Pex manifold: copper or plastic
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Redwood
Master Plumber
I try not to use manifolds. They are for people that cannot size pipe and like to use a lot of tubing. Manifolds eliminate any possibility of hot water recirculation so there is a long wait for hot water at each fixture.
I prefer running a trunk and branch system and on a large home I may use mini-manifolds near the point of use and recirculate from the manifold.
I prefer running a trunk and branch system and on a large home I may use mini-manifolds near the point of use and recirculate from the manifold.
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Gary Slusser
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From my experience many to most plumbers don't like PEX or manifolds.
ofblong
Journeyman Industrial Mechanic, Electrical Apprent
hmm I have experienced just the opposite. How can you not like PEX? Its quicker to install, cost 1/4 of the price for the same amount of copper. I actually got turned on to PEX by the plumber who replumbed my full bathroom. I then used it for the 1/2 bath I installed myself (I am one of those that learn by watching). Maybe those that say they dont like PEX is because of the one application that it doesnt work for?????
Either way I kinda want to know the answer to the origional question.
Redwood what do you mean by cannot size pipe? I would think it easier to run the biggest line you can as close to the fixture as you can and then reduce as close to the fixture as possible. I understand what you mean about running alot of "pipe" though. I dont know much about manifolds thats why I ask. my house is full of PEX but no manifold was used.
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Master Plumber Mark
Sensitivity trainer and plumber of mens souls
Pex manifolds
they are ok, but like others said, you have to wait a
long time at each hot line for the water to arrive....
they work fine,,,
some plumbers like to see straight lines and right angles
in their plumging systems and are not willing to install
stuff that looks sloppy....
the nice thing about the pex is you can isolate each
water run at the manifold from the stop...
What Redwood is getting at is
their is no real sizeing skills needed with the manifold pex stuff and just about any moron can string the stuff up and call himself a accomplished plumber
they are ok, but like others said, you have to wait a
long time at each hot line for the water to arrive....
they work fine,,,
some plumbers like to see straight lines and right angles
in their plumging systems and are not willing to install
stuff that looks sloppy....
the nice thing about the pex is you can isolate each
water run at the manifold from the stop...
What Redwood is getting at is
their is no real sizeing skills needed with the manifold pex stuff and just about any moron can string the stuff up and call himself a accomplished plumber
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Gary Slusser
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I like PEX and think it is the best choice for potable water lines inside a house. I do not like it done in branch and tee though. It should be done using a manifold made for PEX.
ofblong
Journeyman Industrial Mechanic, Electrical Apprent
I am a do it yourselfer and to me that is UUUGGGLLLYYY. I mean at least when i did it I "mounted" the PEX to the beams to make it look nice. I guess thats more from running electrical wiring that I want it to look nice. Basically so you can tell "hey that goes here and that goes here" without having to necessarily trace wiring because they zig zag between each other.
as for 90's etc etc PEX does have fittings etc etc that make it look nice and not sloppy when you go around corners etc etc. I do have a couple curved brackets that I installed and mounted.
Thanks for the info
. I think when I goto finally build my new house (prob be another 3 years) I will go with the copper manifold. I know the local hardware store rents the tool for $10 so prob just run eveything to wherever and then rent the tool for a day and crimp everything lol. Though I do like the quick disconnect fittings even though they are double the price they make things "easier" imo.
as for 90's etc etc PEX does have fittings etc etc that make it look nice and not sloppy when you go around corners etc etc. I do have a couple curved brackets that I installed and mounted.
Thanks for the info
. I think when I goto finally build my new house (prob be another 3 years) I will go with the copper manifold. I know the local hardware store rents the tool for $10 so prob just run eveything to wherever and then rent the tool for a day and crimp everything lol. Though I do like the quick disconnect fittings even though they are double the price they make things "easier" imo.
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Redwood
Master Plumber
Take a look at this pex design guide linked below.
Design Guide Residential PEX Water Supply Plumbing Systems
My preference would be a Hybrid System that is a combination of the Trunk and Branch System shown on page 28 of the linked guide, and the Remote Manifold System shown on page 30 of the linked guide.
The Home Run Spagetti Fest on page 29 would be my last choice.
Design Guide Residential PEX Water Supply Plumbing Systems
My preference would be a Hybrid System that is a combination of the Trunk and Branch System shown on page 28 of the linked guide, and the Remote Manifold System shown on page 30 of the linked guide.
The Home Run Spagetti Fest on page 29 would be my last choice.
RayP
Vocational Instructor
Plastic bad
I pexed entire house and tried to use the pex manufacturer's manifold which was plastic. It leaked, I replaced it, it leaked, etc.. I finally bought two coppper manifolds with valves and compression fittings. Smooth sailing.
I pexed entire house and tried to use the pex manufacturer's manifold which was plastic. It leaked, I replaced it, it leaked, etc.. I finally bought two coppper manifolds with valves and compression fittings. Smooth sailing.
Redwood
Master Plumber
Let me guess Manibloc?
RayP
Vocational Instructor
No...
It was Zurn. Not sure but I think there are probably only a few manufacturers and everyone puts their own name on it.
It was Zurn. Not sure but I think there are probably only a few manufacturers and everyone puts their own name on it.
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You probably had stress on the lines or overtightened the fittings. Those are the two most common causes of compression type fitting leaks.
Any one interested in low friction loss and practicality will opt for the centralized manifold rather than how it looks.
And IMO it's usually the (plumber) guy installing it that wants to take more time and charge for it that wants it to look pretty... if you don't like the spaghetti look, hang a cover over it, build it in or otherwise hide it or don't invite family or friends, coworkers etc. etc. to look at it while you recall that the best cooks don't have fashion model good looks.
Any one interested in low friction loss and practicality will opt for the centralized manifold rather than how it looks.
And IMO it's usually the (plumber) guy installing it that wants to take more time and charge for it that wants it to look pretty... if you don't like the spaghetti look, hang a cover over it, build it in or otherwise hide it or don't invite family or friends, coworkers etc. etc. to look at it while you recall that the best cooks don't have fashion model good looks.
turkeyvulture
New Member
Plastic Pex Manifold
I wait about 50 seconds for hot water in my house plumbed with a "proper" copper, trunk-and-branch system. No wonder, it has to empty all that 3/4 and 1/2 inch line, then heat up the copper. THEN you get hot water.
So I am putting pex hot water home-runs and manifold in my DIY project on another house, with 3/8" pex to the "time sensitive" fixtures like shower and lav. My calcs say pressure will be fine and wait time about 5 seconds not 50. The manifold will be plastic (but not Manabloc or Zurn I guess!) due to acidic well water that eats copper. For cold I am putting PVC trunk and branch since there's no wait time for cold.
Anyone have experience with this kind of hybrid system?
I wait about 50 seconds for hot water in my house plumbed with a "proper" copper, trunk-and-branch system. No wonder, it has to empty all that 3/4 and 1/2 inch line, then heat up the copper. THEN you get hot water.
So I am putting pex hot water home-runs and manifold in my DIY project on another house, with 3/8" pex to the "time sensitive" fixtures like shower and lav. My calcs say pressure will be fine and wait time about 5 seconds not 50. The manifold will be plastic (but not Manabloc or Zurn I guess!) due to acidic well water that eats copper. For cold I am putting PVC trunk and branch since there's no wait time for cold.
Anyone have experience with this kind of hybrid system?
Gonna side with Red here. Home run manifold systems are wastefull of piping and lead to long wait times to get hot wate to the faucet. I much prefer to use a modified manifold system where small 2 to 3 outlet manifolds are installed very close to the fixtures served. This saves a lot op pipe and time.
hj
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You think so?
And IMO it's usually the (plumber) guy installing it that wants to take more time and charge for it that wants it to look pretty... if you don't like the spaghetti look, hang a cover over it, build it in or otherwise hide it or don't invite family or friends, coworkers etc. etc. to look at it while you recall that the best cooks don't have fashion model good looks
Well, that is an interesting idea. I always tell people it doesn't take any longer to do it right than it does to just throw things together. An alternative way of saying it, "If you do not have the time to do it correctly, when will you even have time to do it over?"
And IMO it's usually the (plumber) guy installing it that wants to take more time and charge for it that wants it to look pretty... if you don't like the spaghetti look, hang a cover over it, build it in or otherwise hide it or don't invite family or friends, coworkers etc. etc. to look at it while you recall that the best cooks don't have fashion model good looks
Well, that is an interesting idea. I always tell people it doesn't take any longer to do it right than it does to just throw things together. An alternative way of saying it, "If you do not have the time to do it correctly, when will you even have time to do it over?"
turkeyvulture
New Member
Pex Spaghetti
As to the spaghetti look, seems like this is a matter of intelligent placement and orientation of manifold and routing of pex tubing to make it look nice. Anything can be made ugly by carelessness.
As to the spaghetti look, seems like this is a matter of intelligent placement and orientation of manifold and routing of pex tubing to make it look nice. Anything can be made ugly by carelessness.
I have had to repair quite a few of the old manabloc manifolds. Not sure about the newer incarnation of the product but it seems like overkill to me anyway. Good in a summer camp though when it comes time to blow it down for the winter.
