Replumbing my house

gslander

gslander

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2021
Location
Hickory, NC
I had my 6th water leak in 5yrs in my house yesterday and I'm done with this durapex garbage and I am replumbing the house while my wifes out of town for a week in june. I plan on going with pex-a, the battery powered expansion tool showed up yesterday, and im getting ready to order up the pipes, fittings, connectors etc. Are there any pex brands I should watch out for? I am obviously nervous about this stuff springing pin holes again since this is my first house with a PEX system, all my houses before this had much older plumbing systems with copper and I never had an issue ever despite them freezing solid a few times a winter. Any tips on this? I have all the crimpers and stuff for PEX B and pretty confident with that system. My house has a pretty straightforward plumbing system with a straight main line running the length of the house in the basement ceiling and it stabbing up through the floors to the kitchen and bathrooms. I plan on adding valves below the kitchen and bathroom so I can shut those off with access panels in the basement ceiling, the basement is fully finished of course.

This is the durapex garbage I'm dealing with, it keeps springing pin hole leaks in the hot water lines, long story short mfr defect. Top-Tier CPI Dura-Pex Repairs Backed by 25+ Years Expertise!

If anyone wants to come over first week of June and drink beer and laugh at me cursing on a ladder let me know LOL
 
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My only recommendation is with a flexible product like pex always try to reduce fittings by radiusing corners instead of using 90s, there are plastic or metal clips that hold a 90. Each fitting is a potential leak so I’d use the advantage of a flexible material everywhere you can.

I would also plumb the first 10 feet of hot line from the water heater in copper, that’s where most people see pex failures

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Shreddinlettuce said:
My only recommendation is with a flexible product like pex always try to reduce fittings by radiusing corners instead of using 90s, there are plastic or metal clips that hold a 90. Each fitting is a potential leak so I’d use the advantage of a flexible material everywhere you can.

I would also plumb the first 10 feet of hot line from the water heater in copper, that’s where most people see pex failures

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I used those bend things when I re did everything above the water heater/under my shower on leak number 4, they are definitely nice. I also plan on using some manifolds halfway down the hot water/cold line under my kitchen, and at the end where the other bathrooms are to cut down on fittings. Figuring out WTF is going on with the branch lines will be fun, I have hot water lines running to places where I don't have hot water and stuff like that. I have an opportunity to simplify the system I think. I did after all spend all day today in YouTube university after all, lol.
Loganwayne said:
Use plastic fittings. The copper fittings will erode if you dont have perfect water. (Mine got ate up so I did like you and redid everything. )
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Thats why I went with PEX A, I can see where some are corroding now.
 
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Nothing to add here aside from the two rules for plumbing are that shit runs downhill and hot on the left.

That and one of the beauties of PEX is that it can handle the expansion from freezing, unlike copper, which can crack. Its specifically designed to tolerate it. I had to re-run a line years ago that had no route aside from up through teh attic and down and exterior wall and every time its really cold for several days it freezes, but always thaws back and it has never leaked.
 
RatLabGuy said:
Nothing to add here aside from the two rules for plumbing are that shit runs downhill and hot on the left.

That and one of the beauties of PEX is that it can handle the expansion from freezing, unlike copper, which can crack. Its specifically designed to tolerate it. I had to re-run a line years ago that had no route aside from up through teh attic and down and exterior wall and every time its really cold for several days it freezes, but always thaws back and it has never leaked.
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Good part is I don't have to worry about my plumbing freezing, and the current PEX in here is cracking and leaking all on its own.
 
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