I’m not pleased with the manifold and filter setup that our plumber built. See pics.
I’m going to fasten a large piece of 3/4″ ply to the wall as a base. For the manifold, I’m thinking about one of these:
http://www.viega.net/4741.htm
But I haven’t come up with a nifty way to securely hang the filters. Whenever I change the cartridge the PEX pipe flexes all over the place and will eventually leak.
Any bright ideas?
Thanks.
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Replies
Well
I would think that some two hole straps would take care of the flopping around, poorly hung situation you have.
Or,
Pipe it in copper and mount that good-take the pex to that.
>>>Pipe it in copper and
>>>Pipe it in copper and mount that good-take the pex to that.
That's what I was thinking... copper or brass, but how do you mount it securely? I was thinking about fastening a couple of 2x6 boards on edge and running the rigid pipe through them. I'll whip up a picture....just a minute.
Scott
Whatever you like is what you should do.
The important thing is that you can swap out the filter w/o your current piping bothering you.
The fittings on pex can take all sorts of flopping around w/o leaking. That a changeable part is in the mix is not right. Both sides of that filter should be held down. The rest is pretty much cosmetic-which using pex pretty much limits your outcome.
In the case of the manifold, once that's securely mounted, the piping is run to it and held in position. What you do to the branches around it is up to you.
In many cases, pex isn't fastened down which looks terrible. Add a couple shutoffs and it becomes aggravating.
Whatever you come up with will surely be better than what you got.
Edit: Oh yeah, those taped joints should have been finished b/4 the finished plumbing was run.
Here's what I'm thinking (see PDF).
>>>Edit: Oh yeah, those taped joints should have been finished b/4 the finished plumbing was run.
You mean the drywall? Oh heck, this is just a mechanical room. I might get around to making it "look" good one of these decades.
Heck yes................
That drywall unfinished means no paint.
When you splash water on that exposed wallboard changing the filter it'll look terrible. About as terrible as that pex run.
Are you showing running pipe through blocking fastened to the wall? That would work and stand off the filter making for a decent twisting when necessary.
Since it's going to be trapped in those blocks...............might consider a union on each side-so you can pull the filter and the filter head w/o pulling the pipes apart from the blocks.
Or, mount wood-use straps to mount the pipes...............
best of luck.
>>>That drywall unfinished
>>>That drywall unfinished means no paint.
>>>When you splash water on that exposed wallboard changing the filter it'll look terrible. About as terrible as that pex run.
Good points. Like I said, I'll be covering it all up with some 3/4" ply, so maybe I'll paint that.
Thanks for the brains.
There should be holes in those lugs on the top of the filter, designed to take stubby sheet-metal screws (be sure the screws are not too long!). Get a couple of heavy L brackets and drill them to fit the holes, attach the brackets, then attach the other legs of the Ls to a piece of plywood screwed to the wall. (Or, if you live near Junkhound, have him dig up an appropriately shaped piece of heavy sheet metal so you can do it all with one piece.)
If no holes then you'll have to devise some sort of stand-off bracket that will allow you to clamp the pipe fittings.
>>>There should be holes in
>>>There should be holes in those lugs on the top of the filter, designed to take stubby sheet-metal screws (be sure the screws are not too long!).
Agreed, there should be but there ain't.
HD even has a nice metal bracket for this brand (GE) that they feature in their store displays, but do you think they sell the bracket???? Nope; not even by special order.
So stand-off bracket it is.
Small appliance parts store............
We have a small appl. store uptown that has damn near every odd ball thing related to appliances.............(water filer?)
Even had the brackets for DW cabinet mount (not included).
Might try one of those if you can find one-Did GE offer to sell you one?
>>>Did GE offer to sell you
>>>Did GE offer to sell you one?
Nope. At least not through HD. It doesn't even appear in their catalog.
I'll look around in some of the smaller stores like you say. Otherwise, it seems pretty easy to make one up.
Don't forget...
to leave plenty of room for the filter wrench... and a little extra for something to give it a tap <G>
Ya might also want to get something like a rectangular trash bin to stick under the unit... nothing like an orange Fe mess on the floor and walls when you're swapping out filters and the gasket disappears.
At least this part is figured out.... There's a bypass valve built into these units that passes unfiltered water through for the few minutes that it takes to swap filters.
You still want the space to set up a tub or bucket below the filter. I have a shelf built under mine that takes a plastic dishpan. And paint the wall with oil paint or apply some sort of waterproof covering, 'cause you WILL splash on it.
Yeah, I don't understand why the bracket isn't included (other than the fact that everyone likes cut costs and prop up their profit margins). Even with copper piping you need the bracket.
I had a filter in a house with super hard water - I could gravel my driveway with the sediment that collected in the pipes.
I always had a problem with scaling on the treads of the filter, and mine hung loose like yours too. I started using a plumbers silicone grease on the threads, and that helped out alot.
Where the bracket go?
Most of the filters this size I have dealt with had mounting brackets. It looks to me that there is a mount on the top of the filter housing, that is meant to attach it to a bracket.
Bypass HomeDesperate: Get on the GE's website and see if they will send you a replacement.
You are a living example of why so many avoid GE products
Cuz often they just won't provide parts, and you will pay so dearly when there are parts available. Good luck dealing direct with them.