This may have been covered elsewhere but, with the recent rise in the cost of copper it needs be investigated once more.
I'm ready to start doing rough in plumbing under a pier and beam foundation and at a loss as to the material to use. I don't care for PVC for drinking water especially and copper is getting way out of sight and going higher as I write this.
I know about PEX but, don't know where to get it or even if it is abailable to the DIY guys. I've heard it is only sold to licensed plumbers and have not seen it at Home Depot or Lowes or even my local ACE HW store.
I also understand there are more than one manufaturer and they have different types of connectors.
Anyone have any good links or personal information about this stuff? I need it this week!!!
Okie Bob
It's sold at Menards and most hardwarw stores in Wis. Also sell fittings.
Used it in my cabin.
Here is info on the Lowe's site:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Improve/PEX.html
This powerpoint presentation has some good illustrations of both traditional and manifold/homerun installations.
http://www.plasticpipe.org/media/PEX_ASPE_2004/PEX_ASPE_2004.htm
I had to take a class for an hour or so and am a licensed contractor (don't tell anybody) to get my Wirsbo Aquapex cert. Manual tool is about $300.
It's the only way to plumb.
I see they changed their name from Wirsbo to Uponor -- what an improvement. :-/
http://www.wirsbo.com/
Pex is also moderately freeze-proof. (none of the PVCs are)
How about the cost vs copper or pvc? Do you have to purchase the tool to use PEX?
PEX is cheap - seems it was $100 for 300 feet of 1/2. The tool is absolutely necessary to stretch the tubing and ring to go over the fittings. There are inserts available to use normal brass compression fittings then convert to 1/2 pipe with the comp fitting - no tool req'd. Brass fittings are a bit expensive.
In addition to Wirsbo, there are also fittings made by Rehau:
http://www.rehau-na.com/construction/heating...plumbing/pex.plumbing.shtml
I have not found Wirsbo or Rehau fittings at any of my HomeDepots or Lowes'. I buy the PEX and fittings at Keller plumbing supply in Bremerton, WA. There are several other Keller locations in Western Washington, and beyond (perhaps).
I can't recomend using PEX ENOUGH. And don't be afraid of the professional supply houses. Especially if it your only source for PEX materials. They might opperate a little differently than you're used to at a retail joint. But it's really quite similar to an auto part store, in opperation.
Tubing was also about $100/300 ft for 1/2". Sleaves and fittings range from $.85 to maybe $4.
I ran 3/4" burried from the meter to the house.
Oh, and yes you'll need the tool. I have access to one through a friend. It goes so fast, you don't need to borrow it for very long. I haven't seen tools for rent anywhere. I wouldn't doubt that professional plumbers see easy access for DYI'ers as a threat to a significat amount of their marketshare.
My local Home Depot sells the pipe and fittings (crimp on type, can't recall the manufacturer) and rents the crimping tool.
Compared to copper, the pipe is cheap but the fittings tend to be pricy. For that reason, pex plumbing is usually installed in a "home-run" arrangement, with each fixture having it's own hot and cold supply lines running back to centrally located supply manifolds.
You can buy it online here too.
www.radiantec.com
Sherry
I ordered mine from here:
http://www.pexsupply.com/
There are two ways of assembling the material. I opted for the crimp fittings as that seemed a little more inexpensive. The company shipped promptly so I give them an A+ in that department. I haven't used any of the tools or materials yet. What attracted me to the material was a plumber telling me that should the piping freeze it simply expands and when it thaws is goes back to it's original size rather than bursting. The pipe has "memory". I have some mountain property that I have had pipe freezing problems with in the past. I can't seem to get it drained adequately when winterizing. So I am going to be giving this a try.
Thanx for the link desdawg, and welcome to the fourm.
PEX vs. freezing is a big bonus in addition to its ease of installation. Some inspectors himm and haww at the idea, but experience has shown that it performs nicely.