Real Estate Investor · liberty township, OH · Member since 2008 · 149 posts · 6 votes
alright I know this has probably been posted before.. but i need to replace some hot water copper pipe and i was thinking about changing to pex.. what are peoples thougths on pex?
Real Estate Investor · London · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 74 votes
18y
Originally posted by "kygregor":
i figured as much, i guess i was thinking about replacing all the copper of time.... keep the thiefs away
From the outside all houses will look the same. It might reduce the damage after they kick the door in.
Is there any way to make it clear that your PEX property is a bad choice so they just avoid you? Maybe a bit much to ask but still I figured I could ask.
Real Estate Agent · Tampa, FL · Member since 2009 · 456 posts · 123 votes
17y
ok that makes a little more sense, at first it seemed as though the implication was that less water is being used dependent on the piping which is logically not possible? If the person runs the water for less time because they don't have to wait for it to heat up well that's of course a different story.
Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
17y
I'll buy the benefit of a home run plumbing system for that reason, but in no way buy the 20% number. Many things are totally unaffected: dishwasher, baths, and washing machine. Further, if you first run the sink to shave, then jump in the shower, you have to drain both lines. The volume of water in two half inch lines is only slightly less than in a single 3/4 inch line.
If you want to save water, install a recirculation system that keeps the lines filled with hot water by circulating it in a loop between the fixtures and the water heater. I can't imagine that's energy efficient, though.
Real Estate Investor · OH · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
17y
I use Pex in all my rentals. For making quick repairs, I use Sharkbite fittings. For bigger repairs and rehabs, I use the copper crimp rings with BRASS FITTINGS which are MUCH less expensive than the Sharkbite connectors. Lowes is now selling fittings similar to Sharkbite but at a lower price.
One of the most important benefits of using PEX is that it can freeze solid and won't break. That is a tremendous advantage over CPVC (which literally shatters) and copper which cracks. I had several rentals over the winter whose pipes froze solid, due to the heat being shut off, and not a single one with PEX had any freeze damage or broken lines! For a rental, that's extremely valuable!
Investor · Bellefonte, PA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 88 votes
17y
Originally posted by Adam Anderson:
To supply a bathroom, a traditional system will often run ¾†line from the water heater to the bathroom, and then branch into 1/2 “ lines feeding the sink and the shower. In a home runs system you usually run 1/2 “ line from the manifold all the way to each item.
I'm not sure I completely buy this. In my area you only need 1/2 inch for everything if you are on the city water system because it runs at a higher pressure than a well.
The other issue would be if you run the sink in your bathroom to get hot water, with a traditional system turn on the shower and you only have 6-10 feet of pipe to heat up. In a home run system you can easily have in excess of 25 feet of additional pipe to heat up. Not to mention heating the entire manifold. I'll check with my RESNET guy next time I talk to him to see what he says about it.
Investor · Maui, HI · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 3k+ votes
17y
Hi, I've used PEX in several flips and rentals, and absolutely love the stuff.
I found that Home Depot caries a PEX tool which only costs $30, but requires the use of your Vise Grips (which most handymen should have several). I found this tool works great, but takes a lot more muscle to work (to squeeze the copper ring closed). But for those who don't mind the extra work, its a cheaper way to go but works well.
Also, I've been able to completely re-supply an entire house (with a crawlspace) in half a day - without a single leak. I don't think even professional plumbers can say that with copper.
Investor · Mableton, GA · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 465 votes
17y
Pex is also a great solution in areas where there is copper theft. The first renta SFR I bought in Alabama, had all the copper piping stolen. The plumber replaced all with Pex. Now, even if the house stays vacant for a while,(Which it haven't yet... :wink: ) there is no copper to steal.
I am a plumber by trade, I flip houses in my spare time but own my own plumbing business. I cant say enough good things about pex. It is fool proof and makes attic work a breeze! I use expansion rings, these require the most expensive tools, but i prefer it to the copper rings. I have a hydraulic wirsbo expander, and that is expensive but when you are doing 1" plus its a must IMO, but on my service trucks I just have the Wirsbo hand expander, I actually just picked another couple up off craigslist for $100! Cant beat that!
Investor · Mableton, GA · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 465 votes
17y
Originally posted by Tim Wieneke:
Originally posted by "dafly":
CPVC takes 1/3 the time as copper to install but PEX takes about 1/3 the time as CPVC to install. To install PEX all you do is measure, cut with the pipe cutters which is pretty much like cutting paper then slip on the copper ring, slip it into the fitting then crimp. Way faster than waiting for solvent and glue to dry on CPVC.
Cool.... I'll have to give that a try. And hey, if it gives me an excuse to buy more tools - so much the better. :mrgreen: Are there fittings to attach Pex to copper and galvanized steel pipes?
Had a break in yesterday at a house I'm rehabbing for a guy. They kicked the back door in - only damaged the door, not the jamb or the frame. My heart sank at first, till I walked downstairs and remembered the whole house was CPVC. :-) I'm thinking of making signs and putting them on doors, "CPVC Plumbing in this house. No copper. Don't waste your time."
NOW, IF THEY COULD ONLY MAKE ELECTRICAL PEX WIRING... :wink:
Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
17y
I smell a lot of BS in that anti-pex lawsuit and I could tell before reading it that the unions were involved. They don't want pex being used because it doesn't take as much time to install. Unions make their money on making any process as labor intensive as possible - the complete opposite of what a smart investor does.
We had a similar thing in some parts of Cook County where union clout kept people from being able to install pvc drainage systems. Forever we were forced to use cast iron and clay tile, even though cast iron was much more expensive and required a lot more labor to install and clay tile was much more expensive as well and much more susceptible to tree root damage.
Investor · Mableton, GA · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 465 votes
17y
I'm not sure if unions are to blame on this one but I wouldn't rule it out. I must admit that I would be reluctant to install it in my own house. I'm not a great fan of any plastic product for drinking, eating or heating. I wonder how many of those who put it in their rentals would also install it in their own homes.
Real Estate Investor · Elgin, IL · Member since 2009 · 135 posts · 9 votes
17y
Originally posted by Tim Wieneke:
I smell a lot of BS in that anti-pex lawsuit and I could tell before reading it that the unions were involved. They don't want pex being used because it doesn't take as much time to install. Unions make their money on making any process as labor intensive as possible - the complete opposite of what a smart investor does.
We had a similar thing in some parts of Cook County where union clout kept people from being able to install pvc drainage systems. Forever we were forced to use cast iron and clay tile, even though cast iron was much more expensive and required a lot more labor to install and clay tile was much more expensive as well and much more susceptible to tree root damage.
Just a note for Tim... don't you just love Cook County. I moved to a different county...the politics are not as bad but of course they are still in play!
I don't remember what I paid for my PEX crimper. Surely it was under $300.
I'll pay $500 for a chop saw to make my job easier. Why wouldn't I pay $300 for a plumbing tool that makes my job 1000% easier?
I've got some old mobiles with polybutyle plumbing. I can do a repair in 5 minutes for a couple of dollars instead of paying the plumber $150 to not do the job right. That crimper paid for itself pretty darn quick.