[Greenbuilding] Doing PEX myself

[Shawna Henderson]

D-I-Y plumbers and electricians have this to consider too:

if your job leaks, floods or short-circuits, you have no recourse to any 
written or implied warranty from a 'qualified person' (ie, one who has 
journey papers and a business and who carries insurance). If you insure 
your house, but can't provide any bills or invoices pertaining to the 
plumbing or electrician, your s.o.l. on claiming, in most cases.

Also, a qualified person will include a pressure test for the system 
(either household plumbing or in-floor). It's not rocket science, by any 
means, but there's a lot at stake (ie, your home, which is most likely 
your biggest personal investment). Slow leaks can ruin a house just as 
dramatically as big blow outs.

In Canada, the building, plumbing and electrical codes require that the 
systems are installed by qualified persons. Some of my clients have 
worked it out in various ways with their plumbers and electricians as to 
the extent that the qualified person is to be involved, depending on how 
'handy' or experienced the client is. However, if the Q.P. signs off the 
work, and there is a problem then they can be held accountable for 
damages. Now who would really want to be in that position? Is it fair to 
expect that they would say OK, sure, go ahead do the work and I'll take 
on the responsibility?

I think Keith's comment below are really key.

Cheers from Nova Scotia

Shawna Henderson

Keith Winston wrote:

>[snipped]
>
>Do you know what you're doing? Are you willing/interested to put the 
>time in to learn? Those are just questions to ask yourself...
>
>K
>
>Jefro wrote:
>
>>>What makes you think you can't install pex yourself? Is it illegal for you to do plumbing, run copper lines etc? Pex is plumbing...
>>>  
>>>    
>>>
>>In some areas, a plumbing contractor is required to install PEX.  Not 
>>too different from requiring a licensed electrician to install a panel, 
>>even though 99% of the wiring can be done by an owner-builder.
>>
>>  
>>
>>>The real way to find out is to call your local building permit offices and ask them....
>>>  
>>>    
>>>
>>Good idea, thanks
>>
>>
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