PEX Plumbing - Page 2

iamgeo · 03-05-14, 07:56 AM

Funny you should ask.

Monday morning I awake to frozen pipes. As the day progressed, the pipes started to thaw. As you can see here the 3/4 inch PEX and CPVC was pushed right out of the connectors. Damaged them on the inside. No busted pipes or tubing though.

stevehull · 03-05-14, 08:49 AM

MN Renevator,

Yes, PEX expands if ice forms and then goes back to former state when thawed with no ice or future problems.

Steve

jeff5may · 03-05-14, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamgeo

Funny you should ask.

Monday morning I awake to frozen pipes. As the day progressed, the pipes started to thaw. As you can see here the 3/4 inch PEX and CPVC was pushed right out of the connectors. Damaged them on the inside. No busted pipes or tubing though.

That's the thing about the push-lock or shark bite fittings. They go together a little easier with less tools, but when the ice hits the fan, the ice wins. With the crimp or compression fittings, they are strong enough that the pipe will stretch.

The theory behind it is this: In a run exposed equally to sub-freezing temps, the metal fitting will freeze first, due to its higher thermal conductivity. The expanding ice water will grow into the pex pipe. The pipe stretches and the fitting survives. If the run is not equally exposed to cold and the pipe freezes first, the metal fitting may not survive. Same thing during thaw.

Mikesolar · 03-20-14, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamgeo

Funny you should ask.

Monday morning I awake to frozen pipes. As the day progressed, the pipes started to thaw. As you can see here the 3/4 inch PEX and CPVC was pushed right out of the connectors. Damaged them on the inside. No busted pipes or tubing though.

Wow, for the number of sharkbite fittings I see in your pics, you could have afforded the PEX crimp tool.

iamgeo · 03-22-14, 10:36 AM

There are quite a few. I like the idea of being able to remove the fittings at will. That's why I went with those type fittings.

03-05-14, 08:49 AM	#12
stevehull Steve Hull Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: hilly, tree covered Arcadia, OK USA Posts: 826 Thanks: 241 Thanked 165 Times in 123 Posts	MN Renevator, Yes, PEX expands if ice forms and then goes back to former state when thawed with no ice or future problems. Steve __________________ consulting on geothermal heating/cooling & rational energy use since 1990

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03-05-14, 07:56 AM	#11
iamgeo Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lakehills, Tx Posts: 168 Thanks: 4 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	Funny you should ask. Monday morning I awake to frozen pipes. As the day progressed, the pipes started to thaw. As you can see here the 3/4 inch PEX and CPVC was pushed right out of the connectors. Damaged them on the inside. No busted pipes or tubing though.

03-22-14, 10:36 AM	#15
iamgeo Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lakehills, Tx Posts: 168 Thanks: 4 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	There are quite a few. I like the idea of being able to remove the fittings at will. That's why I went with those type fittings.