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pachai · 06-02-11, 01:54 PM

My radiant tubes have been installed.

(By the way, I had them make 2 loops
around the inside of the tub and a loop
in the bathroom wall for a towel bar
if there is time, per Radiantec's How-To).
The nice thing about HEATING pipes is,
if there is loss, it is OK - where will it go?
Into the room that needs the heat.

Now it is time to pressure test.
But I have 12 loops which is 24 cable ends.
I went to my local general plumbing supplier
and he said you need a special tool for PEX.

Did he mean you MUST have the same
branded tool as the bands you want to use?
Or did he mean that he sells this tool and
it helps him make his budget?

So he could not sell me a manifold
because I am not ready to spend $20 on a manifold
and $250 on a crimping tool.

Can I use the crimper I use on 2/0 cable? :-)
Are these questions I should ask in Home Desperate?
I don't think I have the luxury of waiting for mail order.

(I asked about shark bites, and the cost to make
a manifold out of shark bites would be more
than the cost of the tool....

Thanks
Seth

PS be careful with the nails. The plumber (name witheld
to protect the guilty) first used 2" nails. Then he used
3/4" nails. Slightly less mess....

No problem, at least in their view, his worker knows
how to use an angle grinder.

06-02-11, 01:54 PM	#120
pachai Renovator-in-planning Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 85 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Manifold My radiant tubes have been installed. (By the way, I had them make 2 loops around the inside of the tub and a loop in the bathroom wall for a towel bar if there is time, per Radiantec's How-To). The nice thing about HEATING pipes is, if there is loss, it is OK - where will it go? Into the room that needs the heat. Now it is time to pressure test. But I have 12 loops which is 24 cable ends. I went to my local general plumbing supplier and he said you need a special tool for PEX. Did he mean you MUST have the same branded tool as the bands you want to use? Or did he mean that he sells this tool and it helps him make his budget? So he could not sell me a manifold because I am not ready to spend $20 on a manifold and $250 on a crimping tool. Can I use the crimper I use on 2/0 cable? :-) Are these questions I should ask in Home Desperate? I don't think I have the luxury of waiting for mail order. (I asked about shark bites, and the cost to make a manifold out of shark bites would be more than the cost of the tool.... Thanks Seth PS be careful with the nails. The plumber (name witheld to protect the guilty) first used 2" nails. Then he used 3/4" nails. Slightly less mess.... No problem, at least in their view, his worker knows how to use an angle grinder.