guitarfish
Member
Thinking out loud here...
Our home was built in 2000, and there have been a lot of plumbing woes along the way. 4 years ago I found there was around 45v of current running through my pipes because of a faulty piece of Romex that had some current leaking to ground. We were already blowing through water heaters every 4-5 years, and had started getting pinhole leaks. I corrected the current issue immediately, but I guess the damage was done. This past week I got the 5th leak in the last 4 years, and I am giving up on the copper. The last thing I need is to start getting leaks in walls that I can't easily get to.
I've been researching, reading and planning, and I hope to start late summer once some other projects are done. So far, I'm planning to go with a 24-port Manabloc. A plumber friend installs these in new homes, and recommended it. I'd like to go with crimp rings instead of SS clamps.
As for the actual install, I am planning to put in some copper tees to the existing cold and hot supply lines, and run 3/4" PEX to the Manabloc. So the Manabloc will be "live" alongside my existing copper. Once that's done, I can start running the PEX. I can do 10 lines of tubing to fixtures on the ground and first floor pretty easily. As I do those I will cut & cap the copper. The harder part of the project will be the remaining 10 lines which need to go to the second floor.
When everything is finally running off the Manabloc, I'll remove the unused copper. I'll also revisit the water supply lines, remove the tees, and make cleaner connections to the system.
I've done a lot of reading up on the Manabloc, including problems people have had with them. I'd appreciate thoughts and feedback. I have time yet to change course if it comes to that.
Our home was built in 2000, and there have been a lot of plumbing woes along the way. 4 years ago I found there was around 45v of current running through my pipes because of a faulty piece of Romex that had some current leaking to ground. We were already blowing through water heaters every 4-5 years, and had started getting pinhole leaks. I corrected the current issue immediately, but I guess the damage was done. This past week I got the 5th leak in the last 4 years, and I am giving up on the copper. The last thing I need is to start getting leaks in walls that I can't easily get to.
I've been researching, reading and planning, and I hope to start late summer once some other projects are done. So far, I'm planning to go with a 24-port Manabloc. A plumber friend installs these in new homes, and recommended it. I'd like to go with crimp rings instead of SS clamps.
As for the actual install, I am planning to put in some copper tees to the existing cold and hot supply lines, and run 3/4" PEX to the Manabloc. So the Manabloc will be "live" alongside my existing copper. Once that's done, I can start running the PEX. I can do 10 lines of tubing to fixtures on the ground and first floor pretty easily. As I do those I will cut & cap the copper. The harder part of the project will be the remaining 10 lines which need to go to the second floor.
When everything is finally running off the Manabloc, I'll remove the unused copper. I'll also revisit the water supply lines, remove the tees, and make cleaner connections to the system.
I've done a lot of reading up on the Manabloc, including problems people have had with them. I'd appreciate thoughts and feedback. I have time yet to change course if it comes to that.