.

I have no hands-on or personal experience of this system; but have heard about it as well. It uses "PEX" . . which is either a trade-name or slang; for cross-linked poyethylene. While I'm no real fan of most anything plastic ( environmenatal concerns of their manufacture, potential outgassing etc ), PEX is quite tried and true and has been used in Europe since WW2 . . . has a good, "clean", long track record as far as I know. I used PEX in my radiant heat system ( another common use for it ) and it's pretty rugged stuff, with an expected service life of ~ 100 years.

I can see where it will give you pretty much "jointless" plumbing; but for connections AT the manifold and then one at "termination point" . .. sink or whatever. So, with no other joints I'd guess it's pretty good in that respect. As far as their claim of no pressure drop when other things are turned on; well . . . that'll depend upon sizes of the pipes and how they're connected . . . it's something that can be accomplished with conventional systesm too with proper sizing.

You seem to be concerned with efficiency as you mentioned that . . . don't see what they're talking about. Moving water is moving water . . . yes, no joints will mean less turbulence in the pipes as it flows . . . but these losses are VERY low unless you've got terribly undersized pipes, lousy joints, and too many bends.

Use it if it's advantages appeal to you, and fit your situation ( ie your water could be too acidic for copper ) . . . but I don't have a clue where you're gonna be more "efficient". If you've got concerns environmentally; use copper. Plastic ( of ANY kind ) is nasty and energy intensive to make; and for the most part are not recyclable . . some can be ground up and made into other things; but that's re-use, not recycling. Copper is not environmentally benign when extracted; but when it's done; can easily be scrapped for good money and very easily turned back into copper something else . . THAT'S recyclable . . . .

Bob

Thanks Bob for helping me out - I guess the energy efficiency comes from less gas or electric. I don't know if we can use copper due to all the "stuff" in our well water - I will try to use copper if I can. Again, than you so much!!! --Colleen

Most plastics are only good for one use, then possibly a second use when heated and compacted in to crudely formed items such as plastic decking, and then after that it's straight to the landfill... Poyethylene is different, which leaves it in a minority. It can be recycled in the true sense of the word and can be re-used again and again without degrading, thus allowing a closed cycle like glass or metal. It's just as recyclable as copper pipes.

Of course, plastic recycling is still rather unpredictable and who knows where it's going to end up when you throw it out. Here in the UK only 7% of plastic is recycled, the remaining 93% is mostly landfilled. On the plus side poyethylene doesn't cause any environmental problems when landfilled, no leaching or anything, it just sits there forever. It's hardly ideal, but it's better sitting there doing nothing than sitting there leaching toxic chemicals in to the environment, as many modern materials do. And unlike most plastics it burns cleanly, being just hydrogen and carbon it turns to carbon dixoide and a tiny amount of ash.

Using poyethylene for long lasting items, for example building materials, isn't particuarly environmentally damaging. The worst you'll do is consume some raw materials and eventually take up some landfill space with harmless inert matter. Besides, compaired to the vast amount of plastic packaging the average household throws away each year, the use of PEX plumbing over several decades is really quite insignificant. I think you should use the PEX, but if possible consider turning some of the savings from using it in to a more efficient water heater or upgrading to energy saving kitchen appliances, that way you can not only do more environmental good, but you'll also enjoy long term financial savings.

Thank you Bry84 - makes good sense. We will be using energy efficient appliances - DH and I pretty much want energy efficient in every aspect of our building!! Thank you for taking time to write - good advice!!!

Colleen

Sorry this is OT, but aren't you a fitness instructor? If so, I have an excerise injury question for you and will email you personally.

Houseful, Yes, I am a fitness instructor. I tried to look on your page to email you, but I didn't see one. Email me - I will try to help. Take care, Colleen

Houseful (Gina), I received your email but when I sent a reply it came bouncing back - due to our firewalls my computer doesn't recognize "earthlink" emails. Do you have another email address or do you want me to write my response on this web site (all would be able to read it though). Let me know, I don't want you to think I didn't respond back. Take care, Colleen

Unfortunately I don't have another email address. Go ahead and post it here - I mean, as long as there is nothing questionable, haha! Actually maybe you can post it in the Health forum. I will let you decide. Thanks.
BTW, even since this morning it feels better!

Dear Gina,

My college background stopped at exercise science - so I can only assume what I think it is. It sounds like the Achilles tendon or the fascia (spelling?) of the bottom of the foot - all which deals in letting the heel of the foot touch the ground. Please go see the doctor or sports medicine doctor (if your insurance allows). I would suggest to stay off of it until you see the doctor and have ex rays taken of your foot. I'm so sorry that I can't be more of help - but I feel that your injury sounds serious and you might be of your foot for 2 to 6 weeks. Take care and let me know how you are!! ---Colleen
(Usually with a foot injury, it tends to feel better when you use it - the problem comes when you rest and the muscles become stiff.)

Colleen, just wanted to say I hope you got my email. I replied to your post above shortly after and knew you couldn't email me back.

Just saw the Manabloc system on TV. It looks really clean and efficient. Haw anyone installed one yet?

This is the stupidest plumbing product I have seen for years. Anyone considering this contraption must not have logical powers and just listens to their plumber. The sales pitch is so there is adequate water supply at each device. Good design would accomplish that result and much, much more. The bad is each hot water pipe cools down from this device and you must waste and wait for hot water to completely fill the supply line, several minutes and gallons of water. The best design uses a recirc system for the hot water; either gravity or pumped. A gravity system requires the hot water supply to run under a slab or crawlspace with the return in the attic. Each drop to a fixture should be from the floor up to the sink, etc. with the return line at the end of the farthest fixture. If the gravity system is not properly designed a pump is necessary. This pump may operate continuously, not using much power, or you may wish to install a timer set for daytime operation.