
Most homes and buildings are equipped with copper plumbing pipes. PEX piping provides better insulation for your water compared to rigid piping. Most homes experience fewer pressure drops when accessing water through their PEX manifold system as well.ĥ.
#Pex manifold system install#
That means you need fewer fittings for this system when compared to rigid piping, reducing the amount of time required to install the system. Because PEX provides flexible tubing, it can be bent in ways that traditional plumbing options cannot. You can even use 3/8-inch supply lines with this system. The plumbing manifolds associated with this system will accept all common supply line sizes. All standard supply line sizes are accepted by the PEX manifold system. That gives you a water distribution method that is often more efficient than the traditional systems which are still being used in many of today’s structures.Ĥ. Then install the manifold at each location, ensuring there are enough ports available to adequately support every fixture. Make sure outdoor fixtures and automatic units, such as an ice maker, are included in the calculation. Just count the number of fixtures that will be used, or the location of your cold and hot water supplies. It is a scalable system that is appropriate for most buildings.Īlthough the PEX manifold system is often promoted as a residential option, you can install them in commercial buildings as well. You’re no longer forced to restrict water access for extended periods to the entire home.ģ.

That means you can work on your fixture by turning off the specific manifold that runs tubing to the unit. When you use a PEX manifold system, you’re able to turn off the supply from a central location. That drains your plumbing, which can lead to odor, sediment, and other problems when you restore water access. When you’re trying to work on a specific fixture, you may find it necessary to turn off the supply before it enters your plumbing system. You can turn off the water at a central location. If the water freezes in your pipes, the expansion caused by the action makes it resistant to damage during the winter months.Ģ. The tubing used can expand by up to 15% without bursting. If you install the flexible PEX tubing in your home (a requirement if you’re using the PEX manifold system in most situations), then there is a greater resiliency built into the system for changing temperatures. PEX plumbing can expand without bursting. List of the Pros of a PEX Manifold Systemġ. If you’re thinking about a remodeling project at home or your work involves new construction, then here are some of the PEX manifold system pros and cons to evaluate. The cold line is served by the primary supply to the building, whereas the hot line is fed from the water heater or tankless system.

Separate manifold chambers are used to serve the cold and hot water lines. That means each fixture goes straight to the manifold instead of a trunk line. Cold or hot water is then delivered through the flexible PEX supply lines, creating connections to the individual fixtures in the home or building. Under the typical system, the manifolds will serve as the control centers for the plumbing in the building. Although this method of water distribution is relatively new for residential projects, the home-building industry has come to accept this type of setup as a best practice. PEX manifold systems, along with PEX plastic piping, create several potential advantages for homeowners, contractors, and remodelers compared to the standard rigid plumbing system designs of previous generations.
