YepYep wrote:
“My plumber plans to use PEX to replace some problem water pipes underneath a whole house. Got a reasonable quote.”
At what spots are the pipes susceptible to freezing, the bends/elbows/valves?
I find that the weak points in PEX systems are the valves. I have only had to replace valves.
But then the coldest here has been 5 degrees. Nothing sub-zero.
Copper will split even in straight sections. Pex is stretchy and ice does not stick to it like copper. Think plastic ice cube tray. Like said in thread, joints and elbows are weak points in pex as they are metal.
Best practice is heat tape on pipe with built in thermostat and foam around it all. But even Alaska wrapped pipe fails if the power goes out and you have no heat long enough.
All pipes depend on being inside the warm zone of a house.
I suspect very best practice is a wood stove.
Such a disaster, houses are simply not designed down south for such conditions. Almost impossible to fix after the fact.
A lesson to us all. When push comes to shove, the Government will fail you. Plan your own backup.
I put drain plugs in all my pipes. I got shut off valves and the such. If it gets too cold I know what to do. Plan ahead to make it easy. Document it so you can use it when needed and you forgot cause you will. Lol
He told me that they have to use solder on copper pipe, so when the pipe freezes and expands, the solder doesn’t expand, but rather cracks and splits. So I would think a pipe could burst at any juncture.