Speaking of PEX and manifolds, I wonder if someone could tell me where I would take off my hot and cold to plumb a new basement bathroom if the existing manifold is full. Do I cut into the existing copper lines, install a tee and go from there? I’ve attached a photo of the manifold. Thanks to all who can offer some words of wisdom. I’m going to venture into the world of plastic fittings and pipe and I hope that I never have to try and solder again in this lifetime!
Cheers,
Ken
“They don’t build ’em like they used to” And as my Dad always added… “Thank God!”
Replies
I can't quite tell from the picture, but those manifolds look like they are just copper pipe with caps on the ends. I'd get some tees and some pipe and add 3 or 4 new teats on the hot and cold, just because it's easier to do it once than have to do it again the next time you need to expand.
Just to be safe, it might be good to disconect your existing pex lines from the manifold (if possible) before doing any soldering. That would stink to melt your supply lines.
From your picture, the pipe running off the manifold looks more like poybutylene pipe, which is different then Pex pipe in many ways!
Like others have said you can extend the copper manifolds. What type of conection where the copper meets the plastic?
Yep, I'm told that it's an older type of PEX - they used regular colored copper rings instead of the black brand that's used today. Anyway, here's a closer shot of the take-offs. Maybe someone would suggest another method of adding more connections? Thanks.Cheers,
Ken"They don't build 'em like they used to" And as my Dad always added... "Thank God!"
Looks like Polybutelene to me.
If you don't want to solder they make a brass compression tee so you can cut the lines feeding the manifolds, insert the tees and go from there with Pex
Thanks, Arrow. I think it's polybutelene too. So, cut the line, insert a Tee (using compression fittings) and work from there? Do you think that a shutoff valve should be installed before the new Tee to allow the water to be turned back on? And what about the unused Tees on a four or six teat manifold? Is there a cap for them or do you install a short piece of PEX with a cap on it and remove it later?Cheers,
Ken"They don't build 'em like they used to" And as my Dad always added... "Thank God!"
That tubing has writing all over it. That should tell you what it is. It could be pex-al-pex. It almost looks like Wirsbo labeling.
Why don't you just cut the copper supply before it reaches the manifold and solder in some 3/4" tees and then solder in either a small additional manifold if you think you may ever need more taps, or just solder the proper pex adapter into the tee?
Wrap the supply pipe near the manifold with a wet rag. You can stay far enough away from the tubing not to have any problems with the heat from soldering.
Insert the tee, after the tee insert a 3/4 " valve then the new manifold.
The manifolds I have seen are either brass or galvanized with a 3/4" female inlet and a number of 1/2" female taps.
You can plug any outlet you do not use.
I would definately use a compression tee off the copper line especially if you have'nt done a lot of soldering. It gets pretty tricky when the lines have water in them.
BTW you can get red pex and blue pex for hot and cold lines which is nice.
Thanks, arrow. I'm going to give it a shot. I think I'll insert a compression type of tee, then come off the tee with a shut-off valve, install the new manifold then proceed when I have time. Cheers,
Ken"They don't build 'em like they used to" And as my Dad always added... "Thank God!"
I'd solder up a manifold with several 1/2" cutoffs for future use and use a compression 3/4 or 1" to your existing supply.. might use sharkbite fittings
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Yep,What you said ponytl, shark bite fittings, to connect your new manifold...that's the ticket.
Not to hijack the thread but it looks to me as if some of your connections are leaking. Is this a common occurrence with PEX connections to copper?Thanks
Yep, they're leaking a wee bit. The realtor who sold us the house told us this type (about 13 years old) was known to leak. It had the regular colored copper rings installed on it instead of the black rings used today.
I'm going to follow the previous poster's advice and section in a new manifold and go from there. I might even look into the manabloc that works with PEX products. Keep your fingers crossed!Cheers,
Ken"They don't build 'em like they used to" And as my Dad always added... "Thank God!"