Aquapex Plumbing Fixture-Connection Issues

[tacker]

I am about to commence an Aquapex replumbing of my home. This is tricky business in places, especially getting workable access to various fixture locations. One of the questions that I have is what is the best method for routing and attaching Aquapex to fixtures?

Looking at various connectors and accessories available for Aquapex, it seems to me that the choices are:

1) make a 90-degree curve out of the wall and attach the Aquapex directly to the stop valves, using appropriate connectors

2) use a preformed 90-degree transition piece (usually copper), attached to Aquapex on the wall side and to the stop valve directly on the fixture side.

I like the idea of avoiding the copper altogether, but from the samples of 1/2" Aquapex that I have, it seems a lot stiffer than I might have imagined, and I am wondering whether trying to fish and bend a piece out through a wall to a fixture is more work than desirable. Is there a way to make this easy? Can the Aquapex be heated to make it more pliable?

I'd welcome comments from anybody who has direct experience with these installation issues.

Thanks.

P.S. Anybody have experience using Shark-Bite connectors on Aquapex-copper junctions, too?

[Brian]

Your choice:

1) Drop ear bends ( I preffer plastic ) 2) Bend Support 3) ProPEX Stub Ells 4) Looks like 3 but has drop ear

Personally I like: #4, Number 3 is ok too The reason I like 3,4 is you know if it is leaking before you attached stop valves.

I did few no 1 works ( I just don't like the look of Pex outside the walls)

Another issue is ProPEX Stop Valves handle made of clear plastic - yack.

All of them work.

[Rudy]

If I'm reading this right, I wouldnt say that its pratical to assume you can "fish & bend" PEX thru your walls if for example, the drywall is still there. Shoving it straight thru a wall from one room to another is one thing but to get it bent "within" the wall and to have it appear where you want it..uh uh. Figure on taking down the drywall. Its still easier than retrofitting copper. It can be heated and bent but I woudn't recommend it. I ve seen it done with Wirsbo pex but dont know about Aquapex. They have different properties.

R