Re: [VACList] pex

["Jarrod White" <jarrodwhite@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Scott,
 I have totally replumbed two vintage trailers with PEX piping.  It works
great if properly installed and is very freeze resistant.  We only get a few
nights of freezing weather in Mobile during the winter, but I forgot to
drain the lines before the coldest night of the year (25 degrees or so). The
PEX pipes handled it fine and there were no leaks.
 I used some of the plastic compression fittings on the first trailer, but I
kept having problems with leaks when I turned the water presure coming in
up. I ended up removing all the compression fittings and using brass the
fittings with rings. You have to either buy an expensive crimper (around
$100 to $120) or rent one.  My local Home Depot rents the crimper for $8.00
a day.  The brass fittings are significantly cheaper than the plastic
fittings.  I ended up buying the brass fittings at a local professional
supply house because I got tired of digging through the Home Depot and Lowes
bins for the right fitting (do-it-your-self service permits other people to
mess up the bins). A plumber has since told me that with the brass fittings
and PEX pipes, the water supply hose coming into the trailer will burst
before any of the fittings or pipes inside the trailer will.
 Good luck with it.
 Jarrod