Why Choose an Uponor Manifold System

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At this point in your build or remodel you have already decided on installing a manifold plumbing system. The next question is, “What kind?”

Just to clarify the use of the word “manifold”–

You can buy what I would call–in nontechnical terms–a mini manifold off the shelf, like this one, but we’re talking about a whole house manifold here in this post.

What you need depends on your house. You probably have any combination of ½” and ¾” and 1” jumps coming off the main supply.

Got one, two or three exterior spigots? Whatever number, you need a higher water pressure/ volume 3/4 inch line. Combine that with your half inch lines to your faucets and you have a mix of different sized plumbing.

Mini manifolds only come in a set in the same size. Generally they are used in a trunk and branch system where the manifold branches, let’s say, a couple bathrooms that are close in proximity, off of a single line. With different sizes needed throughout an entire house, piecing together a full manifold is the only way.

The next decision is what kind of a manifold is best.

In this case, we defaulted to experience. We reached out to a few master plumbers who are paid to FIX these manifolds down the road.

Their recommendation: spend the extra to go with an all brass/copper manifold system.

No plastic with gaskets / washers that will eventually break down and spring a leak.

In an all brass/copper manifold system, if a leak occurs it is easy to discover the source. Their experience has been that a manabloc style manifold with plastic, gaskets, and a more or less hidden interior is difficult to pinpoint a leak. You hope it is as simple as closing off one of the lines and moving the line onto a different port. Otherwise, you’re looking at replacing the manabloc.

!@#$%&+? Margaret, what are you thinking?!?! Look at the price difference between a copper manifold and a manabloc?!?!

No, we aren’t buying an engagement ring. We’re buying a high quality product that won’t fail years down the road. I don’t want to install something that becomes someone else’s problem later on.

It is shiny though…

It could be considered an engagement ring to your house if this is your forever home.

Sweetheart, would you rather have a ring or a manifold? Me: You had me at manifold. We’ll save up for the ring later…

Back to our master plumbers’ experience…their other point is that they might spend hours troubleshooting a broken manabloc. In comparison, it is easy to detect the source of the leak on a copper and brass manifold. Each hour of a plumber’s time is worth a decent chunk of change. So for the price of a copper and brass manifold you are saving yourself an undetermined dollar amount plumber visit.

If you end up replacing a faulty manabloc you are out an additional manabloc too.

Another economical solution is to create an all PEX manifold.

Easy to service and detect leaks, it is a decent solution if expense is a problem. However, the downside is the massive size. The 12 count 1/2″ ball valve manifold you see here is 19.5” long. Center to center between each valve is 1.5”.

Now imagine putting an all PEX manifold together: a series of 4.1” long ProPEX 1″ x 1″ x 1/2″ reducing tee and a length of pex between the tee’s.

It all adds up!

Just 4.1” x 12 = 4’ 1.2”–without the connecting PEX-a. We are looking at something at least five feet long without anything else attached at either end. You have space like that in a basement. Even if you place outlets on both sides of the “D” you are using the full bay for just the cold water line. In a tighter space, an all PEX manifold might not be a good option.

In the end we decided to use PEX-A Uponor and install a ProPEX Uponor manifold system.

We have already established the positives of Uponor’s PEX-a. The Uponor manifold continues on the plumbing goodness–only copper and brass in the minimum space possible. You can check out the prefab starter manifolds over here at SupplyHouse.

The new owners of this house will love their Uponor manifold system for years to come.

If you are still on the fence about installing a manifold, check out the reasons we’ve compiled here in the last post–it’s not your average argument.