Things You'll Need
Sharkbite water line valves (2)
Braided water lines (2)
Pliers
Flashlight
PEX pipe is a modern type of plastic pipe used for carrying potable water in residential and commercial buildings. PEX has several advantages over traditional copper pipes: it costs less to manufacture and is simpler to cut and connect. It also resists rust and corrosion and can carry hot or cold water to sinks, showers, toilets and many other fixtures. Compression fittings make connecting a PEX stub out to a bathroom sink fast and simple.
Step 1
Locate the main water line shutoff valve inside your home and turn it clockwise to shut off the flow of water to the entire house.
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Step 2
Locate the PEX stub out. The stub out is usually located along the base of the floor or the back of the wall directly under the sink. The stub out can be identified by the two pieces of PEX pipe that stick out. One line is for the cold water and the other is for the hot water line. The hot water line should be marked with a color, such as red, on the side of the pipe.
Step 3
Place a Sharkbite water line valve over each of the stub outs. Press down on the valve so that it slides over the pipe as far as possible. The Sharkbite connection does not require any additional tools, as the compression fitting inside the valve will permanently hold the pipe securely.
Step 4
Turn the valve control knob clockwise until tight. This will ensure that water will not enter the lines until the installation is complete. Some valves need only a quarter-turn, while others will require several full rotations to close them completely.
Step 5
Screw on braided water lines onto the threaded connection on the end of each valve. Turn the nut on the water lines by hand until tight and then turn them each one more full rotation using a pair of pliers.
Step 6
Illuminate the work space under the sink with a flashlight or work light.
Step 7
Pull the open ends of the water lines up to the base of the sink faucet. Place the water line that's connected to the hot water pipe, marked with red or some other color, to the left control valve on the sink. Screw the nut on the water line onto the threaded connection that sticks out under the left control knob. Tighten by hand and follow with one full rotation with a pair of pliers.
Step 8
Place the water line that's connected to the cold water pipe to the right control valve on the sink. Screw the nut on the water line onto the threaded connection that sticks out under the left control knob. Tighten by hand and follow with one full rotation using a pair of pliers.
Step 9
Turn both of the control knobs on the Sharkbite valves counterclockwise to open the flow of water to the sink. Turn the main water valve counterclockwise to begin the flow of water to the house and test both faucet handles.
Warning
Always shut off the water to the house while working with pipes.
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