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Install PEX Water Lines — Install Water Supply Lines

Intermediate8 hours

Part of project

How to Install a Washing Machine Outlet Box · Step 5 of 8

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In this video

The presenter prepares for and installs the PEX water supply lines. Using a drill with a 5/8-inch auger bit, he drills two holes through the wooden bottom plate of the wall, one for the hot and one for the cold line, aligning them below the corresponding inlets on the outlet box. He feeds the red and blue PEX pipes up through the holes. For each line, he slides a 1/2-inch stainless steel crimp ring onto the pipe. He then pushes the end of the PEX pipe fully onto the brass barb fitting of the valve. He positions the crimp ring about 1/8 of an inch from the base of the fitting. Using a PEX crimping tool, he squeezes the handles until the tool fully closes, which compresses the ring and secures the pipe to the fitting, creating a permanent, leak-proof connection. He repeats the process for the second water line.

Goal: Connect the hot and cold PEX water lines to the outlet box valves

  • Ensure the PEX pipe is fully seated on the barb fitting before crimping the ring.
  • Position the crimp ring 1/8 to 1/4 inch from the end of the pipe to allow for proper compression without damaging the fitting.

Used in this video

  • Cordless Drill (brand: Ridgid, Tool Type: Power Tools, Power Source: Battery) — Drilling holes for the PEX pipes.
  • Auger Drill Bit (brand: Unbranded, Material: Metal, Size/Dimensions: 5/8 inch) — Drilling clean holes in the wood frame.
  • PEX Crimping Tool (brand: Unbranded, Tool Type: Hand Tools, Power Source: Manual) — Securing crimp rings onto PEX pipes and fittings.
  • Pliers (brand: Unbranded, Tool Type: Hand Tools, Power Source: Manual) · optional — Temporarily holding the crimp ring in place before using the crimping tool.
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FAQs

Is the estimated 8-hour completion time realistic for an intermediate DIYer, or should I budget more time if I'm less experienced?

The 8-hour estimate is for an intermediate DIYer with some plumbing and carpentry experience. If you're a beginner, budget 1.5 to 2 times that, as learning new skills like pipe cutting, solvent welding, and working in tight spaces will add significant time. Always prioritize careful work over speed to avoid costly mistakes.

What are the most critical safety precautions I should take, especially when cutting into existing walls and dealing with water lines?

Before cutting into any wall, always use a stud finder with AC detection to locate studs, pipes, and electrical wires to avoid accidental damage. Turn off the main water supply before making any connections to existing lines. Have buckets and towels ready, and be prepared to shut off water immediately if a leak occurs during testing.

The project lists PEX crimp tools; can I use PEX expansion tools or SharkBite fittings instead, and what are the pros and cons?

Yes, PEX expansion tools like Uponor/ProPEX or SharkBite push-to-connect fittings are viable alternatives. Expansion tools require specific PEX-A tubing and offer a strong, reliable connection. SharkBite fittings are quicker and require no special tools beyond a cutter, but they are significantly more expensive per fitting and less permanent in nature.

What's the best way to ensure all my plumbing connections are leak-free, especially for the drain and supply lines?

For PVC drain lines, ensure you apply primer and cement generously and twist the pipe firmly into the fitting for a secure bond. For PEX supply lines, double-check that crimp rings are properly compressed or SharkBite fittings are fully seated. After all connections, slowly turn on the main water supply and thoroughly inspect every joint for drips or seeping water before closing the wall.

Transcript
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And now that we're secure we need to work on installing these pressure lines. Let's get to it. Now you need to get a five eight since drill bit and a drill to accommodate half inch pipe because we're going to have to put the pipe down through the floor in this case. So what you need to do to transcribe the marks is measure off your stud looks like we've got six inches and eight and three eights. So we need transcribe that off the stud on the floor to go down below. So we're going to measure over six inches and eight and three eights. We're going to make a mark. All right. And as you notice from above and this drain is kind of back towards inside this wall we got to keep our pressure lines out towards the front of this plate. So we're going to go back just about three quarters of an inch here. Now it's time to install our pecs. This is pecs type B and this is going to get crimper rings on it and we're going to use the red color for the hot side and the blue color for the red side. So all we got to do is get our half inch crimper rings. Slide them over the pipe first just like that. And now we just slide it up over the fitting like so. And we try to stay about eight inch down from the end of that fitting. And now what I like to do I just take a pair of pliers and just crimp it on enough to hold into place just so it doesn't slide around. Then I take my crimping tool and then it's going to crimp that ring on there tight and it's never going to come off unless you cut it off. Okay. And now we're going to do the same thing with our hot side. Slide it over. Get it about an eighth inch from the fitting. And like I said, I like to use my needle nose to crimp it on temporarily and then we're going to go ahead and get that one fastened. Boom. So now we got a fitting that is never going to have a leak unless improperly installed.

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