How to connect new pipes to obsolete plumbing materials
Standard adapters to convert modern PEX to older 3/4-inch baseboard piping are hard to find because the original materials are obsolete. This turns small plumbing repairs into nightmare projects where inexperienced people must manually pack joints on gnarly clay tiles to create a smooth transition and stop leaks.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Rigging up a temporary hose with hose clampsDid this help you?
- 2Replacing the entire baseboard unitDid this help you?
- 3Packing oakum or makeshift materials into the joint and sealing it with hydraulic cementDid this help you?
- 4Using rubber donuts or gaskets specifically designed to adapt PVC to clay hubsDid this help you?
- 5Cutting the clay pipe clean and using a shielded Fernco coupling to transition to PVCDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“The fittings on this baseboard (where the PEX meets the baseboard 3/4” piping) had a slow leak.”source ↗
“Since all of these materials seem to be obsolete in 2026 I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions about converting the PEX to 3/4” or an adaptor?”source ↗
“Hey guys , I got myself into a "little" project that turned into a nightmare anyways... what's your opinion on this ?”source ↗
“this is my first time working with Clay tile , i packed that shit in the outside and inside trying to create a smooth transition”source ↗
“that wye was backed pitched to shit so shit water kept leaking”source ↗
“that clay runs in a gnarly way I wouldn't even try that especially at my experience level lol”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 4How to fix a sink drain pipe that is too short
- 9Why can't I replace a flexible sink drain with rigid PVC?
- 2What replacement material should I use for a corroded pipe nipple?
- 7Kitchen tap internal pipe disconnected with no slack