One should be aware that PEXpiping hasa smaller inside diameter than copper pipe of the same nominal size, 3. Note that plastic Cold Expansion PEX (CEP) fittingshave similarinside diametersto metal cold expansion PEX fittingsand do not negatively affect the flow.
If youre onlydoinga small, one-off jobor repair,manual tools or a fitting system thatdoes not require special tools is likely your best option.
Simply look at a section of plumbing that is intact, particularly around any joints. Sign up for a free trial and get instant access to this article as well as GBAs complete library of premium articles and The lettered designations arent grades, just references to the manufacturing process. In most cases, no. As opposed to pinch clamp tools where one tool works on multiple sizeof clamps. Photo: ViegaPEX Press Starter Kit from Supplyhouse.com. Compression fittings do not require any special tools beyond two wrenches. While PEX ranges from 3/8 to 1, the most common sizes youll see in residential applications are 1/2 and 3/4while 1 is often used formainfeedlines. If youre interested in using stainless steel fittings but cant find a distributor near you who sells them, get in touch with us and we will get you connected as soon as possible. Cold expansion with PEX-reinforcing rings fall under the ASTM F1960 standard. Stainless Steel, While this is probably the most common reason for switching, there are other reasons as well. With strength thats been tested to twice the force of brass, astainless steelfitting really is the best of both worlds, theres no other fitting on the market that can match it feature-for-feature. Itprobably doesnt make sense to invest in a completepower toolsystem that is going to break the bank. Mixed plumbing The method in which a manufacturer performs the cross linking is what denotes what type of PEX (A, B, or C) it is. This reduces the number of required connections, making installations faster and easier and lessens the chance of potential leak points. In addition to thehighercost of thesefittings, the additionalcost ofanentire settoolingthat a plumber mustinvest into clamp the different diameters ofPressPEXfittingsmake this system less desirable to many. Not even very close, either. If they are cold expansion fittings, you know PEX A was used by the plastic PEX-A Ring / Sleeve. By all means oneof the most popular and economic options within PEX B systems is acoppercrimp ring orS.S.pinch clamp. Many installers Ive talked to dont even own one. Do this until the pipe is expanded wide enough to receive an F1960 fitting. Chemicals added to a plumbing system (as when you drip chlorinate) are considered to be fully dispersed after 4 diameters of pipe length. Requirea special tool to make the connection. Thanks, Malcolm. Response to MS Stainless Steel Fittings, Online retailer Supplyhouse.com sells a widevariety of PEX tubing, fittings, and tools. Thanks for pointing out the Legend Hyperpure alternative. How much does strength matter? PEX A is not inherently better than PEX C. The different types of PEX help plumbers determine what form of fitting to use and what characteristics the tube will have. The question remains, which isn't necessarily answered in this article, does one risk using a fitting system other than Uponor, if by doing so you would likely have no warranty coverage.
The bottom line: PEX is more durable than copper, and it lasts longer. But after reading this thread, I think I will reinstall my wholehouse water filter. Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Determining the sizeof your PEX isfairly easy, it is printed along the side of the PEX pipe. The heat welding systems for PP aren't terribly expensive for residential pipe sizes (<2"), around $1k if I recall correctly. My purpose is to generate greater awareness of the offerings available and to clear up any concerns or misinterpretations installers may have.
The answer is two-fold. Uponor fittings It would be interesting to see some third-party reporting about it. Often, it is a balance between choosing a fitting that will work with your system, that is economical for the size of budget you have for the job, and the type of investment you want to make in the tools to get the job done. In short, PEX is more durable and provides longer system longevity with less time and material invested in the installation. Plumbing, For many plumbers, the investment in thispowertoolpays back quickly insaved time makinga highnumber ofconnectionsevery day. Nothing hurts the bottom line more. That entirely depends on the quality of your water and what is in it. Most plumbing applications, especially those involving potable water, call for the use of non-oxygen barrier PEX, offeredin several grades. Using an expansion tool, expand the pipe per the manufacturers instructions. Uponor fittings are not The downside is that, as far as I know, there's no way to do any work on it without a special heat welding system. Copper crimp rings fall under two standards: ASTM F1807 for metal insert fittings and ASTM F2159 for plastic insert fittings. Of course, what your local plumbing supply store carries will also impact your decision. The real downside (other than cost) is that it requires some additional planning for fittings and connections, and can't be used in a small diameter home-run system like pex can. While there are manuallyoperated hand tools that can be used for cold expansion PEX plumbing, the most common type for most plumbers are battery operated hand tools. The simplestand easiestconnectionto make,no special toolsarerequired. In general, we recommend matching what already exists in your system. Building his forever house, Dean Sandbo is mulling what type of tubing to use for his plumbing supply lines. Stainless Steel Fittings, PEX-A products usually achieve an 85% crosslinking while PEX-B products average a 65-70%., PEX-A is more resistant to the chemicals commonly found in plumbing and heating systems than what it has replaced, he adds, and long-term testing by Uponor, one of the manufacturers of PEX-A, is very encouraging. If I understand Richard McGrath correctly, he is a big fan of Uponor tubing. At BoshartU, our goal is to equip you and your team with the knowledge you need to be more successful. This inevitably leads to a higher occurrence of dry fits; i.e., a connection that was overlooked and never crimped. What do I want to achieve with my installations? For indoor plumbing, the most common PEX tubing is one half-inch, which boasts a higher flow rate than copper pipe of the same size. Like Push-Fit fittings you might be savingthecostofinvesting in tools, this cost is quickly negated bythehigher cost ofcompressionfittings, especially if you are installing numerous fittings. Twist lock fittings are not a very common use in pex applications, but can be helpful in certain situations. These fittings are also incredibly resistant to corrosion. This article has been brought to you by SupplyHouse.com. He can be reached at dan.hubbard@uponor.com. You can also see it clearly if you have physical access -- the fittings are clearly smaller on the inside than the tubing. Slide the ring into position over a point where the pipe and the fitting overlap. Slide the ring into position over a point where the pipe and the fitting overlap. The fittings have virtually the same inside diameteras the pipe, creating less restriction and often allowing for smaller pipe sizes. Cold expansion with PEX-reinforcing rings. Since oxygen cancause many heating system components to rust and corrode, baseboard or radiant heating applications require the use ofoxygen barrier PEX, offered in grades of PEX-A and PEX-B. 
A specializedtoolis required tocomplete thepressconnection. The process for making a connection on a square-cut, clean pipe is as follows. Sign up now. These are the four main methods for joining PEX piping systems. There are actually three types of PEX, as a reference article supplied by GBA senior editor Martin Holladay explains (see the Related articles sidebar below). The aluminum layer doubles as an oxygen barrier, which in concert with its lower expansion rate, makes PEX-AL-PEX suitable for use in outdoor, warmboard, or high-temperature heating systems. The company holds an unofficial record for resisting high temperature and pressure, McGrath says, holding up to 175 pounds per. For one, PEX is flexible, so it can bend with each change in direction. Boshart Industries is the first-to-market withStainlessSteel also meaning you can only find these products with us. Which Type of Dehumidifier Is Right for You? The biggest downfall with brass is its susceptibility to corrosion. http://s3.supplyhouse.com/manuals/1295550221872/44591_PROD_FILE.pdf. MS, I could see doing it in a very large house, though. Stainless Steel, While there are power tools that can make crimp ring connections, it is still more common to find manuallyoperated hand tools in a plumbers toolbox. If they are fittings of nearly any other type, youll know its most likely PEX B or possibly PEX C, and you can buy accordingly.
With more than a decade in the industry, I thought Id take a stab at answering these three questions, while offering some information about PEX fittings. There are opportunities to send a sample of your water off to a lab to be tested, but for the average person, this is more involved than they care to get. Learning the pros and cons of each will help you determine which connections will be more reliable for your project. Push the pipe into the fitting per the manufacturers instructions.
Other types of fittings used with PEX are crimp, clamp, press andcompression, any of which are less expensive but require specialized tools. The distance from the edge of the pipe varies based on material type and manufacturer. Recently, I came across an online article that featured contractors experiences with various types of cross-linked polyethylene, or PEX, connection systems crimp, clamp, push-to-connectand cold expansion. Insert the fitting into the pipe until the shoulder of the expansion ring touches the shoulder of the fitting. If youre using PEX A piping, Cold Expansion PEX (CEP) fittings are the most common type of fitting that youll see being used and are exclusive to PEX A. Metalcrimpfittings, such as brass, tackle the problem of thickness head-on. Many Twist Lock fittings are used on smaller diameter plastic pipe, but can be used on pex as well. The method in which a manufacturer performs the cross linking is what denotes what type of PEX (A, B, or C) it is. A quick look at the specs will confirm this. Chase Away Winters Chill with Radiant Heat, A Few Things to Consider When Installing a Radiant Heat System. That's fine -- lots of people have favorite brands. A brasssleeveand nut areinstalledover the end of the PEXpipe or CTStubing, and then thepipe isinsertedinto the fitting. There is also debate within the plumbing community about the permanence and trustworthiness of some of these fittings in enclosed locations (behind walls, etc.). We've looked at that on a couple houses, but in both cases the owner's opted for either full PP or full PEX. 
PEX-B is slightly less flexible and less freeze-resistant. 
I am on a well, he writes. fittings, such as brass, tackle the problem of thickness head-on. Whether this means the cost is thus enabling or prohibitive is a matter of interpretation. However,if you are experiencing flow issues or poor pressure it may be beneficial toincrease the diameter. Also known as PEX-AL-PEX, aluminum barrier PEX is three-layertubing that consists of a layer of PEX, a layer of aluminum, and another layer of PEX. For most installers, callbacks and rework are the worst. No matter whatyou go with, its hard to make a wrong choice. (Some PEX manufacturers offer a pipe life expectancy of more than 100 years.) Comparing the types of Pex connections available. The outside diametercan be measured using a vernier caliper. Seems like a no brainer to use them. Plumbers use other fittings, WHICH WILL WORK, however, if plumber/consumer want the manufacturer to honor a warranty to claim, they better have used the Uponor fittings. These two technologiesaresimilarin thata metalfasteneris attached over the barbs of the fitting with the PEX tube in between.
How much does strength matter? Follow any additional manufacturers instructions. However, if you are experiencing flow issues or poor pressure it may, be beneficial toincrease the diameter. Because all three types of PEX tubing must meet ASTM F876 and NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 standards, plumbers can rest assured that their choice will be up to code. Alternatively, apush fitfitting uses a combination of these materials. When thebrass nutis tightenedthesleevecreates acompressionseal. components in a plumbing system can be catastrophic for countless reasons. Donna Boyle Schwartz, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day, The One Drawback of PEX Pipe Even Plumbers Didn't See Coming. The process for making a connection on a square-cut, clean pipe is as follows. Using a crimp tool, compress the crimp ring until the tool stops. In general, the type of PEX a plumber uses primarily comes down to personal preference. A crimp ring requires the jaws of the tool to go over the PEX tube and around the ring for clamping, but a pinch clamp only requires the ends of the jaw be able to access the smallearon the clamp. Dustin's idea What about push-to-connect Inexpensive to buy and surprisingly versatile, PEX is also relatively easy to install.
It doesnt matter if youre a homeowner making a repair or youre a worker entering the plumbing trade for the first time: its an important skill to know how to identify the PEX plumbing you have on hand, what factors to consider when installing it, and how you know that youre choosing all the best, While the nuances between different materials and products can seem insignificant to anyone. If chemicals commonly leach from the PEX, why not use polypro for the common sources of drinking water and use PEX for the rest, especially home-run hot water? Most tools will not release until the connection is complete. PEX-A is produced with a better manufacturing process than PEX-B as the crosslinking takes place during the extrusion process, McGrath writes. Mixed plubing What Richard McGrath lays out seems pretty straight forward. Polypropylene is great as far as taste and is also one of the better plastics as far as environmental impact of manufacturing. There is no reason to doubt their integrity, but a lot of us would rather wait and see what their long term reliability is. Tags: Especially in cases where a PEX fitting is being married to an alternate form of pipewith copper tube size(CTS)copper,CPVCandsometypes oftubing. PEX A is not inherently better than PEX C. The different types of PEX help plumbers determine what form of fitting to use and what characteristics the tube will have. Simply look at a section of plumbing that is intact, particularly around any joints. You might not even have to imagine it; you may be routinely experiencing it.
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