[AT] OT- Pex

[Gene Waugh]

My 2 cents here as well.  I worked 12-15 years as a 'traditional' 
plumber, using nothing but sweat copper for new work---and have repaired 
100's of galvanized installations.  I do not think I ever burned a place 
down, but I sure did have smoke pouring out of wall cavities a couple 
times!!!  And there was one almost lawsuit that finally came to 
nothing---I don't know if that one was my doing or not, but I still 
remember my fear---it was a multi-million dollar sports complex!!!

Also, around 20-22 years ago, I worked in Phoenix where miles and miles 
of the flexible Qest polybutylene (no longer available) was used--a 
flexible plastic available in rolls as is PEX.  The Qest left a bad 
taste in my mouth as it was eventually pulled from the market in the 
midst of kazillion lawsuits; most of the trouble, IIRC, was with the 
fittings and the aluminum and copper clamp rings used.

But...the PEX is apparently a different story.  It has been used in 
Europe for years, often in slabs for hydroponic heating.  If I were 
plumbing a house today, I would probably use it.  I did use a couple 
small runs in a bathroom remodel of my own I did a year or so ago.  As 
several have pointed out, the mechanical fittings are expensive---$65 
really sounds reasonable for the dual tool.  Just remember to use the 
little go-no gauge that comes with it on the clamped rings, and you can 
be sure that all is going well.

Gene

Mike Meulenberg wrote:
> When I saw Farmer's post about keeping his Pex tool in the gun sleeve it made me wonder, how many people have used Pex and like it. I need to do some plumbing re-work in our house and the thought of using copper, and sweating joints inside the wall doesn't appeal to me. I can do it but it is slow and ugly. I saw a tool at Home Depot for about $65 that would do 1/2" and 3/4", and is meant to be used with copper clamp rings. I also did some looking on line and saw the Sharkbite fittings which required no tools. I would appreciate any experience that you guys can offer. Thanks, Mike M
>
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