Rant: My neighbor Bob insisted I use a torch for plumbing a PEX line

Bob lives three houses down and has been doing his own repairs for 20 years. Last month I was fixing a leak under my kitchen sink in Amarillo and he came over. He kept saying I needed a heat gun or a torch to sweat the PEX fittings. I thought he was crazy because PEX uses crimp rings not heat. But he was so sure that I actually bought a heat gun and tried it on a scrap piece. Melted the whole thing in about 10 seconds flat. He finally admitted he was thinking of copper pipe not PEX. Now I double check everything he tells me lol. Has anyone else had a neighbor or friend give them bad advice that just sounded right?

3 comments

3 Comments

daniel_gonzalez1mo ago

Man I had the EXACT same thing happen but with my brother in law and drywall mud. He swore I had to mix it with hot water to get it to set faster. Said he'd been doing it for years. I tried it and ended up with a lumpy mess that dried before I could even spread it. Next day I used cold water like normal and it came out perfect. He finally confessed he was thinking of joint compound for something else. Now I just nod and smile when he gives advice then Google it later.

aaron_perry1mo ago

Daniel, that "nod and smile then Google it later" line hit close to home. I had a similar thing with my brother in law and painting. He insisted you had to use mineral spirits to clean latex paint brushes. I ruined three good brushes before I finally looked it up and realized he was thinking of oil based paint. What worked for me was just being direct about it after that. I started asking him "Is this for latex or oil based paint" every time he gave advice. Eventually he got the hint and started saying "I'm not sure, let me check" instead of acting like an expert. It saved a lot of frustration and a few paint brushes. Now we both just laugh about it when one of us messes up.

samk771mo ago

Hated wasting good brushes learning that lesson too.