[SilverStreak] Pex plumbing

["Eddie" <Eddie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bev,
I'm familiar with pipes and joints placed under and where not accessible. I 
suggest re-design your upgrade for plumbing with no joints put where they 
cannot be serviced. Also consider chaffing and fasteners that may warrant a 
placement different to avoid that potential problem. PEX should last 
indefinitely. Any joint is subject to leak or maintenance so make a separate 
dedicated PEX run as needed and put the joint tee where you want it and can 
service it, not where a company trying to save $3 put it. You can stack tees 
making a manifold, or buy a manifold to make a separate run to each faucet 
and fixture. Manifolds have individual cut off 1/4 turn knobs. Manifolds 
basically feed equal flow when simultaneous fixture usage instead of one 
fixture flow reduced. I made my manifold with tees to save some costs. The 
manifolds are expensive.

This is the same procedure for electrical. Put no joint inaccessible. Join 
connections only in fixtures, service boxes, and areas accessible, never 
hidden behind a panel, wall, or non removable fixture such as range, fridge, 
etc. In a home, it is always illegal to conceal a joint. All joints must be 
made at an accessible junction box or service box such as the boxes for wall 
switch, outlet, ceiling fixture.

I am using a clone of PEX for connectors, but have heard everything good 
about the PEX connectors. My understanding is that new homes are being 
constructed with what is now preferable PEX for time saving = cost saving 
installation and better than all alternatives for longevity, especially in 
affluent areas such as Plano TX.

I also subscribe to the VAL list. There they have much PEX discussion. They 
have individuals who have freeze test compared PEX with copper, iron pipe, 
and PVC. The PEX was superior to all in that test. Copper is next, PVC is 
next, and iron pipe worst for freeze failure.
-Eddie- Houston, TX