I don't mean to criticize another man's work, but I was very surprised to see all those elbows on the cold side. I did my entire house with direct, uncut runs to all fixtures. I used PEX bend supports to make 90 degree bends without kinking the tubes, at the block, and where needed on the way to the fixtures. Plus my understanding is crimps and elbows have the effect of lowering water pressure a bit.
I don't mind being "criticized" as you put it. The great thing about being in the trades is the camaraderie and respect we share as people who enjoy getting our hands dirty, and we get to learn tips and trick from each other. I agree with what you said as well. This was the first ManaBloc I had installed and looking back I think I would've run my lines differently to avoid all those joints. I swear that house was cursed. I've never faced as many challenges as that house put in my way. Thanks for reaching out and adding some good advice.
100% correct, the manablocs are trash and leak in a few years from the main body of the manifold and have to be replaced, you are lucky to get 5 years use from them use pex A and make sweeps or the clips to make the bends and avoid fittings as much as possible, one less leak point. i use copper end outs to dedicated ball vales to each sink water source and toilet water source maybe a bit more money BUT one manbloc replacement (which you will replace) offsets that cost and you have the same result and no leaking failing in 5 years either.
@@garyring8306 I installed a Manabloc 2 years ago in my house and so far it has been great. I had 19yr old copper that was popping pinholes every 6 months. There was some electrolysis going on which wasn't discovered for a while which probably contributed to that. I don't think the builder used thin L copper but he might have. And my water quality might have been a factor. So after a few years of constant leaks, I replaced all copper with PEX B. I did straight runs to each fixture location, no elbows, etc. I put brass shutoffs at each fixture as well. I think I did a good installation, following instructions, etc. The MB has a 10 year warranty, and honestly, I would be fine replacing it every 5 years if that were necessary. I could swap it out in t0 minutes. I am very happy with it, I wouldn't call it trash. I did a lot of research, Viega has been around a long time and I think they make good stuff. They've made improvements to the MB a couple times so they are paying attention. Besides the copper issues in my house, I've had leaks in houses I grew up in, and I have 3 different friends with burst pipes that required 5 figure major house repairs. Nothing is perfect. Time will tell how my MB holds up. I made a video of my install if anyone is interested. ua-cam.com/video/B34P8AcPRnM/v-deo.html
@@bluesriderDF glad you have had good luck with them. my experience with them is very contrary to yours, the issue with your copper pipes is more than likely bad electrical grounding causing the copper to erode an lesser chance of the water itself chemically more active attacking the copper or bad copper/improperly sourced copper tubing for the job (there are definite right and wrong types of copper to use) as there were times when bad batches of copper were out there being used in homes and noted (questionable import copper comes to mind). to me having to change a manabloc with any regularity would be unacceptable to me why you would be will to do that puzzles me. i totally agree no fittings especially in pex B and using the elbow making straps for tight corners 100%, using shutoffs at the sources is the only way to go even with the cost of doing it. one issue no one goes near is the UV issues with all pex, had a situation where an attic vent let light onto a pex line the guy went up and brushed against the line and it at the time or later began to leak dropping a portion of the ceiling into his dining room. helped him replace the run with pex A and out of the light under the insulation. will be interesting to see long term with pex installed new home builds getting UV in bad instillation how long people like it or not. when a company goes out of business due to lawsuits over its product which was the case with the manbloc people i kinda tend to feel inclined to call it junk. the people i am sure who took over the company made improvements, they had to or face the same fate. once burned shame on you twice burned shame on me., hence junk. in my book.
have built home with manablocs and owned a home with a manabloc, the units are crap, the original company went BK and another company picked them up, every install i have done or seens has leaking issues the day after the warranty goes on them, my home it outright failed and flooded the wall space it was installed in fortunately it was able to flow out on the garage wall side and flood the garage not the home. the replacement cost of the unit starting at 300 to as much as 500 depending how many lines. love pex A in my projects using sub NON manabloc manifolds off mainline feeds but manablocs are total trash from first hand experience in my own home and repairing replacing others installs. JUNK!.
I would really like to see a close up of the O ring. I bought a Manabloc, and I’m not sure mine came with the O rings. Are they sold separately. Also, that stainless steel fitting: is that the normal crimp fitting you have on the end of any PEX piping, or is it specific to the Manabloc?
I have a crimping tool for different sized pipes. I'm using the same fittings for the manabloc you are. Do I need a completely different tool to crimp the fittings that join the manabloc?
Yes. The crimp tool for the PEX rings is different. The fittings that come with the Manabloc are designed to be crimped with a ProPress tool with a 1/2" PEX jaw. I had to borrow one from my supply house, F.W. Webb.
@@paulchapin7732 do I need to get another tool for the water lines coming into the manabloc as well, it being larger? Also what tool did you use to tighten the fittings themselves onto the manifold?
@@michaeljournagan5085 The fittings themselves screw on like a garden hose. I put them on hand tight and checked for leaks on each. I was leery to use pliers as the pieces are only plastic. The water lines on top screwed onto the Manabloc also like a hose and the PEX attached to that fitting with a normal 3/4" crimp ring.
I mounted the system to a piece of OSB sub-floor. I believe it was 3/4". Using a hammer drill and concrete screws I mounted two 2x4's to the foundation wall and then screwed the OSB to the 2x4's. This allows airflow between the OSB and the concrete to keep water from wicking and causing rot , or mold. The system could most likely be mounted directly to the foundation, but the OSB makes it easier to attach all the pipe supports without having to drill into concrete.
I don't mean to criticize another man's work, but I was very surprised to see all those elbows on the cold side. I did my entire house with direct, uncut runs to all fixtures. I used PEX bend supports to make 90 degree bends without kinking the tubes, at the block, and where needed on the way to the fixtures. Plus my understanding is crimps and elbows have the effect of lowering water pressure a bit.
I don't mind being "criticized" as you put it. The great thing about being in the trades is the camaraderie and respect we share as people who enjoy getting our hands dirty, and we get to learn tips and trick from each other. I agree with what you said as well. This was the first ManaBloc I had installed and looking back I think I would've run my lines differently to avoid all those joints. I swear that house was cursed. I've never faced as many challenges as that house put in my way. Thanks for reaching out and adding some good advice.
@@paulchapin7732 LOL at cursed house, ha ha!
100% correct, the manablocs are trash and leak in a few years from the main body of the manifold and have to be replaced, you are lucky to get 5 years use from them use pex A and make sweeps or the clips to make the bends and avoid fittings as much as possible, one less leak point. i use copper end outs to dedicated ball vales to each sink water source and toilet water source maybe a bit more money BUT one manbloc replacement (which you will replace) offsets that cost and you have the same result and no leaking failing in 5 years either.
@@garyring8306 I installed a Manabloc 2 years ago in my house and so far it has been great. I had 19yr old copper that was popping pinholes every 6 months. There was some electrolysis going on which wasn't discovered for a while which probably contributed to that. I don't think the builder used thin L copper but he might have. And my water quality might have been a factor. So after a few years of constant leaks, I replaced all copper with PEX B. I did straight runs to each fixture location, no elbows, etc. I put brass shutoffs at each fixture as well. I think I did a good installation, following instructions, etc. The MB has a 10 year warranty, and honestly, I would be fine replacing it every 5 years if that were necessary. I could swap it out in t0 minutes. I am very happy with it, I wouldn't call it trash. I did a lot of research, Viega has been around a long time and I think they make good stuff. They've made improvements to the MB a couple times so they are paying attention. Besides the copper issues in my house, I've had leaks in houses I grew up in, and I have 3 different friends with burst pipes that required 5 figure major house repairs. Nothing is perfect. Time will tell how my MB holds up.
I made a video of my install if anyone is interested. ua-cam.com/video/B34P8AcPRnM/v-deo.html
@@bluesriderDF glad you have had good luck with them. my experience with them is very contrary to yours, the issue with your copper pipes is more than likely bad electrical grounding causing the copper to erode an lesser chance of the water itself chemically more active attacking the copper or bad copper/improperly sourced copper tubing for the job (there are definite right and wrong types of copper to use) as there were times when bad batches of copper were out there being used in homes and noted (questionable import copper comes to mind). to me having to change a manabloc with any regularity would be unacceptable to me why you would be will to do that puzzles me. i totally agree no fittings especially in pex B and using the elbow making straps for tight corners 100%, using shutoffs at the sources is the only way to go even with the cost of doing it. one issue no one goes near is the UV issues with all pex, had a situation where an attic vent let light onto a pex line the guy went up and brushed against the line and it at the time or later began to leak dropping a portion of the ceiling into his dining room. helped him replace the run with pex A and out of the light under the insulation. will be interesting to see long term with pex installed new home builds getting UV in bad instillation how long people like it or not. when a company goes out of business due to lawsuits over its product which was the case with the manbloc people i kinda tend to feel inclined to call it junk. the people i am sure who took over the company made improvements, they had to or face the same fate. once burned shame on you twice burned shame on me., hence junk. in my book.
Thanks for the video, can you add a recirculating pump to this systems as well?
I am guessing these can be installed under a house mounted to the bottom of the floor joist?
have built home with manablocs and owned a home with a manabloc, the units are crap, the original company went BK and another company picked them up, every install i have done or seens has leaking issues the day after the warranty goes on them, my home it outright failed and flooded the wall space it was installed in fortunately it was able to flow out on the garage wall side and flood the garage not the home. the replacement cost of the unit starting at 300 to as much as 500 depending how many lines. love pex A in my projects using sub NON manabloc manifolds off mainline feeds but manablocs are total trash from first hand experience in my own home and repairing replacing others installs. JUNK!.
sounds like bad installations
I know it doesn't come with the thread hose attachments for the supply lines, but does it come with the thread to 1/2 for the home runs?
And you answer in the video! Thank you. They do come with the home run thread to 1/2 pex.
The one in the video came with all the distribution connections, but the brass supply connections on the top and bottom were sold separately.
dont bother and hopefully you did not buy one they are junk and will regret using one pex A is great but these manablocs are trash.
I would really like to see a close up of the O ring. I bought a Manabloc, and I’m not sure mine came with the O rings. Are they sold separately. Also, that stainless steel fitting: is that the normal crimp fitting you have on the end of any PEX piping, or is it specific to the Manabloc?
Same. Mine came without any O-rings
What are the threaded pex fittings that go to the main hot and cold?
I have a crimping tool for different sized pipes. I'm using the same fittings for the manabloc you are. Do I need a completely different tool to crimp the fittings that join the manabloc?
Yes. The crimp tool for the PEX rings is different. The fittings that come with the Manabloc are designed to be crimped with a ProPress tool with a 1/2" PEX jaw. I had to borrow one from my supply house, F.W. Webb.
@@paulchapin7732 do I need to get another tool for the water lines coming into the manabloc as well, it being larger? Also what tool did you use to tighten the fittings themselves onto the manifold?
@@michaeljournagan5085 The fittings themselves screw on like a garden hose. I put them on hand tight and checked for leaks on each. I was leery to use pliers as the pieces are only plastic. The water lines on top screwed onto the Manabloc also like a hose and the PEX attached to that fitting with a normal 3/4" crimp ring.
Hi... Would you say using a curved 90 is better for end pressure, as opposed to a fitting 90?... Thanks...
Yes.
A sweeping 90 would be better.
Question for you. Are you able to pull it off once it’s crimped?
Once a pex fitting has been crimped there is no removal unless you carefully cut through the ring without damaging the pipe.
Hi there. Great video. Can this system be used with pex a?
Yes.
Link to buy the crimp tool please……………!
How did you mount the system to the wall?
I mounted the system to a piece of OSB sub-floor. I believe it was 3/4". Using a hammer drill and concrete screws I mounted two 2x4's to the foundation wall and then screwed the OSB to the 2x4's. This allows airflow between the OSB and the concrete to keep water from wicking and causing rot , or mold. The system could most likely be mounted directly to the foundation, but the OSB makes it easier to attach all the pipe supports without having to drill into concrete.
i got that unit in my house - TERRIBLE water hammer from it!
Wtf he doing installation but the he didn’t show us shit