Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 04, 2000 06:46am | #1

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   If I understand the question, then yes and no. There are pre-made manifolds for hot water heating systems such as radiant floor heat, for steam heat, and for drip irrigation. But for water supply in copper pipe, no one uses a pre-made manifold, just reducing tees (like 1 x 3/4 x 3/4 and 3/4 x 3/4 x 1/2) to supply each leg to different rooms and ultimately to supply each fixture. These fittings can either be installed within the wall cavities with the rest of the piping or left exposed in a utility room (but you have to sheetrock behind them). Nomenclature of tees: The first and second numbers are the straight-through openings, larger size specified first. The third number is the opening that turns off the straight-though run. As a "T" is written on the page, it is the (top size) x (top size) x (bottom size). Or were you asking about one of the plastic piping systems?

   Peter Hemp's "Plumbing a House" book details how to calculate the minimum sizes, but here's the short answer: 1/2" to each fixture, 3/4" to each room. 3/4" incoming service to a small house when the city gives you good pressure. 1" incoming for a large house or if the neighbors complain of poor pressure. Apart from this question, get the book. It's very good and can teach an experienced plumber a thing or two and the clever or somewhat practiced homeowner a lot. -David

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   Guest_ | Aug 04, 2000 01:00pm | #2

   *David is correct that perhaps not that many people use them. However, at least one manufacturer makes manifolds that can be used for domestic water. Wirsbo makes copper manifolds that could be used for this with regular copper piping, but they also make manifolds that are intended for use with Aquapex. In fact, the most practical way to plumb a house with Aquapex is to use a manifold, generally speaking.

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   Guest_ | Aug 04, 2000 01:26pm | #3

   *A common name here is "Alberta Manifold".It helps to keep the pressure even throughout the zones and is used in both heating and domestic water.Basically, its a 1 1/2 copper pipe that has a series of 1/2 pipe welded on top and is capped at one end and an inlet at the other end.Gabe

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   Guest_ | Aug 04, 2000 11:43pm | #4

   *My nephew's new house is not plumbed in copper, but in flexible plastic. This is not the old butyl but new stuff (pex??). All the piping does indeed run throught a manifold. I guess there are no T's since it would appear that every fixture is supplied with hot and cold lines directly from the manifold.

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   Guest_ | Aug 05, 2000 12:21pm | #5

   *Quentin,Sioux Chief makes brazed Type L Cu mainifolds in many configuations cheaper than you could buy the tees and ells. I used the once and they seem like a good product.http://www.siouxchief.com/Frm_MS.cfmGet their catalog - it's better then the web site.Jerry

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   Guest_ | Aug 05, 2000 03:22pm | #6

   *Typically there are two methods of plumbing used when piping with PEX. One is similar to that used with hard piping. You run a large "trunk" pipe and tee off it to the various rooms and fixtures.The other is the "home run" method. In that instance, a main pipe supplies a manifold and from there you run separate lines to each fixture. Theoretically you get no pressure drop at any fixture when you turn on another faucet or flush a toilet. There is a one manifold for cold water, another for hot.Vangard, one of the PEX manufacturers, makes a manifold called a MANABLOC that includes valves for each outlet so you can just go to the manifold and shut off any line to any fixture.

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   Guest_ | Aug 12, 2000 09:20pm | #8

   *Vangard has excellent customer support and makes a great product at a fair price. They supplied me with their design manual and software at no cost. The connections are almost fool proof. If you have minimal plumbing experience Vangard's product line is recommended.

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   Quentin_Leggett | Aug 12, 2000 09:20pm | #7

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   Is there such a thing as a manifold for distributing water to different parts of the house?