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0 pointsjohnmaguire3y ago0 comments

I believe it's less durable than alternatives.

0 comments

There’s definitely a “right” way and a “wrong” way to do it.

Having each fixture connection being a “home run” without any fittings between source and destination really reduces a lot of vulnerabilities. Having a central manifold that lets you easily turn off any tap is nice too.

A condo building I lived in did something wrong (I suspect) either a bad batch of PEX, or more likely, a batch that sat in the sun for a while, leading to multiple failures of hot water return lines in few years that were a mystery to pin down.

frosted-flakes3y ago

Home run plumbing also means a lot of pipes in the walls, so you end up with 20x more pipes in the walls and ceiling than is actually necessary, and 20+ valves, which are often made of plastic instead of brass because otherwise costs would balloon. In any case, the fittings aren't the weak point, the pipe is; a properly crimped joint or expansion joint will never leak. And often it's impossible to have no fittings on a run of pipe anyway.

In my opinion, traditional trunk and branch plumbing is far more flexible and just as reliable. It also allows for a hot water recirculation loop, which is impossible with home-run plumbing.

iancmceachern3y ago

Also using the compression fittings with a good crimping tool, not the push to connect fittings IMO is more durable and reliable.

bluGill3y ago

Actually pex is probably the most durable. Water is corrosive and will slowly dissolve metal pipes .

Pex has zero UV resistance though, sp if exposed to sun at all it is the least durable.

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