Out with the old, in with the new
Due to the freezing in Texas in February and my lack of properly winterizing the plumbing system, a leak developed on the output of the water pump. The water pump sits under the kitchen cabinets, making it a little tricky to fix the leak. The plumbing was the flex pipe that was used with plastic pex fittings and pex clamps. This is a formula for water leaks as the flexible piping does not have the same properties as pex piping. If you mess with the flex piping a little bit, it will create a slight gap at the fitting. When I replaced the war pump, I was left with a slow leak at the female fitting going over the male output of the water pump.
So, I replaced the 6" long flex pipe going to the water pump with a pex pipe and a brass female fitting. Well, I messed with it too much and the tee fitting started leaking. It started setting in....If I replace that section, another leak will occur down the line.....then another...then another. The best option was to replace all flex plumbing. All pipe and fittings were just under $100. About 5 hours to finish.
No leaks, much more confident that I will not have issues in the future.
It was interesting that below the floor and in the fridge area they used actual pex piping. I wish they would have spent the extra time and money to finish it out with all pex plumbing. I would certainly be willing to pay the extra $200 +/-.
Due to the freezing in Texas in February and my lack of properly winterizing the plumbing system, a leak developed on the output of the water pump. The water pump sits under the kitchen cabinets, making it a little tricky to fix the leak. The plumbing was the flex pipe that was used with plastic pex fittings and pex clamps. This is a formula for water leaks as the flexible piping does not have the same properties as pex piping. If you mess with the flex piping a little bit, it will create a slight gap at the fitting. When I replaced the war pump, I was left with a slow leak at the female fitting going over the male output of the water pump.
So, I replaced the 6" long flex pipe going to the water pump with a pex pipe and a brass female fitting. Well, I messed with it too much and the tee fitting started leaking. It started setting in....If I replace that section, another leak will occur down the line.....then another...then another. The best option was to replace all flex plumbing. All pipe and fittings were just under $100. About 5 hours to finish.
No leaks, much more confident that I will not have issues in the future.
It was interesting that below the floor and in the fridge area they used actual pex piping. I wish they would have spent the extra time and money to finish it out with all pex plumbing. I would certainly be willing to pay the extra $200 +/-.
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