Did you get around to installing the Pex lines in that tight crawlspace?

steve, yes I did...kind of.

I ran multiple runs of new 1/2" and 3/4" PEX through the crawlspace, attaching to the bottom of every other floor joist like 2 years ago. Everything was ran but I never pressurized the lines. At the time I had to also do another project in that space which was to replace all the 1950s old clothed electrical cables in the crawlspace that were disintegrating. I got that done, but the new PEX lines I never connected to the main feed and the manifold in the garage because more urgent projects took me away from it so the house is still on 1990s polybutylene tubing for now.

I was refering to this thread. I was wondering what you used for an expansion tool.
[www.plbg.com]

I didn't get an expansion tool. I ran all the PEX lines from manifold to the fixtures, but did not make any connection yet.

The risers from the crawlspace to the fixtures are all copper, so I need to cut the copper-PB connections, solder on to the bottom of each riser a copper/PEX-A adapter, than use an expansion tool.

I haven't made that move yet. My original plan was to buy a Milwaukee 12V cold expansion tool, but I am on the fence because it is going to be a one project deal and quite pricey, on top of that I would have to solder on the copper/PEX adapter in the crawlspace and I am not too exited about soldering in this tight space so I was undecided between sweat vs compression. So right now I have the lines all done terminated with end caps, but no connection been made yet.

Do you have a good PEX-A compression tool suggestion?

I don't use pex, so no recommendation. I was hoping you found something other than M12/M18. Vevor has one at a much lower price point.

steve,

I will check into Vevor, thanks.

I was also considering hand expansion tools, however, the one common compliant was it needs room to open the jaw/handle fully for the clamp action, and some said in tight space you may not have that much room...which is my fear. I have some risers that is terminating in between two 2X10 joists and I would hate to have to make an expansion joint there when the hand expander cannot fully expand between the joists, so I think I need a cordless tool.

But the main reason I haven't made all these connections, is partly other projects are taking priority, but also I am dragging my feet going into the crawlspace to do soldering. Each connection in there will take one solder joint plus one expansion joint. The solder joint will be tricky because in some spots it is so tight I could not even sit up, I have to lay down sideways with one elbow on the dirt floor and I have a hard time trying to visualize how to solder in that position when I need one elbow on the dirt to prop myself up and that hand needs to be holding the solder. I am considering other connection methods to the copper...I don't want to use sharkbites, but compression may be one option, and pro-press again needs a very expensive one time tool. I prefer a solder joint because I know it works and little chance of failure.

I sometimes have to work lying down and I prop myself up with a Rubbermaid stool so that both hands are free. I have even had to custom make supports out of plywood to get myself at the exact height and inclination.

george, that's a good idea to have a rubbermaid stool for that.

The only issue is this crawlspace is a very low head room space with pipes, electrical cables, conduits, AC ducts criss crossing here there, so when I go to do something often times it is a long distance (40'+) on my elbows and knees crawling forward, and any tools I have such as drills, torch, batteries, flashlights, hand tools...have to be placed inside a tool bag, and tied to my ankle so I drag them forward as I crawl. Each and every piece of item I bring I have to weight it's pros and cons. One more battery and it adds extra weight, one less battery and if it runs out it's another 90' crawl out round trip to grab a spare. A rubbermaid stool may be too much of a luxury to drag along. I have to think about how to bring one down.

I keep my tools in a shallow (3 in tall) cardboard box beside me and slide it along as I crawl along. Costco has a nice free supply of these boxes.
You don't have enough clearance to do that?

3" won't work because there are ups and downs on the dirt floor inside, over the years work has been done where they redid the main drain in PVC, they dug a trench for the pipe to run through the foundation wall, and the trench, plus all the dirt mounts still there. There were also foundation work, joists supported on steel jacks, jacks sitting on concrete footings newly dug, again massive dirt mounts from the excavation for the footings, so lot of ups and downs inside, along with old abandoned CI pipe with razor sharp rust edges, but basically every few feet you have to cross over some duct, or crawl under some conduits or cables or ducts. 3" shallow trays will definitely tip things over. I use a 6" deep plastic tray but along my way I have to often lift it over some obstructions. Plus myself I wear a head lamp and that thing is a real pain when you are dripping sweat.