Before day one
Six things to do before the crew arrives
None of them needs tools. Most take ten minutes.
- 01
Clear the walls
Move furniture, art and shelves away from the walls on the plan, and clear the way to the attic hatch or crawl space.
- 02
Find your main shutoff
Show the crew lead where it is. If you can't find it, the walk-through is the time to look.
- 03
Set water aside
Fill a few jugs for drinking and for the toilet. The water is off from about noon until the evening test.
- 04
Plan for pets and kids
Pick a room away from the work. Floor covers and open walls aren't a good place for a dog.
- 05
Check your HOA
Some associations set work hours or ask for notice. Tell our coordinator and we'll fit the schedule.
- 06
Leave the driveway open
Crews park a van and a trailer close to the house. A clear drive saves the first hour.
The pipe
PEX and copper, in plain words
Both work. This is why we put PEX in the walls of a house built with copper.
| What we compare | Copper | PEX |
|---|---|---|
| Wearing from the inside | CopperCan pit and leak from the inside over decades | PEXDoesn't pit the way copper can |
| Running it through walls | CopperRigid, joined at every turn, so more openings | PEXBends around corners, so fewer joints and fewer openings |
| Sunlight | CopperFine outdoors | PEXBreaks down in sun, so it stays inside walls and attics |
| Fittings | CopperSoldered or pressed joints | PEXCrimped or expanded rings, checked by a pressure test |
On the job
What the two days look like
Showing 6 of 6
Sample photos.
Want the plan for your house?
A walk-through takes about an hour. The written plan comes after it.