water leaks in TEXAS .....

[Jim Jensen]

https://www.fox4news.com/news/pipe-emergencies-continue-across-north-texas-as-thawing-begins
gotta feel sorry for the people of Texas, victims of "GREEN" energy !!!!

JJ in Jax, FL

 

[Twowaxhack]

It’s going to bad. This event will shape codes in the future., insurance companies will see to that...

 

[nebojsa]

With the problem in Texas, cold weather and copper pipes bursting i wonder would PEX-A tubing have had better results vs copper.

 

[youracman]

With the problem in Texas, cold weather and copper pipes bursting i wonder would PEX-A tubing have had better results vs copper.

Good question. Intuitively, one would "think" PEX would be a bit more forgiving. I know fellow RV owners claim it is. As I understand it, each time a copper pipe freezes it stretches the walls a little as the diameter increases so they become thinner and after so many freezes the increased hoop stresses result in failure.

I had a 3/4 inch copper pipe failure over my garage ceiling in Friendswood, TX years ago but the solder in a 90 degree elbow failed in shear and the elbow "squirted" out.....no actual ruptured pipe. Luckily I had turned the water off before vacation so when I turned it on at the meter when I returned, I heard the gushing leak and had little damage.

I sure hurt for those Texans....nobody deserves that kind of misery. About 15 years ago I retired from the warmer climes of Houston and moved to Denver....ironic.

Will be interesting to read what others have to say on the Cu vs PEX comparison.

Ed S Denver, CO

 

[Twowaxhack]

There’s no doubt that pex does way better than copper in a freeze. There’s really no comparison pex wins easily.

However I do not recommend letting pex freeze. It definitely shortens its life, especially repeated freezing combined with real world use.....

 

[HWSleuth]

The weakest link in using Pex is the fittings. I’ve seen several non-metallic fittings freeze and bust in rare extremely frigid situations. PEX “A” is tough stuff!

 

[Twowaxhack]

The weakest link in using Pex is the fittings. I’ve seen several non-metallic fittings freeze and bust in rare extremely frigid situations. PEX “A” is tough stuff!

It’s recommended that 2 pipe diameters of pipe should be placed between fittings to allow enough pipe for expansion in a freeze.. otherwise they crack.