As you can imagine, there are pros and cons to each choice that well briefly outline below. 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. While you might be saving the cost of investing in a particular tool to use apush-fitfitting, this cost is quickly negated by thehighercost ofpush-fitfitting,especiallyif you are installing numerous fittings. Another concern is that because these parts are relatively easy to purchase at a variety of retailers, it means any untrained individual can purchase and install these types of fittings. That entirely depends on the quality of your water and what is in it. Slide the ring into position over a point where the pipe and the fitting overlap. If you choose a different brand of tubing -- say, Nibco tubing -- then you use Nibco fittings. Tags: As you can imagine, there are pros and cons to each choice that well briefly outline below. Inner diameters for 1/2 nominal products: Uponor PEX tubing: 0.475" Reply to Steve The reason is that one of the speculative downsides of PEX is a shorter service lifeso if you're paying to do a good chunk of the system in PP (including the line from the street), you might as well go whole hog and get "forever pipe" everywhere. Simply look at a section of plumbing that is intact, particularly around any joints. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(4921841, '9b1f5501-c7a0-4188-b0f7-6d554f45c741', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Head over to Boshart's Knowledge Base: technical product information, guidelines, and more. Types A, B, and C are manufactured differently, which affects characteristics such as flexibility, resistance to chlorine and oxidation, coil memory, and cost. A closer look at copper crimp, stainless steel clamp, push-to-connect and cold expansion with reinforcing rings. In instances where you might be operating in a confined space, the pinch clamp can sometimes make the jobeasier. Any input as to the longevity and safety of these two different types of pipes?. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. Cold expansion with PEX-reinforcing rings. The 1/2-inch size is most commonly used; 3/8-, 5/8- and 3/4-inch sizes are also available. That's fine -- lots of people have favorite brands. PEX fittings aremost commonly madeup of one of three different types of materials:Plastics,Brasses, orStainlessSteel. 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. In general, we recommend matching what already exists in your system. 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. The differences between the three are not necessarily that of grade or performance. Use a go/no-go gauge to verify each connection has been made properly. 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. APush Fit fittingis pressed ontotheend of a PEXPipeand the connection iscomplete. 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. How likely are you to spring a leak? You can easily drop $2-3K on battery powered expanders / crimpers for Pex. Copper crimp rings fall under two standards: ASTM F1807 for metal insert fittings and ASTM F2159 for plastic insert fittings. For Richard McGrath, PEX-A is at the top of the heap. Its primary benefit is that once bent, PEX-AL-PEX holds its shape and doesnt need to be tied down every few feet. Most of the builders I know are comfortable using them in locations where they are exposed but are still reticent to bury them in walls. Using an expansion tool, expand the pipe per the manufacturers instructions. Stainless Steel Fittings, If they are cold expansion fittings, you know PEX A was used by the plastic PEX-A Ring / Sleeve. PEX supply lines speed up installation and lower the risk of frost damage, Researchers still aren't sure how it affects water, and certification standards may be failing to test for compounds that affect water quality, Careful planning and commonsense rough-in make a well-performing, safe, and easily maintained system guaranteed. The go/no-go gauge will also help determine if the crimp tool needs to be recalibrated. The process for making a connection on a square-cut, clean pipe is as follows. If youre onlydoinga small, one-off jobor repair,manual tools or a fitting system thatdoes not require special tools is likely your best option. 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. 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. That's as expected. When you want a product that has the corrosion-resistance of plastic and strength that is superior to brass, stainless steel fittings areby all. A quick look at the specs will confirm this. Because metal is significantly stronger than plastic, a thinner metal fitting can be utilized and still exceed the strength of a plastic fitting. Nocomplex soldering or messy gluing is required, and the tubing can be easily fished through walls and around cornerstry that with copper or PVC pipe! The heat welding systems for PP aren't terribly expensive for residential pipe sizes (<2"), around $1k if I recall correctly. PEX-B is slightly less flexible and less freeze-resistant. Again, no surprise. These fittings are also incredibly resistant to corrosion. A handful of plastic fittings wont make asignificantdifference, but over the course of an entire system, the loss inflow and orpressure can really add up. Because metal is significantly stronger than plastic, a thinner metal fitting can be utilized and still exceed the strength of a plastic fitting. There is no reason to doubt their integrity, but a lot of us would rather wait and see what their long term reliability is. Of course, what your local plumbing supply store carries will also impact your decision. These gauges vary by manufacturer, as do their operations, but the job of the gauge is consistent. For one, PEX is flexible, so it can bend with each change in direction. In general, we recommend matching what already exists in your system. He has narrowed the choice to one of two types of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX): PEX-A or PEX-B. , and in certain water condition it has been known to cause serious, problems resulting in property damage due to leaking or cracked fit. The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes. The method in which a manufacturer performs the cross linking is what denotes what type of PEX (A, B, or C) it is. We regularly publish new blogs and content that will help you become more comfortable and confident with our products. Has memory which means itshrinks back to size, Must be usedwhenmakingcold-expansion(CEP)connections, Most versatile, many ways to make a joint (cold expansion, crimp ring, pinch clamp, push-fit,compression ortwist & lock), used forcrimptypefittings as it isthe most economical option, Variety of ways to make a joint (crimp ring, pinch clamp,push-fit,compressionor twist & lock, Uses the sameconnectionmethods as PEX Bjoint (crimp ring, pinch clamp, push-fit, compression or twist & lock), Slightly more rigid than PEX A, some brands have beenprone to development of cracks. The simplestand easiestconnectionto make,no special toolsarerequired. In general, the type of PEX a plumber uses primarily comes down to personal preference. 4. PEX, of course, is the industry term for cross-linked polyethylene. 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. Of course, what your local plumbing supply store carries will also impact your decision. My purpose is to generate greater awareness of the offerings available and to clear up any concerns or misinterpretations installers may have. Other types of fittings used with PEX are crimp, clamp, press andcompression, any of which are less expensive but require specialized tools. So many plumbing and heating professionals have switched to PEX to stay competitive. The biggest downfall with brass is its susceptibility to corrosion. 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). Ultimately, its up to you to determine what choice makes the most sense for your unique situation. Uponor fittings Push the pipe into the fitting per the manufacturers instructions. What about push-to-connect 
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. Requirea special tool to make the connection. No matter whatyou go with, its hard to make a wrong choice. 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. The process for making a connection on a square-cut, clean pipe is as follows. Not even very close, either. That entirely depends on the quality of your water and what is in it. I could see doing it in a very large house, though. Is there a right or wrong option? Mixed plumbing Insert a fitting, either metal or plastic, into the end of the pipe. But after reading this thread, I think I will reinstall my wholehouse water filter. 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. Follow any additional manufacturers instructions. PEX-A, which has the most flexible tubing and best freeze- and kink resistance, is ideal for use with kitchen and bath fixtures. The outside diametercan be measured using a vernier caliper. 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? The answer is two-fold. components in a plumbing system can be catastrophic for countless reasons. Uponor fittings are not "unrestricted" or "full flow". The ring or clamp is then secured by a dedicated tool to ensure a proper fit. Florida Plumber Changes Lives Around the World, Case Study: Vent Pipe Filter's Aesthetics Fit Landscaping, Current Plumbing Industry Trends You Need to Know, Making the Connection With PEX: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, General Pipe Cleaners, div. in order tocreate them. Get building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox. 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. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! I REALLY don't trust sharkbite fittings. The process for making a connection on a square-cut, clean pipe is as follows. If they are cold expansion fittings, you know PEX A was used by the plastic PEX-A Ring / Sleeve. There are three types of PEX tubing available for plumbers: PEX A, PEX B, and PEX C. The primary differences between these three materialsarethe methodsthat the manufacturer usesin order tocreate them. Insert the fitting into the pipe until the shoulder of the expansion ring touches the shoulder of the fitting. The distance from the edge of the pipe varies, based on material type and manufacturer. Response to MS 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. Metalcrimpfittings, such as brass, tackle the problem of thickness head-on. If there are chemicals leaching from the pex, they are probably going to similarly end up present in all the house's water. When you want a product that has the corrosion-resistance of plastic and strength that is superior to brass, stainless steel fittings areby allmeansthebest option available. Crimp Ring Connections / Pinch Clamp Connections. They're just *less* restricted than typical PEX fittings. 
Acompression fitting may be an appropriate choice. How much does strength matter? Become a GBA Prime member and get full access to GBA articles, enyclopedia, videos, CAD library, and more. Stainless Steel, Which Type of Dehumidifier Is Right for You? 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. Identifying the different types of PEX tubing, There are three types of PEX tubing available for plumbers: PEX A, PEX B, and PEX C. The primary differences between these three materialsarethe methodsthat the manufacturer uses. Few plumbers in the US have those systems. 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. Many installers Ive talked to dont even own one. While the nuances between different materials and products can seem insignificant to anyonewhodoesnt know, choosing mismatched orinadequatecomponents in a plumbing system can be catastrophic for countless reasons. In the eventthe printing hasfaded,no worries. This will of course vary depending on your specific use case, but for safeguarding against things like water hammer (shockwaves sent through your plumbing system when a valve is shut off too quickly) or manufacturing defects, metal is the superior choice. Chemicals added to a plumbing system (as when you drip chlorinate) are considered to be fully dispersed after 4 diameters of pipe length. But, if youre planning on doing routine plumbing, it might benefit you tolook at specialized tools that will reduce installation time and are easier touse. In general, the type of PEX a plumber uses primarily comes down to personal preference. You will seesmall variations in density, burst pressure levels and bend radiuses between PEX pipe types, but theyre negligible. Slide the ring into position over a point where the pipe and the fitting overlap. Photo: ViegaPEX Press Starter Kit from Supplyhouse.com. 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. 
This inevitably leads to a higher occurrence of dry fits; i.e., a connection that was overlooked and never crimped. What Richard McGrath lays out seems pretty straight forward. He can be reached at dan.hubbard@uponor.com. One should be aware that PEXpiping hasa smaller inside diameter than copper pipe of the same nominal size. If youre starting from scratch on a new plumbing project, you can choose what type of PEX you want to use based on some of the above benefits. Slide the PEX-reinforcing ring over the end of the pipe.
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