Hi,
I need to replace some of my copper lines and I’ve noticed that the vertical sections of copper that come out of the floor to the shutoffs are free to pull upwards a few inches. Is this normal or should there be some kind of riser clamp preventing the vertical sections from moving around? And what do you do in the case of vertical pex runs for similar situations, do you secure them?
The copper is quite corroded likely from 1975ish and didn’t help that who ever install or modified it used coat hangers to hang some of the horizontal sections and that in sections two different branch lines were touching. Both places had/have pin hole leaks.
Also I’ve starting using some of the shark bite fittings – solder less push on connectors – for the water supply and was wondering if anyone had any opinions on them. How good are they? Should last as long as the pex? Longer than copper? Would you seal them up in your wall?
Thanks,
learner
Replies
There is usually a clamp on the risers to attach them to a stud, joist, whatever. Best -- a drop ear elbow. If the installer was cheap/in a hurry, it's just a pipe strap, probably lose by now.
For PEX, you can either just use the PEX as a riser an have a good, but awful looking, install, or you can use a copper riser with a PEX fitting on the end. I prefer the latter, but the former is fine, especially where looks don't count, like under a sink in a cab, or in the basement.
Shark Bites are fine -- or so I gather by reading all the glowing reports on this forum. I have never used them myself because I'm set up for Wirsbo PEX fittings, so I have never had the need. If you're doing more than a couple, do yourself a favor and get the PEX fitting tools. I like the Wirsbo system -- harder to muck up a joint and fits into tight spaces -- but you should consider purchasing the tool that will work for the fittings you can get.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Hey Mike. I had to replumb some of my sister's house last month, using PEX to replace some copper, used the shark bite fittings for the transistion and they seem to work great. All of the fittings are in the basement so I can keep an eye on them over the years (like I am going to be around that long). Also just did the rough-in for my son's house in Fl, everyone remarks about the Red and Blue supply lines. Hey, what about Energy Reduction?
"Hey, what about Energy Reduction?"
They're still there. Stop in every time I can find and excuse to do so. Nice guys.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
I've used some Sharkbite fittings myself. No leaks so far(oldest is 6 months or so?).
They're more expensive than crimp rings of course, but it just didn't make sense for me to buy a pex clamp kit considering how rarely I'd need it.
Hey, I talked with with the office 2 weeks ago, Mark is gone and they said that they were not filling any new orders. going out of business.
Whoa! MAJOR bummer.
May have to stop over and say goodbye.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
Tell me about it. Buying online, but it is costing me 10-15% more and Mark is not on the other end of the phone.
Sharkbite connectors rely on a rubber O ring to seal. There are lots of other places in a house where that is also the case, but they are all exposed and easily changed. I wouldn't use them where I couldn't get at them.
When you use PEX you get to the point of not putting ANY fittings where you can't get to them, but I agree, it is an O-ring that is the heart of the fitting. Wondering what elements in the water will do over time.
Good point. O rings always seem to fail at about the 10 year mark for me at least all the Moen shower cartridges have - wouldn't be great to have a bunch of the fittings in the finished ceiling fail 10 years down the line.
To be fair, it was Plumberbill that brought the rubber thing up in an earlier thread.
Everything that has gone wrong in houses I have worked on has been the result of water damage in one form or another. I just don't want to add another potential source of grief.