PEX plumbing is a great way to replace old copper or galvanized pipes. It’s durable, has fewer joints than traditional piping, and is easy to install. But before you start tearing up your walls, there are some things you should know about installing PEX plumbing. In this blog post, we will go over 8 simple steps for how to do PEX plumbing so everything goes smoothly!

How to Do PEX Plumbing In 8 Steps

Step 1: Shut off the Water

The first thing you’ll want to do is shut off the water from your mainline. All you have to do for this step is go down into your basement and turn off the water valve that’s connected directly to your home. Make sure it’s turned all the way in a clockwise direction so there will be no leaks when you get started with PEX plumbing jobs later on.

Step 2: Cut Your Pipes

Now, you need to cut two holes in each of the pipes going outside of your house using a pipe cutter or Sawzall depending on what kind of material they’re made out of.

The first hole should be just above where the floor starts but below any insulation since it needs access to both sides without being obstructed by anything else. The second hole should be towards the top of the pipe so you can easily attach your PEX tubing.

Step 3: Prep Your Pipes

Before you actually start attaching any fittings, you need to make sure that the pipes are nice and clean. Use a wire brush or some sandpaper to scuff up the surface a bit as this will give the adhesive something to grip onto.

It’s also important to remove any paint or corrosion from the area where you’re going to be working. If there is anything obstructing your view, now would be a good time to get rid of it before moving on.

Step 4: Assemble Your Fittings

Now it’s time for one of the most fun parts – assembling your PEX fittings. Each one is made up of a nut and sleeve/fitting connector which screws onto your existing pipes from the inside out before being secured with PEX crimps to complete the job. For most applications, you’ll need compression or barb style connectors, which will work just fine in this situation.

Step 5: Attach Your Fittings

Once all your fittings are assembled, it’s time to attach them using PEX crimp tools that come in either ratchet or manual styles, depending on what kind of grip you have available to use at home when doing plumbing jobs yourself.

All you really have to do here is screw each one into place within an inch of where they meet the other side so there aren’t any gaps. You can also run a bead of PEX piping adhesive around the edges to keep them from coming loose over time which is recommended for bigger projects but not necessary here.

Step 6: Cut Your Tubing

Now you need to cut about a foot off each piece of your PEX tubing and make sure that they’re straight before attaching or else it’ll be very difficult to get things in place later on.

The easiest way to do this is with a utility knife, wire cutters, shears, or Sawzall depending on whether you have access to these tools at home when doing plumbing jobs yourself. If you don’t want crimps showing up outside the pipes where everyone can see them, just leave an inch sticking out before cutting.

Step 7: Attach Your Tubing

You should now be ready to attach all the pieces of PEX tubing you just cut and straightened by sliding them into place on each end.

They’re usually pretty easy to push together even without adhesive since they have a tight fit, but if not, go ahead and apply some or use crimp tools that come with barbs for this part, depending on what material your pipes are made out of.

Once everything looks nice and neat, run another bead around it before using PEX clamps to secure your tubing in place, so there aren’t any leaks later down the road.

Step 8: Turn It Back On

Once everything is assembled correctly, you need to turn on the water and check for any leaks. You can now start using your new PEX plumbing system if everything is good to go!

Now that you know how to do PEX plumbing, it’s time to get started on that project you’ve been putting off. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll be all set in no time! Happy plumbing!

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