PEX Installation Methods

[@tyneshaanthony5768]

Best video on the PEX systems. And they do make Manifolds with shut off valves too. Used these in my own home with PEX A, and I drain my outside spigots every winter just because I remember frozen water lines as a kid. And extra upside is if you go on vacation or leave your home for an extended period of time, it is easy to shut the water off to everything in your home so you don't come home to a flood. To me the piece of mind is worth an extra 200-300 bucks in hardware.

[@martingarza3383]

I purge with 50 psi air my system bypassing the waterheater. Only drawback is air is not "pure" air. I use an ordinary air compressor. Yeah I know of the drawbacks but I flush the lines thoroughly.

[@johnl1357]

Perfect video. That seriousness on your face at the end of your video, it brings out the the profesionalism in you. Thank you.

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

Wow, thank you!

[@GroovyMike65]

I learn more useful info on KZbin than I ever did in school. Truth.

[@ferdinandgarcia2634]

I call KZbin a virtual school...😆

[@titusdaniel]

I almost didn't watch because I'm spoiled by the higher production values on youtube these days, but the video was really great. Thanks for sharing the information.

[@lkylky1730]

This guy knows what he's talking about. So, watch and listen carefully. I have been doubtful about DIYing this kind of plumbing. I have watched a few similar PEX installation videos on KZbin University but this particular video sums it all up for me. I feel more confident this morning and I took lots of notes and I'm charging ahead with my big project. I have already ordered the Manabloc manifold and the PEX-B tubings. I hope to share the good news about my project when done. Thanks a lot for sharing this knowledge via a lecture-style training video, sir.

[@rontiemens2553]

Let us know how it goes! Thanks!

[@galea99]

Have you completed your project yet and any feedback on the manifold you purchased?

[@adisharr]

Great video! Looking at redoing an old house and going all PEX A. These new distribution manifolds with individual shutoffs look really nice :)

[@homecraftsolutions3506]

Nice job. Looks organized and neat. I will say one thing that I have had troubles with are the brackets that bend the pex to a 90 degree. In hot and arid climates like I am in with the Phoenix area, over time the bends tend to crack on the outside bend. Thanks for taking the time to put this mockup together and the explanation of the different types of systems.

[@hopelessnerd6677]

I wish my plumbing looked that good. Mine looks like a firecracker went off in a bowl of spaghetti. When I found the empty Crown bottle under the garage floor, it all became clear.

[@alpharemoval2046]

Lol. One hell of a comment

[@johnchu210]

LoL I admire your imagination

[@86FxBdyCpe]

🤣

[@almccallie4314]

Hilarious

[@maxwellmcauliff160]

LMAO. I feel you, my house was caving in everywhere due to the worst workage that I had to watch happen as a kid. I was mad at my parents because I could see Iwas more qualified to do what they were doing for a lot of reasons. They just left all trash under there cans of food n hats n rags n a wrench they got from our stash. They did not care about much. Load bearing whatever. Ac condensation drain grades or safety switch who cares. Leaving flux on stressed n even overbent copper. No respect actually disrespect in a few ways. I wish anything looked that clean or effective or supported. They lucky they old now. Drunk looks good now

[@steveocvirek6671]

Great video and thank you for explaining the differences between the fittings manifolds and PEX types. Really appreciate you making this.

[@five-forty3431]

Excellent explanation of the differences between each system. Thank you!

[@thenexthobby]

A good overview. It's worth noting that if you can use PEX A and expander fittings at a manifold, you can also do that in trunk-and-branch designs. I like the circuit breaker analogy, however prefer to stay with local control for water. If a fixture on the 2nd floor has a problem I will not be running down to the basement to shut it off.

[@hshcjekxh2995]

Never thought about using the white stub outs, great idea!

[@StanStone1]

Pretty sure this guy has been around the block a few times.... Thank you sir... that was very informative...

[@CountyLineCarvings]

Trying to learn about the Pex Systems for a small home im building... this just helping me understand way more about the layout Thanks for sharing !

[@howdyjim]

Thanks! Helpful for my plumbing re-do project.

[@edwarddemedeiros3607]

Well done! You explained that so clearly. Thanks!

[@mychaelleesly]

Great stuff. You packed a lot of good info into a short timeframe!

[@2226robin]

Thanks you, this video show me the over all how the PEX system work.

[@texasrox2010]

this is the exact intro to PEX that I needed

[@casespartan]

Awesome Video! Great explanation on how to best replumb my house. Thank you

[@shadowfox_117]

Thank you for the lesson! I really need to change out my galvanize pipes and was thinking of going with CPVC, now I'm going to go with PEX-A if I can find it, the local Menards and lowes seem to only carry PEX-B.

[@kenbagwell8551]

I found a local plumbing supply place that would sell to retail customers. I pay a little more, but they have good stock, and know what they are doing a little more.

[@nosonf0204]

Thank you for the lesson. Very educational! Just learning about PEX.

[@five-forty3431]

Excellent comparison of the different methods, thank you!

[@daveo.5479]

great video! love how clean that wall is!

[@michaelgiovanniello3230]

this is a great and very helpful video. the dude seems really cool, too.

[@saltrue1555]

Thank you for your teaching. Very good video. God bless.

[@johnmoricone294]

Hi there, great video. We have a trunk system with a tables takes 5 min for hot water to make it from the tank to the faucet, so much wasted water. Been researching options and looking into the manifold so I can have individual shut off. Only down side to this is the the 2nd and 3rd floor would still be trunk style but the main floor would be direct run. When kids move out I can shut the end and 3rd floor off and still be ok. Only question I have is which PEX to use A or B. I'm leaning towards A. Thank you

[@chrisfoxwell4128]

I have a manifold block. It's fantastic. Need to change a shower balancing valve, just shut the water off on that line. Stuck gate valve that won't shut off, shut it down at the manifold. Plus, I've got a water shut-off valve right before the manifold so i can shut everything down just as easy. I believe the one downside is the time to get hot water to start flowing. Because the water is traveling to the manifold and then to the fixture it seems to take a lot longer than the traditional trunk system.

[@richdobbs6595]

Interesting! When I installed a radiant heating system during a basement finishing, I used PEX and each loop was a single run. The only connections were in the mechanical room. I also used PEX to replace a line that failed due to a freeze rupture. In that case, I used SharkBite fittings and left in place access panels. In other places where I've seen PEX used in new homes, it was always done with a manifold. I hadn't even considered that anybody used branch and trunk with PEX. I guess if I was ever going to use PEX for plumbing, I would use a manifold, with at most branches in the bathroom from under the vanity to the toilet, with no fittings where they can't be accessed.

[@melvinceasar2727]

Installed a manablock system after the freeze. Easy......$1000 all pex lines and new water heater

[@bobbyotay8817]

Fantastic job on the explanation thank you sir for your time and effort.

[@jamesshannon88]

If someone were to plumb 3/4 to 3/4 on the trunk and branch would they likely have pressure issues? I'm plumbing a small cabin and everything is within 20ft of the pressure tank and I figured it would be fine...

[@mostrico]

Thank you for sharing man i learn something new!!

[@scottrogers2831]

I use the pex type A and really love it.

[@TheOCMarc]

Great explanations and very informative. You answered questions that I didn’t even know I had 😁👍

[@JimYeats]

I think the best compromise is a modified manifold system that combines a small manifold with smaller trunk and branch sections. Less fittings, less piping, still easy to isolate and fix if there are any issues.

[@SunnyKumar-hj4iy]

yeah..like a ¾" trunk & branch for the East section fixtures and one for the west and so on..all arising from a small manifold of 1"

[@destijl7414]

Excellent tutorial, thanks for sharing!

[@ThatGirl-inthetrailer]

Thank you for the clear explanation

[@jwb0323]

This is great - I wanted to isolate my master bath because the lines run above a garage and froze. Having to re-pipe and switch to pex from copper. Are there any issues branching of my cold and water lines to go to a different section of the house and then branching off for each of those fixtures in the master bath? So there be essentially two “zones”

[@soundsgalactic]

Excellent video! Thanks a bunch.

[@rosanadancel7225]

Hello, excellent video, learning to do by my self. We’re I have to manifest all that pex pipe? .on the floor or on the wall?.thank you

[@goneridingparts]

the distribution box at 10:27 looks great, but what about when it's time to replace it ? seems like it would be very expensive.

[@TheReal1953]

You guys using Type B&C PEX need to understand how restrictive it is, especially 1/2". The inserts go inside the 1/2" ID piping.....unlike AquaPEX where the fitting are all full flow 1/2", for example. So in sizing your runs, you'll need to go to the next size pipe in order to account for the friction/restriction loss of the Type B&C PEX insert fittings. I've seen houses with less flow than the copper they had after they re-piped with Type B&C PEX, because they didn't take into account the restrictions from the insert fittings.

[@realzeti]

Yeah, a plumber is missing an important detail. Either because they are using cheap pex, at least offer the client a choice between pex type.

[@losferwords100]

I've been using Pex B for years and never had issues with flow. As long as your trunk line is big enough to compensate the volume of water necessary, you'll be fine. For most residential houses, a 3/4" trunk line will suffice and reduce to 1/2" for fixtures. Bigger houses with more fixtures? Bump it up to a 1" trunk. You also need to be mindful of not overusing fittings. Bend the pex to make turns instead of using an elbow whenever possible. Less is better in this instance.

[@JimYeats]

Yep, the gentleman in this video mentions that at least 2-3 times.

[@cmmartti]

But if everything is home-run plumbed to a manifold, each run only has two fittings (the manifold, and at the fixture), so it really doesn't matter.

[@paleologue]

My pex runs through my attic...no basements in Texas.It's a little harder to do a distribution block so I use the manifold system with Pex B. I also use shut off coupling valves at each of the manifold fittings that allows me to shut down each line and it doesn't reduce flow any more than it would without it. So basically, same system as the distribution block but without a central node. I have two manifolds. One for cold and one for hot and each 1/2" line has a shut off valve. I did this primarily because my builder installed Nibco Pex which was defective back in 2008 and they never stood by their product so I've had to do all my own plumbing and wanted to make sure I had a good system for dealing with leaks. I would LOVE to have a basement and run a distribution block for my house. That would be awesome. But none of our houses here have basements so...booo.

[@Crogon]

Wow. Yeah, Pex-B fittings are smaller and restrict your flow. That's why you should step up the size of the system. Note that Pex-A fittings do not restrict the water flow, so you don't need to step it up. I was scratching my head why you didn't mention installing a hot water loop to keep the water hot through the entire circuit. Other than that, really good video! Gorgeous back-plane showing the systems!

[@jamesburgess3628]

With the manifold system. Do you still need to step it down to 1/2 inch from 3/4 at the manifold to achieve additional water pressure at your connection points. Or can you use 3/4 though out the house from the manifold and just step it down at the connection of each connection?

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

it comes out the manifold as 1/2 inch.

[@chrisedward7575]

Great video! We have a single bathroom house and are doing some work. Should the cold feed and hot discharge be 3/4? Right now our cold trunk is 3/4 but everything else is 1/2. Thanks in advance

[@DonaldKHoaty]

Much appreciated! I learned a lot from your video.

[@damonmccray85]

Omg, this dude is a legend! The only thing I'm wondering is where I'd have to place the PEX. We had a freeze in Texas a few months ago and almost all of my mom's pipes burst. Her manufactured home is 35 years old and it seems easier to just replace them all. I wanted to use PEX but I'm not too crazy about crawling around under the house all day. Is it cool to run the "Trunk" line around the base of the house instead of down the middle? Like still underneath the house just closer to the edge of the foundation. I'm thinking it would use more pipe but be good for future repairs but I'm not sure if this affects the water pressure or something.. If anyone could help me out that would be awesome.

[@nova31337]

Also consider using PEX A, not B. PEX A can expand (which is how the fittings are attached) this means if you have another freeze, the PEX A pipe will expand when frozen, but return to normal once the ice inside thaws.

[@scottsatterthwaite4073]

@@nova31337 Guess what: both will expand and are resistant to burst from freezing. The difference is that PEX-A can expand more and still contract to original size. PEX-B has a lower burst rating. Both A and B (specifically Zurn-B) can be installed with expansion fittings and/or compression rings.

[@bigglilwayne7050]

I'm a plumber in Texas and the freeze you spoke of revealed several things to me about pex, with the most important being Pex A expanding to the point of rupturing, whereas i never saw it with Pex B, Pex C, or Polybutalene....

[@BOHICA_]

@@bigglilwayne7050 So don't use PEX A?

[@RicardoTorres-d2i]

Does the pressure of the water decrease with the manifold when both showers are in use?

[@robertocardona1967]

Thanks thanks good video God bless you

[@jandshatton331]

Have to say, for a plumber double white is okay but for homeowners they never can figure out which side is hot and they screw up when they install new faucets and tub cartridges and what not. Color coding just helps people know what they are hooking up. Agree white looks better though

[@Mote78]

I can rarely see the pex lines even when I reach for something under the sink. I like the idea that if work is done there’s no doubt which line is hot and which is cold.

[@maddierosemusic]

Really only the toilet line or the lines under a pedestal sink are seen. That makes it easy. Who cares if there's red or blue inside a cabinet?

[@jdm19731]

Very helpful. Thanks for sharing.

[@vsar1938]

I think this video was very well done. Nice

[@mustanghunts]

Excellent demo....Thanks

[@ozm8642]

Great video! For my house I've put all the bathrooms in the middle very close to each other. So my tankless is very close, I use a very short 3/4" hot supply to the hot manifold (multiport branch) and each 1/2" goes to the hot points. I just used a basic trunk branch for the cold line cuz its cheap and simple and cold is cold.

[@samtaylor8734]

I replaced 3/4 ancient galvanized withv1/2 pex and have had 0 problems. At a lot of spots I have more psi than before. Gotta take stock st what you're ripping out. Old pipe rots from the inside and you can sometimes not fit even a pencil through it.

[@twincamcoupe]

do they not produce that 8 port manabloc anymore? cant seem to find it. would be perfect for my tiny house

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

That was a demo the Rep gave me . they're supposed to be modular, but I can't figure out how it comes apart. go to a supplier that sells them they might could have one built.

[@twincamcoupe]

@@PlumbingSolutionsLLC thanks for the reply!

[@Oneofmany1s]

On the distribution system; would you still use shut off valves again near the toilet or vanity ? Thanks

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

Yes, you still need stops at the fixtures

[@vboutique2188]

On the middle option is that 3/4 on main and 1/2 on feeds off of there? Could you use those copper manifolds on middle option and just put in individual shut offs for the lines out from there similar to the last option?

[@wattjock]

Viewing this two years after the video was published... thanks for posting! I have a question... what are your opinions of a combination of the two... running a manifold at the water source, with a trunk to each local, branching off to the fixtures at the local? For example: A trunk line from the manifold @ the water source to the Master Bath with branches to the tub, shower, and toilet? The same for the kitchen, each spare bath etc... This is the form that the electrical circuitry works... run an electrical home run out to say... a bedroom and then branch wiring to the individual receps in the bedroom area. Seems that this would reduce the amount of pipes at the manifold as well as the SIZE of the manifold, but would increase the number of fittings needed for the Master Bath piping. I would think the trade off would be shutting down the Master Bath as a whole to repair any leak at the bath.

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

You can do that

[@Keeps-]

Will the Water flow will be the same ?

[@3nertia]

I doubt I get a response but it's worth a shot. I live in an "apartment" building (converted motel) and there are 8 apartments. 3 of which share a water heater and I'm assuming the rest do too. How would you run a manifold system to something like that?

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

Well it would be best for each unit to have its own heater, Or one large commercial with a recirculatory pump or tankless.

[@Motodad208]

Great video. But I can’t seem to find a pex A manifold, and the plumbing warehouse look at me like I’m talking French. Why are they not available?

[@ramcarpentrym5259]

great video ! thank you for explaining the differences in the systems.

[@hellcat1988]

I haven't done a serious job with pex yet, but I have had to FIX problems with pex several times. The biggest problem I've seen is the elbows that are made out of metal. If I ever DID to a full job with pex, I'd either use plastic body sharkbite fittings, or I'd use plastic for everything up to the metal fixtures, simply because you eliminate the risk of a failure due to corrosion, which is what I've had to deal with in pex systems on multiple occasions.

[@Mote78]

Interesting. My home is 23 years old. I’ve re-plumbed several lines and fixtures over the years and have never seen corrosion on the brass fittings. In fact I reused them because they looked new. Maybe it’s because I don’t have hard water. My son asked whether he should use brass or plastic fittings, I recommended brass because it seems that metal can take the stress better. Maybe I am wrong. I don’t know.

[@markhoffman]

Yeah, I would use the brass over the plastic. There should be no corrosion.

[@alialabbas1982]

Great video , thanks for sharing it 👍🏻

[@canocano5480]

With the manifold system how do you run the hot water back to the water heater to keep it hot in lines?

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

Well, you Typically don't. That would be a reccirc system

[@ThickCutBacon]

Really informative. Thank you!

[@OntarioMiner]

Any trick to bending the pex in those black 90° bend brackets. I'm using 1-in pipe and I find it real difficult to make the beds. Can we warm or heat the pipe to aid in the bent in those plastic 90 supports

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

There is a heating blanket for Pex that you can use. The larger pipes are hard to get in the brackets we use the 90° fittings instead.

[@ghettohey2388]

How is your water pressures with the distribution block vs the traditional crimp way that you say have choke points. Wouldnt you still have loss of water pressure with the distribution block cause you have to reduce down in pipe size as well.

[@noegutierrez6463]

woooow good explanation ... thank you for shearing

[@dalygav]

This is awesome thanks. One question I am using a copper manifold instead of plastic. Any drawbacks to be aware ?

[@bryanhunter1927]

Awesome explanation Thanks

[@steemo1385]

Hello thx for the video, where can I get that 8 port manabloc it will work perfect for my boat. I can’t find it anywhere

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

A Rep gave me that one as a demo, but it is supposed to be modular . but, I haven't tried to take one apart yet.

[@truesimplicity]

Awesome clear and informative

[@seekerstan]

If you use Pex A for trunk and branch, there are no pinch points because Pex A fittings retain the full inside diameter for full flow, 20 % better than Pex B

[@bman6502]

I’m surprised you did not mention the Tennessee reverse crisscross method… I think it’s one of the best methods to use for pet…

[@johnbalogna803]

New Subscriber here !!! Great video can you provide links to the manifold systems shown?? I've searched and most only show the crimp systems and way more ports than would needed in the house were re doing.

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

Our rep gave me that one. It's a manabloc . You should be able to get however many you want, it's modular.

[@sodapuffs]

great video. thanks for posting.

[@difarr1618]

Hi... Would you say using a curved 90 is better for end pressure, as opposed to a fitting 90?... Thanks...

[@elbuggo]

Much better with bend supports than bends. A bend is another connection with more risk, and the bend will also reduce the pressure somewhat. If a plumber does not use bend supports, he doesn't know what he is doing.

[@SalticidaeFan]

Our system is 30yr old. Pipes have split on 2 different bends (using bend support brackets). Would recommend using fittings for longevity, they don’t stress the pipe.

[@confabed]

You can use pex a with the distribution block?

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

Yes

[@oldoldpilgrim7898]

Which system and which type of PEX is least likely to burst due to a hard freeze? Is the manifold the weakest point for freezing?

[@devonteforeman]

Another thing to denote with the manifold systems is they are largely incompatible with recirculating pumps, whereas even old trunk and branch systems can be easily converted to work with recirculating systems.

[@straight_to_finish]

Trunk + Branch is ideal for hot water recirculation. That part wasn’t mentioned.

[@johnknightiii1351]

Is there a way to use a distribution block with a hot water recirculation loop?

[@robertblahnik]

The R&B color coming out of the wall for angle stops is better for a repairman so there is no question about what a pipe is. Blue? Cold Red? Hot. And who cares what it looks like in the back of the cabinet?

[@eagdhj]

as an electrician by trade i kinda have to say i like the third one most =D

[@lillithjones993]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I am wanting to know, If I added the same size Pex A as I have in copper, would the pressure be lessened due to the thicker walls in the Pex A than the M Copper?

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

It is not enough to matter.

[@tommills9753]

Great video! Is pex easy to install for the average homeowner?

[@joek5161]

Very. Depending on the system you decide to go with - there may be some specialized tools to pick up, but the learning curve is a heck of a lot lower then what you have for doing any other plumbing solution.

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

yes but you have to buy the crimpers or an expander tool .

[@gabeis01]

maybe I missed it. Can the viega manifold have pex A?

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

yes

[@jgt5642]

Valuable information, thx.

[@benbuckley2738]

"fittens" Great explanation vid!

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

Haha , yea my southern accent slips out for time to time. Thank for watching!

[@CHUDWICK111]

If you just swoop the pex through the house is going to water hammer and bang against interior walls when valves close fast?

[@ronh9384]

Yes if you just “swoop” it through the house you can have water hammer. I prefer the Pex A Uponor version with a ProPex Milwaukee M12 “12volt” expansion tool. If you make sure you drill the correct size holes through the studs and use the correct size clips/isolators at each stud or pass through, and support the Pex-A properly it be fine. The reason you use the Pex clips through a stud or as a clip to the edge of the stud is to support the Pex pipe from sagging or making noise through the stud. It also helps with controlling the expansion you get from the hot water line. You can also put a hammer arrester in at the washing machine, ice maker, and some toilets and dishwasher also have fast shutting valves that can cause water hammer.... ***Also make sure you put an anti-nail plate on both sides of the stud (if possible) where the Pex pipe goes through each and every stud, just like you would with electrical cable going through a stud.

[@capn1600]

When you put pex in a slab do you have to put it inside of some conduit or will the pex pipe not be affected by the concrete?

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

There is a plastic sleeve you can get just for PEX. But, yes concrete will eat up PEX.

[@marklanese5594]

@@PlumbingSolutionsLLC I never knew that.

[@Ben9601t0]

@@PlumbingSolutionsLLC - About concrete affecting pex could you elaborate or show documentation, I used pex infloor radiant ( 25 years old ) and no issues. Did sleeve the points where pex entered the concrete with pvc electric 90* elbows to protect against impacts.

[@TheChibitodd]

This just gave me the confidence to try it my self

[@johnbalogna9]

Do you have a link to the manifolds your using. ?? Most of the ones that come up on my searches have way too many ports for the house we're going to redo

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

it's called a manabloc . you should be able to get it in any size

[@johnr.timmers2297]

From what I understand, if you can pull out the old plumbing in a house and replace with a Pex manifold block system it's well worth the investment. A good project to coincide with renovation

[@fabulousmanner]

Thanks great breakdown

[@Pure3nrg]

Excellent video!

[@charlessalisbury4237]

On your third set with the value is it expandable or are they set number of space

[@PlumbingSolutionsLLC]

Its modular you can get them with any number of valves you want.