Might need some help with running PEX

First the bad news: My uncle took a job out of town because he needed the money and couldn't find anything here in his field. He has a rental property up for sale. The realtor didn't bother to check to be sure all the windows were locked after showing the house a few times, so guess what happened? (Hint: we are all on a scrap metal forum.) Yep, someone got inside and tore out all the copper water lines in the basement.



So in an attempt to save money and prevent another theft, my uncle decided to install PEX instead of replacing everything with copper. Guess who he volunteered to do the job for him while he's out of town? Why? Simple: I'm the only relative on that side of the family, besides him of course, that can handle the tools without a side trip or two to the hospital. And in my family, we take care of each other.

So, I've been studying up on it the best I can. I've been watching YouTube videos, looking up tutorials, asking Home Depot employees, the whole works. I think I'm ready to get started. But I just wondered if there is anyone on this forum who knows how to install the stuff in case I run into something I can't find an answer to.

Actually, Bear, PEX is supposed to be superior to copper pipe when it comes to freezing. Supposedly, it can expand without bursting.

Yes pex can with stand a lot of expansion before busting. It's easy to run don't be intimidated by it. Use blue for cold water and red for hot water so you can identify it better. You would probably be better to use the roll type instead of the stick type. Use a pair of ratchet type hand cutters to cut the tubing with. You would be better to use the shark bite fittings that slide over the outside of the pipe, they are more expensive but you can take them off the tubing if you make a mistake. They also are less likely to leak then the fittings that slide inside the tubing and have a compression collar on the outside.

I think BarrenEalms007 said it all! Just finished my house with it. Can't imagine ever going back to sweating copper. The shark bites are great and super fast to join the pex to any copper lines that are left. Good luck

Originally Posted by anthracite31

I think BarrenEalms007 said it all! Just finished my house with it. Can't imagine ever going back to sweating copper. The shark bites are great and super fast to join the pex to any copper lines that are left. Good luck

Well, there's one thing I don't have to worry about. Ain't much of any copper left. Most of it was torn off flush with the floor.