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Author:
reddyfire (WA)
Good day everyone!
I want to start off by saying i have been reading up and down these forums for quite some time now as it seems i always run into plumbing type repairs. Thank you all for your interesting discussion and helpful answers. Well the day has come and i myself need to ask a question.
I have started a bathroom remodel and decided to repipe the old copper with pex. The plumbing is a typical trunk and branch system. The cold inlet from the street is about 35 feet away from the water heater. I have to plumb a kitchen (sink+fridge line), laundry room, 2 full baths (2+1 sinks, 2 toilets, 2 showers, 1 tub), 2 garden bibs. I would in the future like to add a service sink in the garage and another bath into an upstairs addition that has not been built yet.
The kitchen and laundry room are on one side of the house close to the heater, getting hot water to these fixtures is almost instant. The bathrooms on the other hand are about 45 (closest)-60 (farthest) from the water heater.
I would like to implement a manifold system in the plumbing design but not sure how or where to place it. As i understand 5-10 feet near the water is recommended. I have attached a simple diagram of the current plumbing (not to scale but close as far as distances go).
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Plumbing diagram --> [www.dropbox.com]
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So here come the questions:
1) do i do trunk and branch on the water heater side and a remote manifold on the other side of the house ?
2) do i manifold at the water heater and run HR to each fixture
3) when you HR can i HR to a room and branch there for each fixture or would that ruin the HR concept ?
4) i am not ready to update the rest of the house only the bathrooms, do i replumb all of it now or can i design this so that i can update the kitchen, laundry room and garden bibs later without too much trouble ?
5) for tighter spots what would be the smallest, easiest to use tool: a cinch clamp tool or crimp ring tool ?
6) after reading several discussions here i still have not learned whether a cinch clamp or crimp ring is superior, so what is the verdict ?
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Author:
packy (MA)
i would place two 10 port manifolds under the bathrooms.
run 1 inch feed to both.
insulate the hot.
use one of the ports on the hot manifold for a recirculating line back to the water heater.
insulate the recirculating line.
home run all the hot and cold feeds on that end of the house off the manifolds.
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Author:
reddyfire (WA)
Thank you for your quick answer. Some follow up questions:
- do i leave the rest of the system in trunk in branch ?
- do i buy a copper or pex 10 port manifold ?
- 1 inch feed with 1/2 inch outlets for each fixture ? or does the tub/shower get a a 3/4" ?
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
Doug E. (CA)
none of the new installation of PEX water pipe do I run it with manifold, but sounds wise and perhaps I need to start modifying my water installs.
do your sizing correctly and use Tees' to catch fixtures makes sure the hot line is a loop with a 3/4 return to WH from farthest fixture.
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
The point of a manifold is to 'home run' each fixture individually with NO hidden tees.
The only 'hidden' connection would be at the angle stop adapter point.
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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
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Author:
reddyfire (WA)
Assuming packy's design suggestion of a remote manifold on the far side of the house, i believe i would need another on the side close to the water heater. Does this second manifold warrant the HW return line ? Also would i need a pump for the HW return line to recirc properly or would i just let physics do the work ?
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Author:
packy (MA)
the majority of recirculating lines i install "let pnysics do the work".
no manifolds needed on the water heater side of the house. few tees and you will be fine..
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Author:
reddyfire (WA)
Packy you have been of great help thank you again!
I have one last question for you regarding the 10 port manifolds. I cant seem to find any ready made 10 ports, is this something you make yourself or are you actually referring to a ready made 10 port manifold (that does not combine hot and cold) ?
Edited 1 times.
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