Q Plumbing
Versatile
PEX PIPING What works and what doesn’t – one contractor’s experience in the field
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By Mark P. Evans
alvanized water-piping comes out a lot faster than it goes in and copper pipe comes out even faster than that. It’s usually one or the other of these two that must go when upgrading a system to modern materials, typically PEX piping. It’s pointless to try unthreading the defunct steel lines, instead, I use my reciprocating saw to cut through the material or score it enough that it can be broken apart and removed. Copper lines are a cinch to slice apart using my ratchet style cable cutter. It makes short work of the job and it doesn’t matter if the ends are pinched, it’s not pipe anymore… it’s beer money! I’m sure more than one plumbing company has modified their “scrap for beer” policy since the plastic revolution began. It used to be just end cuts and damaged pieces cashed in for the occasional beverage or two back at
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the shop. Now, a couple of retro-fit jobs could supply Oktoberfest.
A learning experience It is often said that PEX piping is so much faster, easier and therefore better to install, but there is a knack to it and it’s not for every application. I found myself in many tight situations when I first started using this material. My manual expanding tool was a pump-style affair that required more room to operate than a power-vice. There simply wasn’t enough space for proper installation, which left this
This is a large project involving miles of PEX piping. Note the coloured coils on the ground for domestic hot and cold water. (Rehau photo)
Please see ‘New’ on page 61
March 2018 – Plumbing & HVAC
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