Plumbing question

[pierhogunn]

I am installing a whole-house water filter, I don't have any problems, or concerns assembling and plumbing together the filter itself, my only anxiety is around making the connection to the house water supply.

after the shutoff valve, there is a brass bell looking thing, that says it is set for 45psi, I figure that's some sort of backflow thing, after that there is a red piece of pex that is connected to a copper elbow and from there the copper elbow is connected to a white piece of tubing that runs into the wall


the pex is connected to the copper elbow with a black crimp band, and the copper elbow is connected to the white tube with another one of those black crimp bands also

the water filter uses 1" PVC, so I would like to use PVC to tie into the PEX.

now on to the questions

1. how do I cut the PEX, any special tools needed to accomplish this cleanly, and w/out tearing anything up?

2. what do I use to connect the PEX to the PVC, any chemicals, cements required, suggested?

3. I imagine that I will have to use some sort of crimp bands to seal/connect the PEX to the PVC, will I have to use a copper intermediary piece?

4. Am I out of my league?

5. Should I open the faucets in the house and allow the water to drain out before making the connections?

6. Once all of this is in place what do I do If I have a leak?

Dan

[ironhat]

I'm not your man to solve all of these issues but I recently worked on PEX with the help of a friend. While it cuts easily using a hacksaw or the cutters used for PVC the bands require a special tool. The tool is abut $100 bucks and each size of pipe requires a different band (bought in a pack of 10, min) and a different crimping tool. You need a buddy with the correct tools or you're going to be deep in equipment that you will only use for this one job. If I hadn't had that buddy I would have farmed it out to a plumber.

[charliex]

What Chiz says in spades. I do copper, iron pipe, PVC....Etc. Pex does require special tools. On the good side if there is any chance that you will ever need the tools again I have always found that to be the way to go. A plumber will most likely cost more than the tools plus you learn a new skill. Good luck.
Chas

[ironhat]

You're a dangerus character, Chas... buying the tools in case you ever do the job again... I like it! I'm in that stage of life that my desire to bend over backwards and feel like heck for a week is trumped by the ability to pay the plumber, in this case.

[pierhogunn]

I spoke with the plumber that for some reason works at Lowes part time... he informed me that another lowes, right over the city line, will rent to me, the crimper for $10/day

and that there is a crimp fitting that takes PEX to PVC .

yay, here we go

[crokett]

Dan,

Look into Sharkbite. Tooless push-on connectors and removeable if you screw up. I know it sounds a bit fishy but I used them over a year ago when I moved my washer (because I knew it would be moving again - don't ask) and nary a leak. I have new pex connected to the existing copper. I believe they will also connect to PVC.

The BORGs sell them now, as do plumbing supply places but you will get better advice at the supply place.

[ironhat]

Man, Dan, you fell face down in the mud and came up with a pearl... an experienced tradesperson working in Lowe's! I'm going to infor my buddy who helped me (he's not a plumber - just owns rental properties) about the Sharkbite that David brought up.

[crokett]

Man, Dan, you fell face down in the mud and came up with a pearl... an experienced tradesperson working in Lowe's! .

They do exist. My local HD has a guy in the plumbing section who is a semi-retired plumber. He also used to work at a pump/filter factory that is in the area. I asked him why he is working at the BORG. He said he enjoys helping people, hours are easier (doesn't really need to work) than full-time plumbing and schedule is flexible enough that he can moonlight on jobs if he wants to.