neporcupine
Member
PEX is growing on me for some applications
My softener went out, and we went back and forth between a size that would accommodate our needs most of the time versus a bigger one that is more appropriately sized for the home. Considering there was little price difference, we went bigger. There was a big height difference between new versus old, so I had to re plumb things a bit. At first, I really wanted to just shorten up the existing copper and find a union to the 1” NPT on the softener. However, the unions I found were quite pricey, it would have left me with more soldered joints, and I had concerns about imparting any torque or torsion forces across the existing copper to get it to union with the threads on the softener.
Enter PEX…..
I have seen entire houses plumbed for years with PEX, and it has made me cringe. (Get off my lawn, we keep making everything cheaper!) However, here, I think it is actually better. It’s inherent flexibility (and cost advantage) I think actually makes it better than copper.
I had no problem sweating on the brass adapter to the 3/4 copper with just your usual propane torch, but if I was dealing with bigger pipe or bigger brass fittings, a MAPP torch would be better.
So, in conclusion, I still keep my old school copper and sweat joints for most applications, but for this, PEX actually seems better.
Just my two cents….
My softener went out, and we went back and forth between a size that would accommodate our needs most of the time versus a bigger one that is more appropriately sized for the home. Considering there was little price difference, we went bigger. There was a big height difference between new versus old, so I had to re plumb things a bit. At first, I really wanted to just shorten up the existing copper and find a union to the 1” NPT on the softener. However, the unions I found were quite pricey, it would have left me with more soldered joints, and I had concerns about imparting any torque or torsion forces across the existing copper to get it to union with the threads on the softener.
Enter PEX…..
I have seen entire houses plumbed for years with PEX, and it has made me cringe. (Get off my lawn, we keep making everything cheaper!) However, here, I think it is actually better. It’s inherent flexibility (and cost advantage) I think actually makes it better than copper.
I had no problem sweating on the brass adapter to the 3/4 copper with just your usual propane torch, but if I was dealing with bigger pipe or bigger brass fittings, a MAPP torch would be better.
So, in conclusion, I still keep my old school copper and sweat joints for most applications, but for this, PEX actually seems better.
Just my two cents….
