet. You can simply leave slack in the pipe here and there and be fine.
Dave Overbey
Cringey much?
I like people like this. I've been using it for years. Learned early on to use 3/4" instead of 1/2". The inner diameter of the fittings for 3/4" gives similar flow to 1/2" copper pipes. I prefer crimp fittings too. I've seen these cinch fittings leak before. I don't know why. But I know I've had great success with the crimp ones.
I found a bunch of these dumped behind the warehouse of my work. You think I could just attach them with radiator bands?
@@TheBootyWrangler I wouldn't trust them to get enough pressure on the PEX to keep a good seal. I definitely wouldn't do it that way if the joints will be behind walls or hard to access. If I was on a farm and was doing something in an old shed or something where a leak wouldn't be a big deal I might do that. But the rings and crimping tool aren't that expensive and it's the best way to be sure of a good connection and seal.
I learned years ago to use low flow showerheads and sink aerators, This saves a HUGE amount of money on water, sewer and electric(or gas) Then I can use 1/2 pex, which reduces the amount of hot water it takes to get to the fixture!
Repiping my whole house atm, cutting out all galvanized old pipes and running pex a everywhere....and love it, easy amd flexible to fit anywhere, with a pipe expansion tool makes connections so easy. Love it so far
Brought some pex tubing and fittings lately, the tubing is definitely cheaper but the fittings take your savings right back, they are ridiculously expensive ! .61 cent for a half inch copper coupling versus $6.76 cent for a SharkBite one
Don't buy Sharkbite fittings - those are just for quick plumbing repair jobs. Regular, brass crimp/clamp PEX fittings are between $1-$2, only slightly more than a copper fitting. Obviously, buy them online, because Lowes/HD will charge you for the convenience.
@@bnasty267 thanks
PEX Tubing was developed and first used in Europe in the 1960’s. This product entered US market 30 years ago and has been growing in popularity ever since.
Tip: you don't have to ratchet it all the way down to reset it. There's a little finger trigger on the ratchet to release it.
I’m using pex b but bought the Milwaukee m12 pex a with the 3 heads 2 batteries and charger forn$500 idk if I’ll keep the Milwaukee or use my ryobi for stainless steel clamps still pex b has been awesome
Great video, thanks for making it! I appreciate how you cover everything but make it concise and to the point.
Yes, PEX is BPA free. PEX/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) that is tested for BPA levels as part of the NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 plumbing standard. This standard confirms that BPA is not detected in PEX pipe.
GREAT VIDEO Thanks!
I'm not a plumber, but have done plumbing. My 35 year-old home has copper pipe. Never had any problems in the 25 years in our home. Pex on the other hand is a relatively new product. What if it starts falling apart after 35 years? What do you do, re-do all the water supply lines in your home? The construction industry has a history of using products that don't stand the test of time. I wouldn't buy a new home today unless I had it custom built with products known to last a very long time.
Pex is cheaper, quicker, and easier to use. I put copper in the house I'm just finishing. It has anti-microbial properties that keep the water safer.
My home was built in 1970. In 1987 I started getting random pin holes in pipes (some in the walls). My well water was on the acidic side and eat through the copper. Had the entire house plumbed with CPVC with no issues yet. Then municipal water was installed on my road and that was when I found out about pex. I used 1" to bring in the supply from the meter. Was very impressed with the pipe, but I'm not sure I will ever completely trust the connection methods.
PEX is already 50 years old.
pex was used in Europe in the 1960s for Both potable water and in floor heating, but there's 2 types 1 for water 1 for heating . problems with copper 2 grades light and regular builders use light to save money , but copper fittings are often if not most china made. and both pipes and fittings and made with recycled copper and brass in larger content and less new copper . and i never heard if copper tubing as well as raw copper is imported
fl has a real problem lightning sets up electrolysis and about 15-20 yrs repining is required
older poly grey pipe used was not much better than copper used in some homes pre 1996 and lot of mobile homes
2 problems quality install was a problem and depending on fittings leaks and it pinholes too
Third time trying to fix galvanized section with three nipples , two unions and two tees with elbow . verry unforgiving galvanized need it to be super tightened . will likely try pex next time . it'll hold good supply pressure right ?
I think its always fun to see fellow plumber across the pond. But man, you're doing the same things we did in the 50-60's here in Sweden.
Bs
Uh huh... Got spaceships yet? Cause we blast rich people into space for fun.
I use n like the expansion joints n couplings!!!! Even faster ! BUT !!!!! Joints ONLY at attic(basement) supply lines , n at the 1/4 turn shut offs !!
We don’t use the manifold system either !! BUT we install 2-4 emergency shut offs at the baths,washroom n kitchen ! If there is a problem ! Shut that area off ! Usually can still have water to most of the rest of the home !
GREAT Video !
Your in Colorado? Do they allow all those fittings in the walls there? I've always heard that each fixture has to be a home run to a manifold.
Absolutely not true
Thats the best way if using pex, all home runs with pex A because less fittings in the wall and it bends tighter than pexB. If you have acidic water this install wont last more than 5 years before leaking in the wall. The acid will eat the brass. There were many cases of bad brass fittings which made it worse. Pex B fittings also greatly reduce flow because they are smaller than the ID of the pipe. You can also get bacterial growth inside of pex tubing if your water isn’t chlorinated, like on a well in this situation. Copper is anti microbial, so not an issue. But Pex is cheaper until a fitting leaks and ruins your house.
@@daversj - Galvanized steel is the future 👌😁
@@jamescalifornia2964 🤣🤣🤣
Can this be used to replace copper pipes that are corroding and leaking under my house??? 🙏🏼
Pex is best with a manifold I think. The id of the tubing is the same as copper but with pex every fitting you put on it is just another restrictor since they go into the tubing
With pex B (crimp style) you have restrictions at fittings. With pex B the fitting have the same ID of the tubing and you expand the pex to make up the connections.
Good video boys. Looking to add a half bath in a 100 year old house in South Dakota. I appreciate y’all sharing your knowledge as I’ve never used it before, but understand that it’s the way to go. Thanks again.
I've been a Master Plumber for 37 years now and I can already tell u that u spend alot of money on fittings alone. Them fittings are from home depot and they cost alot. It's cheaper if u buy it at a Plumbing Supply Store
eBay. I've bought 10x packs of fittings for what 1-2 fittings cost in the store.
That is a good tip. Would you have installed the shutoffs on the shower (assuming they aren’t going to be accessible). My understanding is those aren’t required by code for showers and tubs.
@@rogerlew no I would not
I was a diehard copper pipe plumber but, Cautiously Idid start installing pex only in accesable areas such as basements,mechanical rooms etc. About 10 years ago and in that time the copper crimp rings have not failed so Ihave begun installing behind the drywall for about two years now and so far I have had no complaints or call backs thats with box store pex and copper crimp rings
Whelton recently published a study examining PEX piping in Journal - American Water Works Association.“PEX pipes caused greater odor than the polypropylene pipe and released more organic carbon as well as volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. Water quality impacts were less after 30 days. Regulated and unregulated contaminants were found in three PEX plumbing systems. Drinking water odors were attributed to toluene, ethyl-tert-butyl ether, and unidentified contaminants,” the study said.
This video is over in 2 minutes if he used SharkBite
What exactly is Pex Pipe? Is it a plastic combination? Is it true it is not rodent proof? I like the ease and price of it over copper and also understand copper has to be replaced after so many years otherwise it develops pin holes which cause leaks. How long will Pex last?
If you live in the country, wildlife can gnaw through it very easily. Especially with climate change and the droughts that are now the order of the day.
Reminds me of the PVC window frames they said would last forever. Turns out forever is about 7 years of life in the Texas sun.
It is not for all but for some it works great
I live in a house with pvc doors and windows in direct sunlight and never had an issue with them. The only place I noticed a fault is a single screw cover that was eaten away by heather but everything else has been spotless for 15-ish years. Not a single sign of issues.
In finland se use pipe in pipe system. Uponor is from finland, and its Been around 30 years. You can spot the leaks one of the ends. Nice video, and greetings To a fellow plummer!
Thanks for saving me and my family thousands of dollars!
my house was built in 1995 with pex plumbing and a manoblock distribution system and in all that time i never had a leak or pipe failure so needles to say i'mvery satisfied with my plumbing
Count me in, my house was built in 1997 and I have never experienced a leak. Replaced a faucet last year and cut off the fitting and it was like new. I live in Las Vegas and our water supply is loaded with corrosive elements but my fittings are still like new. I used Wirsbo Aquapex, it is awesome.
Yeah all these people saying they wouldn’t trust pex, they skip over comments like this. I have never used pex, but plan to do so for my house replumbing in the near future
just a bunch of complainers in comments more than likely plumbers that are pissed because they can't charge hundreds of dollars for pex because it's cheap and in my experience reliable. unlike hard plumbed copper a little pulling or tugging isn't going to make things leak at connections.
you are probably sooooooo right. damn sissy ass complainers, boo hoo we can't suck people dry anymore.... boo hoo.
They'll have more money for labor if it's not all spent on materials..just sayin'.
@1234 Trust me. I have seen DIY electrical work and I'm not the least bit worried what by what someone who watched a video on youtube did. I actually welcome it because those were never a customer anyway and a lot of them get stuck and call anyway and if I have to undo what they did first, it'll cost more.
agree with you.I got a house that needed some water repair and when the guys came to give me an estimate the bill was around 2500 CAD.I did it myself in just 2 days with ZERO experience and cost me nothing.I had old pipes in the shed and also had glue.
@1234 agree with you. Actually from a friend of mine who is a professional architect know that many people are lured to go and take plumber certificate because they make crazy money doing complete BS simple jobs and ripping you off. I am currently owning a house that needs all kinds of repairs and this for me is the moment when I have the opportunity to learn to do it myself and such videos are really helpful.I already did a French Drainage that cost me 3 000 when the company that wanted to do it wanted me to pay them 11 000. I saved tons of money.
In my area in Florida, when getting homeowners insurance, my agent specifically asked about PEX in my house. I have none but apparently insurance companies have a problem with PEX installations and are either not covering damage due to a problem or charging you a premium if you have it in your house.
I think this is because when pex was first used in the states, Florida was where it was used and in very expensive homes - then they had a lot of failures and water damage due to the crimp rings that they used- it was found that when manufactured in china that the rings that are made from 2 different metals and because when forged together the heat made them some what brittle and prone to failure- this was identified and the rings were changed and since then I have heard of no more failures, but the insurance companies are still touchy , even after some 20 years
The major insurers left the state-due to moral hazard of of the repair industry and their influence on homeowners taking undue advantage of insurers. A recent law passed to curtail this.
The insurers left have jacked up rates, massively, and are very picky on claims.
In the past, Florida has proven really fast and loose with regulation and laws: Note massive building' failiures and opioids being recklessly sold at strip center storefronts.....
How come every double wide I've worked on has ruined floors due to leaking pecs garbage fittings ?
Because older ones used the grey PB tubing that failed and the company went out of business. Modern PEX is not PB.
Doing my first tankless heater install and using PEX. Just a homeowner that wants to save money over a pro install.
This makes me happy that I don't have to replace with copper pipes that would cost me a fortune. Thank you
Tricia Pyke you may want to price it out before saying it’s cheaper. Brass connectors are 5 times the cost then copper. The savings is the labor though.
@@vipleather isnt labor mostly the cost..o wait yes it is..u pay me for what i know..
@@vipleather how long does it take you to prep a copper fitting to solder it? About 2-5min depends on person. Soldering cooled down total? 5-7 min a fitting..add it up..i can tell u for a fact its faster
Good question... is it BPA free? Did you ever figure out the answer?
Lovely crawl space 👍
Thanks for teaching us new users of pex
Good video but the background music is annoying and unnecessary.
It is amazing to see how fast and efficiently these pex tubes can be installed.
Much faster than copper, freeze resistant and cheaper. I might never go back to copper.
Thanks for the demonstration.
do you have a video of doing pex in a home that's already build with Polybutylene and how to replace it?
Thank you! This was very informative and useful.
NIce. One thing you are not mentioning is - there is PEX-A and PEX-B systems. Fitting are very similar and very easy to mix up by somebody not skilled in recognizing the A and B fittings. Pex A is Expension ring connection, while Pex B is Crimp Ring connection. Systems are not interchangeable. Thank you
It's somewhat more fuzzy now: Certain pipe and fitting regs recently have opened up-, somewhat--seemingly allowing a lot more discretion.
Your suggestions are more likely code. Thanks for pointing this out here--some of us also noted this, too.
I would like to say we had ours installed 2 years ago. No problems yet. 😁
Thank you!! Been trying to figure out if my main house lines should be 3/4 inch then reduced to 1/4 " at faucets??
so everybody had something negative to say but no one actually answered his question about pex having bpa?...
At the end of the video, they ask if anyone knows if Pex is bpa free.
its probably something toxic
Forget about BPA. BPA is in everything. Every person alive has consumed lots of it. BPA (bisphenol-A) is a basic feed stock which is used in everything. You couldn't eliminated BPA from your life unless you stopped eating and drinking and that will be 1 million times worse then BPA. BPA fear is total hype.
Forget about cigarettes. Second hand smoke is everywhere. Every person alive has consumed lots of it. Cigarettes (Camels, etc) are a basic product that is sold everywhere. You couldn't eliminate second hand smoke from your life unless you stopped breathing and that will be 1 million times worse then smoking. Cigarette fear is total hype.
PEX is bpa free
Cool Video! I learned from it! May I ask you the difference between PEX A and PEX B, and which one would you suggest to use? Thank you.
PEX A is better. It's easier to fix, the tool is easier to use since it only takes one had to operate the expander (kind or a pain to use a big honkin' two-handed set of crimping pliers in tight spaces and attics), and if you accidentally kink PEX-A, you can heat it up with a heat gun or plumbing torch and it will "remember" it's original shape once it cools - without compromising its integrity. You can't do that trick with PEX-B.... once you kink it, it's compromised.
@@jeremyhess7977 , thank you.
Tub spigot brace is hilarious. Why didn't you use a full crossbrace 2x4?
OSB in a shower? Sloppy
That's like complaining about the floor under the tub being OSB? Both areas should never see moisture so in that case it is fine....
Because it only has to last a year.......
Or until they go out of business.
Which ever is sooner
I use Pex, but in junction with a viaga mana block manafold. Sure I have to run every piece of appliance and faucet to the manafold but for the sake and piece of mind if I need to work on one thing I just go to the utility room and close a valve and there, no problem. I can still run my bathtub and fix my vanity plumbing with out having to shut off 1/2 the house.
Band Iron instead of straps on Vent lines? ? You just failed a NYC plumbing inspection.
I have used pex pipe for a few years as a handyman. Copper for sure is better but pex is excellent. I only use shark bites. I personally don’t trust those crimped connections. Never had a call back. Interested on what you other guys think.
Great Video, thank you for posting!
What do you think of plastic fittings, including such as faucets, with stainless steel crimp bands. Brass does not cut it underground, it corrodes inside and out? The system is 47 years old and uses PVC piping, which appears in perfect shape except for slight mineral deposits, possibly due to valve failure. (Well water system, 60 psi max.)
They said the same thing about polybutylene........
By the way it's not copper "pipe".
Its copper tubing.
And it's been in service for thousands of years......
Pex has been used for 40 years without issue
Didnt know there was plumbing thousands of years ago....
Thanks for the good info. I am going to use PEX in my camper since I THINK it should be faily easy to install. Never done this type of work before but there is a first for everything and never to late to learn.
Good stuff!
There's a lot of people here that must like repairing copper in winter.
No wr don't want cancer from plastic
Divine E. Better than getting cancer from copper.
Do these not freeze??
@@carladurland5194 water inside of PEX pipe still can freeze but the pipe itself is soft plastic that expands with the ice instead of busting like metal and PVC pipe. The only trouble I've had was one fitting got a slight crack after being frozen. The fitting was the cheaper PVC style instead of brass. PEX can also be bent into an elbow at times which saves buying extra elbows.
@@allenmckinney9533 is brass better at not freezing than copper😊😊??
If I’m not mistaking the white is Pex A
Color ones are Pex B
Question: can you use Pex A in hot water applications????
Thanks in advance
Both come in red, blue, or white. The lettering tells the difference. Both can carry hot water. Color makes no difference in whether it can handle hot or cold water. I don’t think anyone would purposely use blue for hot water though.
I try to avoid any crimps in the walls whenever possible.
Why , I’m missing the point can u please explain.
@@alirezashirazifard8990 Any crimp can potentially fail, so I prefer uninterrupted runs through walls & floors. Bend supports can be used to bend 90 degrees without kinks in the tubing.
Smart
my entire house is plumbed with PEX however, at bends, the just bent the tubing and did not use any fittings. i'm being told that this is installed correctly however, 4yrs later, now we are having water leaks in all these bends. am I wrong?
What was the type of leak you are having? Was the pex radius to tight? was it bent tightly around edges? I would really like some more info one this. It just doesn't sound right if installed correctly.
I believe Pex-A type is more reliable. Copper and stainless rings are not that safe,also corrosion could occur even in copper or brass fittings because of the chlorine in the water..
The rings go on the outside of the pipe. If you don't have anyh leaks you should not get corrosion unless there is a lot if condensation?
PEX-A using the connection expansion method connectors have the same ID as pipe VS PEX B or C using crimp connectors have a smaller ID restricting waster flow with increase pressure. In addition to being more elegant in design and more idiot proof to install. And avoiding metal parts that even unlikely could corrode is 1 last advantage.
jose, if pipes are made of copper wont they corrode too?
If you have that much moisture in your walls to cause the crimp connectors to corrode then I think you probably have a larger problem then your crimp connectors such as mold.
Very excellent video. I have one question for you: Can I run 1" PEX under ground from meter to the house for main line? Thanks!
What state are u in..3/4" is minium for most states..1" is optimal for replacing a 3/4 copper line in the ground
Easy and simple for DIY
Great clip
Can you use the screw type clamps if you have a small job at home and not spend a ton of money for the clamp tool?
What aboit Rodents chewing thru it?
@Todd Brill It's not about a SHITHOLE neighborhoods. It's about building in what was formally pasture, or heavily wooded land (encroachment). Tract builders around here (DFW Tx) are buying up land, land that is described as above to build communities on. OR, if like me, buying rural acreage (former pasture land) to build on.
Any suggestions OR are you just prone to making STUPID ASSumptions?
When roughing in a kitchen sink, what is the proper sizes and measurements or if there is a rule of thumb? So far, I assume that the drain needs to be 1 1/4 to1 1/2" and the supply lines be 1/2", 20" off of the floor and about 8-10 inches apart. Please correct me if this is wrong, thank you!!
Uponor is way better.
Why the red pex pipe from the valve to the shower head? if it’s not only hot water that will run through it, sholdn’t it had been the white pex pipe since both hot and cold water will run through it?
My plumber used blue pipe for the hot water inlet on my shower valve and now I can't take a hot shower until a change it!
Haha..no its not that its the valve or check valves inside the valve..piping color doesn't matter..or hes a moron
I would say he's a moron or lazy and wanted to get in and out as quick as possible. Blue is a cold identifier, red hot line identifier. In my rental unit they didn't put a single support for any of the pex in the house, just a giant rush job. So you can have shitty diy people no matter where you go unfortunately.
So whats best for fittings copper or plastic on pex?
I will take copper please!!
@@TheSeniorTaco I do not like PEX! But you should educate your self as much as possible on PEX reading as much as possible on the subject. here is something I found. www.plumbermag.com/how-to-articles/residential_commercial_plumbing/making_the_connection_with_pex_the_good_the_bad_and_the_ugly Good luck to you! LG.
Copper allows for the transfer of water movement noise, does PEX stop that or is that a beast not tamed?
shitty crimp rings, good pipes. Next time get pex rings with bulk fittings . Those fittings in singular packaging costs so much compared to packs of 50 or 100
Those guys are Home Depot hacksters. Everything in their reality is 'so simple' and quick and cheap. Well. Let's see how long THAT plumbing goes before springing a leak.
@@fckgooglegooglefck9124 Why do you expect them to get leaks? The pex pipe or crimp clamps?
@@thaitichi crimp clamps..use copper rings..never had an issue..
Thank you for the links in Description.
Pex pipe and shark bites killed the plumber
oh, man, I went to Home Depot ready to buy all the stuff for copper soldering and the guy said
Wait you do not want to do that dangerous thing ....here let me show you and he grabbed Sharkbite and said just cut the pipe and use this just stick it at the end of the pipe and that is it.
I went home and in just 5 min everything was finished,
Amazing stuff.
Thank God plumbers are expensive.
I dnt think it killed them...it made them richer
Scotty maybe some but a lot of people are skipping the plumber and doing it themselves.
@@gyver471 I agree with ya...but on the back end..half the man hours,no gas,no fire watches,and spending weeks material moving,and no ones going to steal your material..and they are still doing the service calls and charging the same
It's all good minus the mess in the basement but I assume at the time it was still a work in progress. Only problem with pex is it will breed mold if the system is not used for awhile. Copper is naturally anti microbial.
installing a sanitary on it's side?...and then vertical dirty arm to another sink on same arm? waste & overflow assembled with thin wall compression? all this plumbing will work fine...but a knowledgeable plumbing inspector would tear you a new one...and those crimps turn to rust in days when building next to the ocean....go Uponor
Stainless doesn't really rust
@@gettingittogether424 stainless doesn't trust, it galls
@@gettingittogether424 there are many alloys called stainless, some will rust not just gaul but RUST and unless the rings are SS316, you should not use them in ground or near the ocean. And I have seen crap Stainless coming from china that claimed to be SS316 but was not. EASIEST way to tell is use a magnet.
Great video! PEX is indeed the future.
Without going on a "California sucks" or they're idiots or socialist morons - can anyone tell me why they recently made it illegal. I live in Canada and my newly purchased home has some PEX installed in it. Thanks.
@@cpphatz Prior to 2010 PEX was illegal. It is now legal/safe to use in California.
i come from china,and i need to learn a lot about PEX,thanks a lot, my company is good at manufacture the ground heating module,if helping someone who wants and need to heating or being cold in house ,you can know my company,thanks
check out the pex manabloc. Awesome
This is a love it or hate it system. It does not look professional but it is cheap and fast. This guy should not be putting joints inside the walls if all possible.
The one big plus I like about PEX over copper is that it is "Quiet". Real quiet. Water running through copper just makes a loud hissing noise and expands and contracts therefore making creeks inside the floor and walls. I am building my next house this coming spring and it will be back to PEX again. Better job then the one you see in this video though. I use the copper crimp rings.
G Greier I definitely agree with the love it or hate it system. I am seeing more pex A than I used to. I never have been a huge copper fan, I just wanted to say if copper is installed and sized properly there should be no hissing or creaking. Normally the cause of that is strapping it direct to a joist or stud or not using a proper insulator while going through the joist or stud. Wood seems to be a great noise amplifier. Just my opinion.
Jim Smith :k
Depending on what style of pex you use. Zurn pex or wirsbo. Zurn pex uses a crimp style of connection. ....wirsbo uses compression. Two different styles of tools. Please make sure what you're purchasing.
A lot of elbows are used, they decrease pressure over so many bends. I'd have tried to add loops, instead of so many 90s.
Didn't think of that. That's what I'll probably end up doing. Thank you 👍
Elbows don’t reduce pressure they reduce flow
PVC for plumbing is one of the best products they have ever come up with. You have to make sure you use the PVC cleaner first(and that's required by the plumbing code, the cleaner is purple ( see the picture) so the inspector can see that you used it) or the connection will not be as good as it should be.I have never used PEX except for supply tubes for faucets.
I am older now and I don't do much but I still stick with copper supply tubing with solder if I do.On the plus side for me, if everybody uses PEX, copper prices will be cheaper.
I do believe the PEX tubing is good but I feel insecure about the connections. Yes the tubing may give when frozen but the fitting will not. Basically, other than the time saving, I don't think PEX is that good of a deal. When you go to turn a valve off using PEX, the tubing will flex just like stupid CPVC does. You need the mechanical strength of copper when you want to turn a valve off.
I believe that plumbers will be the first to use PEX, because they will do anything to get the hell out of there and they know that most problems will occur long enough after they are gone so that it will be your problem.
There is a reason why there are holes in most pex valves to allow them to be anchored to a piece if wood with a screw, or nail. You cannot use PVC for hot water. It is not designed for that, only CPVC Is rated for hot water. The big downside to installing copper other than the cost, and wasting resources, is the risk of burning down someone's house while soldering with a torch. This is especially true for older people.
Been a plumber for 40 years, In 2002, when i built my personal home, i used CPVC, that was the best option then, pex was just coming out in this days... sorry i couldn't use it, it's all i use now! First of all, i would never install pex like this guy did, we start with a manifold system, all pipes are single ran to each fixture, there is never a elbow, or a tee anywhere in the walls. I use continuous pipe insulation on all pipes in the crawl space ( first house i did, over 200ft of pipe under floor in unheated space, that winter went down to 0° for 3 weeks) never froze!
Ps my CPVC has failed me in 3 female adpt. The hot- cold cycle killed the temper in the threads ( the new CPVC fittings have a stainless insert now
...enjoy your cancer from drinking out of PVC piping (highly carcinogenic).
And as far as "issues" with valving goes. You transition to copper, plumb in your valve, and strap that bugger to get the mechanical strength you're looking for.
Copper will split when it freezes, but I've never seen a PEX fitting pop. It'll swell a little, but when it thaws (PEX-A anyway) it'll return to its original shape. It's even less likely to happen if you insulation it.
I love PEX, but I fear it's gonna turn into an early 90s Quest catastrophe.. Hopefully I am just being paranoid..
I bought a house in '93 which had an early version of pex already, that uses the same pipe but different fittings and it has been good. we get severe winters and the pipe won't split if there's a freeze in the line and it's safer to do repairs than soldering in an old home.
Developed in Germany in the early 70's and they never looked back. Exceptional for freezing weather.
Gmtail it's called "job security" in the next 15 years we'll be replumbing so many homes it'll be mind boggling.
Great simple video!! No wasted time!!
Your DWV INSTALLATION IS IN CORRECT AT TRAP ARM FOR BACK TO BACK LAVS
is it in correct, or, incorrect? big difference.
That would be incorrect.
He's primed to have an s trap too
its incorrect but its basically only liquid waste ...it'll work forever...when I see old bell and spigot constricted with rust down to about 1" in diameter (or less) and still working? ....anything plastic will work forever if it has a little fall.
The drain at 6:39 has a Tee where should be Wye with 45 (combination wye), it's horizontal
Love checking out other trades and getting new ideas. I'm building Montana, I assume that was pex type b from what I have been seeing. Any preference?
Pex is BPA free
Great video, beautiful work. Thank you for sharing sir.
My dad is having a new home built, I noticed that the contractors used PEX entirely. Time will tell if it holds up. To be honest, I am worried about small leaks in the wall that will go undetected for quite possibly years.
Blaine Bugaski the scenario you have described as more likely to happen with copper.
How do you figure? I have been seeing PEX fittings that leak. Of course you're only going to see the "bad" online just like you'll only hear about the "bad" when it comes to reviews on things because the happy people just go about life and don't care as much as a person who has a problem, but, with copper, the solder joints are absolutely solid if done correctly and unless the pipe freezes your pipes are guaranteed to last a century at the least. PEX on the other hand is plastic, plastic gets brittle over time. Also, have you ever had a screw clamp fitting that didn't loosen up over time and require you to tighten it? Hell, even the OEM "spring" type hose clamps that auto manufacturers use lose their tension and end up leaking over time, when their entire design is intended to eliminate the need to tighten them as periodically as screw type clamps require.
PEX-A using the connection expansion method connectors r basically idiot proof and have the same ID as pipe VS PEX B or C using crimp connectors have a smaller ID restricting waster flow with increase pressure. In addition to being more elegant in design and more idiot proof to install. And avoiding metal parts that even unlikely could corrode is 1 last advantage.
And it more likely a copper will leak since it takes skill to sweat a pipe. And I had copper pipes fail over time due to corrosion or freezing. Also they have used PEX since the 60s in Europe. So with any luck the sub knew what he was doing. Good Luck.
Blaine Bugaski it's been around 30 plus years in the US 50 in UK, without getting brittle, so I believe you are assuming something that may not happen. This is not a new product. Easier install (ie more cost effective) easier to expand and with a manabloc or manifold, you have total control of each toilet, sink, ice maker line etc. Added benefit of will not freeze burst which is huge benefit in cold climates.
Blaine Bugaski. I almost forgot, you typically get hot water about twice as fast as each line is independent to each fixture and the 'plastic' insulates the water better.
Pex looks great to install, but the real question is: Will Pex pipeing pass the building inspection by each and every city inspector? With lead seeping into our home water systems, this method seems more sanitary than copper or steel pipes.
But again, will the city building inspectors allow this type of plumbing to exist in new or old home pipe improvements?
Yes
In all honesty- are these people supposed to be real plumbers? because that Cellar is a Horror show of sloppy work.
Sloppy & lousy works goes down to each individual. That goes for all pros & DIYs.
It’s a crawl space. Waste time and money down there if you choose, but neither the water, nor the end user, can tell the difference. Looks great to me.
What the hell is it supposed to look like?
Why did you use a copper pipe for the tub spout? Also do you have to use a different size crimp tool for each pex tube size?
tub spouts use a compression fitting to grip the pipe. some ladies rest their foot on the spout while shaving. one tool does both sizes of crimps - 1/2 and 3/4.
and yes BPa free
shane drotzur I 99
I don't like the crimp connection with steel clamps. I recommend the expander tool, sure it cost like 200 bucks but it is a more secure connection over time.
particle board everywhere even for flooring ?? not for me breathing in hidden fumes for the rest my life no thanks
It's OSB. Yeah, I don't have it in my floors but it's used in my roof decking. You know that they use chemicals in plywood too, right?
@Some Guy not really. There are different OSB, just like plywood. Some have a waterproof glue, to keep it from coming apart
did you use all 3/4" or did you use 1/2" to fictures