We're re-doing a bathroom and are in the process of demolishing it, our house was re-plumbed with PEX (crosslinked HDPE tubing) sometime before we bought it and the damnfool idoits that ran the tubing ran it throught the cabinet instead of through the studs or dropping it down from the attic (all the lines are in the attic but we're in Orlando and the stuff is freeze resistant so that shouldn't be a problem) at the place where the sink is. Two things, wife is not sure if she wants the sink in the same place as before and I need to run the lines through the studs instead of through the cabinet, studs are 2x6's. What I would like to know is, how hard is it to work with this PEX stuff if we want to move the sink and can I safely run it throught the studs or should I run a line back to the manifold (I don't even know if there is a manifold for this stuff installed, based on what I've seen of the other things that were done to this house there probably isn't one) and drop it where the wife wants the sink. Do you kneed special tools to work with it? It looks like the PEX is connected with brass fittings and some kind of compression rings. Your thoughts? Thanks!
I think my new house has it, didn't know what it was called though. Is this the red and blue flexible lines?
I just demolished and rebuilt my bathroom. Didn't have to deal with PEX, but there are transition pieces to/from just about any combination of pipes. I would just chop off whatever you want to get rid of, and transition to whatever you're comfortable with (maybe copper or pvc?).
PEX is a godsend provided you take care with the fittings. If you are a handy, and mindful of taking the time to doublecheck all connections there should be no problem. I would advise against going BACK to Copper - PEX is cheaper and much easier to work with. Go to a local plumbing supply store to get the crimper for the connections and ask a few questions. They'll be able to make you a pro in very little time.
PEX is a pretty damn good product, and easy to use. I do mostly commercial plumbing, so I haven't used it on a job yet, but it won't be long. (Engineers and plumbers are very skeptical about these new products) I would just tie on to the existing Pex and rock 'n roll. Try a couple fittings to get the feel of it, and just make sure you test it thoroughly before you sheetrock.
