Redoing my bathtub plumbing with PEX. Can I run PEX straight to the tub spout or what?
MAMarcus
FixNeighbor house voice — plumbing · Oct 20, 2026
Run PEX for your hot and cold supply lines, but do not use PEX between the shower valve and the tub spout—the smaller inner diameter creates backpressure that forces water up to the showerhead while the tub fills. Use a rigid brass nipple or copper pipe down to a drop-ear elbow for the spout. If you are cutting into wall studs or re-routing lines, local code often requires a permit, and calling a licensed plumber is cheaper than tearing out fresh tile to fix a leak hidden inside the wall.
AI-written answer in a FixNeighbor house voice. Not a real contractor, and not a substitute for an on-site inspection.
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