Red cold expansion PEX leaking and brittle in a 2018 home

[mackimacki]

Hello,

I know similar threads are posted often, but I'm trying to understand what I should do with this.
I have a 2018 home in TX built using cold expansion PEX. Recently, I discovered a small leak in an inside wall between the garage and the house, just behind the water heater. After removing the heater and section of the wall, I found the PEX pipe was squirting a tiny stream of water. Attached are the picture. I replaced the section myself with PEX and clamps, and there is no leak for now, as I did not want to try cold expansion for possibly already brittle pipe. The rest of the pipe looked good (nice red color) as far as I could see in the wall - but the section I cut out had weird color and was not flexible. The leak was above the joint and the size of a pinhole so I had no real damage. The heater temperature is set to 115F, and the pressure relief valve seems to work correctly. I also have an expansion tank installed on the cold line.

I sent the piece to Uponor for investigation but I'm not even sure if this is their pipe or what should I do next - prepare for tearing down all walls (and kitchen island floor - where the pipes go under the polished concrete)? Or wait until I notice another leak. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Peter

 

[Breplum]

Looks like Uponor classic Red leaks. No other company made anything that cracks the way your pictures show.
The pipe should say Uponor printed at intervals and for them to deal with it they usually want the product mfr date. They send subcontractor crew of pipe replacement specialists who do replacement of pipe where they deem necessary and all drywall repairs as well.
I have seen a few in my area where the homeowners refused Uponor's "we will only send crews to fix a specific leak" and held their feet to the fire, so on these two cases the entire house was repiped. Serious, four bathroom homes. On the 70 local condos that have the pipe they are only playing whack-a-leak.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[JohnCT]

On the 70 local condos that have the pipe they are only playing whack-a-leak.

For how long I wonder? The pattern I've seen on these cases is that the interval between leaks drops as time goes by.

John