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HD6GTOM 
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Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Location: MADISON CO IA
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 Topic: Pex tubing
Posted: 31 Aug 2020 at 4:25pm |
1st time using it. Got the tubing and bands last night. Old gal got her water heater for this dang trailer today. Can ya hook it directly to the water heater or do I need adapt kit. Gotta sit down tonight and figure out the fittings she needs. Dang old gal, I never get any rest. It's a pain when you retire and then find out ya need a hired man just to keep up with the work at home. 
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steve(ill)
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 87853
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Posted: 31 Aug 2020 at 4:36pm |
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I put a 4 inch long nipple ( 3/4 inch) in the top of the water heater, then put the brass adapter from 3/4 pipe to 3/4 PEX.... then slide the pex over and install the stainless crimp band clamp .... been that way for 10 years now.... If your going down to 1/2 inch pex, you would need an additional reducer...... I recommend going with 3/4 PEX in and out.. then to a manifold with 1/2 inch outlets to each area........ If your doing a small trailer, that might not be a big deal.
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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john(MI)
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: SE MI
Points: 9262
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Posted: 31 Aug 2020 at 7:23pm |
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I've never done pex, but have heard to borrow or rent a commercial crimping tool or you will be fixing leaks.
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Dakota Dave
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: ND
Points: 3971
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Posted: 31 Aug 2020 at 9:51pm |
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Best to use a shark bite fitting on a short piece of pipe. Crimp the rest with rings. I've used the screw clamp tool for many years never had one leak even the camper ones that have been frozen a couple times. If you put a shark bit at the end when you need to replace the water heater you can just take apart with the removal tool instead of cutting the crimped end and being to short to put a new one in.
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jaybmiller
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Greensville,Ont
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Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 6:05am |
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hmm, would it be a good idea to add shutoff valves(full flow, ball valves) with unions at the water heater,now ???
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3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112
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plummerscarin
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Joined: 22 Jun 2015
Location: ia
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Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 6:42am |
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Definitely put a shut off valve on the inlet side. Optional on outlet side. There is an adapter ready made that screws on to the water heater and accepts the PEX tubing without need for shark bite fitting. It is copper and 18" long. Some have the valve as part of the assembly. Is available at any big box store and doesn't get much easier than that.
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truckerfarmer
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Joined: 26 Jan 2013
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Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 6:57am |
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OK, this may be a dumb question. But, is there really a need for shut off valves in this application?
Edited by truckerfarmer - 01 Sep 2020 at 6:58am
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Looking at the past to see the future.
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Kansas99
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Joined: 26 Feb 2015
Location: W Kansas
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Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 7:04am |
If it's a trailer you might find that the pex that it came with will be thinner than what you bought. I ran into this problem when I added a sink and shower and also a constant flow hot water heater. I didn't feel like running a bunch of new pex so I used shark bites and rapped electrical tape around the bushing until it fit tight in the trailer pex. Shoved them together and 7 years later still no issues, kinda some southern engineering but it worked.
I should have added that the outside of the pex will be the same the inside will be larger, thus thinner pex but the shark bite will bite just needs a little bigger bushing to hold the pex open and tight.
I didn't use the ring clamps because the pex was belled and somewhat loose and didn't look good to me after clamping to a barb that was too small, so I opted for what I did above.
Edited by Kansas99 - 01 Sep 2020 at 7:10am
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plummerscarin
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Joined: 22 Jun 2015
Location: ia
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Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 7:15am |
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I think there is an adapter that will connect the two types together
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Kansas99
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Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 7:53am |
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Ya there probably is it's just a matter of a different thickness of wall, I know all the originals were band clamps so they do make the right one for the pex that the trailer had, just couldn't find it at the local hardware store.
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"Thank you for your service Joe & the Ho"-----Joseph Stalin
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Clay
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Udall, Kansas
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Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 9:02am |
PEX is easy. Works great. Another great use of PEX rings is garden hoses and air hoses. No more cutting hands on clamps or fittings slipping.
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jaybmiller
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Greensville,Ont
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Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 11:55am |
re: But, is there really a need for shut off valves in this application?
depends on where the water goes....if it goes higher than the tank, then the piping will allow the water to drain all over the heater,floor and you...... best have a few rags ready.....
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3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112
Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor)
Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water
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desertjoe
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Location: New mexico
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Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 1:43pm |
For those that still want to use the compression band type PEC fittings,,,most of the lumber yards no longer loan or rent the compression tool to crimp the bands. altho,,all is not lost. A friend gave me a crimper tool that had the 1/2", 3/4" and 1" dies but the tool had quite a bit shorter arms,,,, The tool was made of cast iron,,so I machined and threaded some new handles and added some 12" extensions. He said he bought them at Home depot and were only $12 each.
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steve(ill)
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
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Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 3:31pm |
I've never done pex, but have heard to borrow or rent a commercial crimping tool or you will be fixing leaks.
I have used the 1/2 and 3/4 inch stainless band clamps that you PINCH to compress.. I have a tool i bought for $35. Probably have done 500 fittings and maybe had ONE leak.
and yes, the PEX is also great for air lines around the shop.... also buried one out to the barn.
Edited by steve(ill) - 01 Sep 2020 at 3:34pm
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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DonBC
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Courtenay, BC,
Points: 944
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Posted: 01 Sep 2020 at 3:37pm |
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Most codes require at least 18" of copper before starting with pex. It is easy to go from copper to pex with a shark fitting.
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