Science project? (OT)

[Daniel Meyer]

From da blog

Now..if I can just avoid cross-wiring this cool looking thing to the new electrical service, ala "Three Stooges" ... you know...water shooting out the chandelier and such...then life will be good!



The rest of the story here:
http://theoldvictorian.com/blog/2009/10/14/science-project/

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Daniel. I see your going with pex, but which kind. Do they crimp or are they the expanded/memory connection by uponor. Saw a demo for the uponor to get certified as an installer and was very impressed. Dave

Forget it, I see the crimps now after looking closer. 

[Jay]

Makin' yer own moonshine Daniel?

[ThreeAces97]

Daniel,   I helped a buddy install the PEX system (from a electric water tank) in his new house last year.   All your cost comments are accurate.   Less labor intensive to install compared to copper, and allows "one stop shopping" when water needs to be on or off at a specific location.   After a year and half, my buddy is extremely happy with his system.    I know he did not enjoy shelling out a couple of 100 bucks for the "special" crimping tool needed for the hose distribution center.

His house was new construction, so running the H & C lines was easy.   If I were to build again, I would definitely go this route.   Good luck.   

Tankless water heaters have been as successful in the NE as the electric heat pump furnace.   Not very successful.

[Jabba]

Boy... I LOVE my tankless water heater. 

You have to treat your water... but hard water will ruin a tank type too.

There are several options for treating, especially if you believe in the majic black box types such as the "Frieje Easy Water" system.

I have not made up my mind yet. 

Jabba

[Daniel Meyer]

Daniel. I see your going with pex, but which kind. Do they crimp or are they the expanded/memory connection by uponor. Saw a demo for the uponor to get certified as an installer and was very impressed. Dave

Forget it, I see the crimps now after looking closer. 

As you saw, crimps for the 3/4 lines and also at the fixture fittings...the valved ports on the manifold are compression type. 

Makin' yer own moonshine Daniel?

Doesn't everybody?

... After a year and half, my buddy is extremely happy with his system.    I know he did not enjoy shelling out a couple of 100 bucks for the "special" crimping tool needed for the hose distribution center.

Glad to hear he's happy with it. There's only two ways to go anymore (TBC)...copper or PEX. I got the crimper (good for the stainless crimps in 1/2 or 3/4) for $75.

His house was new construction, so running the H & C lines was easy.   If I were to build again, I would definitely go this route.   Good luck. 

Easy to install in the Old Vic as well...I have a nearly 4' tall crawl space! Another benefit...my insurance carrier says so many old homes burn during the "replumbing phase" when using copper that I'd need a rider on my policy if I was going in with copper/sweating.

[Big IV]

They did my house with Pex. I'm happy with it thus far.
I only have one complaint. I want to put in an inline filter under the house to strain the water a bit (just in case) but I don't have my own PEX crimper so I cannot do it myself. I have the parts, just not the tools. Eventually I'm going to have a plumber over for something else and have him do it then.
I'm hoping in a few more years those crimpers will fall off in price if everyone starts using it. So encourage your friends!

[Varmintmist]

After the sticker shock wears off, you will like the PEX.

I did my house in it, but I bought some 1.25 copper manifolds and fed them with 1in copper for cold and 3/4 for hot.
The well is on the left side and is almost dead under the main bath so I dropped a 3 stem manifold there off the 1 in and ran the 1 in across the basement to the main manifold on the right with a 3/4 in drop to the water heater. Came out of the water heater with 3/4 to the main manifold area and back to the main bath and fed it all with pex from both sides.
I had the non crimp ones that you slide a ring over then expand before putting over a sweated on nipple. The wife and I did the pex in a evening after I had all the copper in.
I can be in the shower, the other shower can be on, the dishwasher can be on, the washing maching can be running, and you can flush the toilet and not feel a change.
It aint the pressure, its all about the volume you can move.

The only place I messed up was I should have pulled the kitchen sink cold from the manifold near the well. 99% of the time that you want a cold glass of water you are in the kitchen, to get a cold glass of water, I have to move a lot of volume of less than cold temp water through the 1 inch pipe.
I bought a fridge with a icemaker so all is good.

[..]

Boy... I LOVE my tankless water heater. 

You have to treat your water... but hard water will ruin a tank type too.

There are several options for treating, especially if you believe in the majic black box types such as the "Frieje Easy Water" system.

I have not made up my mind yet. 

Jabba

Take a look at this
http://scaltrolinc.com/

I helped my ex father-in-law get a patent for this product. I also designed the logo at teh top of the web page.

It's a blend of ortho and polyphosphate that keeps the minerals in suspension so that they don't "stick" onto heating  elements, make mineral stains on porcelain  etc.

Quite a few electricity co-ops have been using this product since the mid 90's.

I earn no financial reward for any sales made (dumbass  )

[Daniel Meyer]

They did my house with Pex. I'm happy with it thus far.
I only have one complaint. I want to put in an inline filter under the house to strain the water a bit (just in case) but I don't have my own PEX crimper so I cannot do it myself. I have the parts, just not the tools. Eventually I'm going to have a plumber over for something else and have him do it then.
I'm hoping in a few more years those crimpers will fall off in price if everyone starts using it. So encourage your friends!

You can do it with the sharkbyte fittings...no crimpers needed.

http://www.pexsupply.com/SharkBite-Push-Fit-Fittings-588000

Good for small jobs as they are more expensive than the crimp fittings...but if you only need a couple...