Pex questions...

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Pex questions...

October 07, 2019, 11:34:00 pm

What is the group consensus on Pex ? Sharkbite connections or crimp?
The only Pex I have used was with Whale fittings. These are like Sharkbite fittings. Wonder what the long term life of the sharkbite vs the crimp is?
Was looking at Pex crimping tools today at Lowes. Pretty expensive for what it does imo.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #1 – October 07, 2019, 11:59:50 pm

I've used SharkBite connections for every plumbing mod I've done on our coach. They seem to work great - zero leaks (so far). I have no idea what the service life is...but since they will probably outlive me, I'll let the next owner worry about it.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #2 – October 08, 2019, 12:13:01 am

PEX with crimps are very strong when made with the older copper rings or the newer stainless steel crimps. The pressure the rings or crimps put on the pipe embeds the pipe into the fitting making it nearly impossible to remove from the fittings even with the crimp cut off and removed.
I regularly inspect leaking copper piping, some CPVC pipe leaks and just about never find PEX leaking.
JWGJW PEX Clamp Cinch Tool Crimping Tool Crimper for Stainless Steel Clamps...
This is the tool you want, easy to use even with one hand, good for tight small areas and a lot cheaper than Lowes.
The PEX crimps make for a very neat professional looking installation.
I rarely see shark bites used, except by water softener installers who are cutting into existing installations - cannot say I have seen one leak.
All the plumbing I have installed over the last 15 years has been PEX and I have never had a problem with a leaking crimped connection.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #3 – October 08, 2019, 08:55:40 am

Thanks. Just what I needed to know.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #4 – October 08, 2019, 12:16:15 pm

I can say for a fact that sharkbite fittings will last at least 12 years.......and still going.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #5 – October 08, 2019, 01:15:30 pm

I replumbed our vacation home in Mammoth Lakes (very cold winters) using PEX. I used the copper rings throughout with a single exception where I could not access the ring with the tool, so I used the push type there. I bought the crimpers for the RV, since it requires much less space to use.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #6 – October 08, 2019, 03:30:37 pm

Sharkbite is really a brand of tools and fittings that work with Pex, which Sharkbite also makes. It is probably the most popular brand. Sharkbite makes a push to connect type of fitting that a lot of folks refer to as "Sharkbite". Sharkbite also makes many types of fittings that can be clamped or crimped. If you should ever have to replace any of these fittings, it is recommended to replace the pex unless it is long enough to cut off the clamped or crimped part and reconnect. I have made a few repairs and no leaks. I used black copper crimp rings, but clamp probably works just as well. Clamps are easier to remove if you plan to reuse the fitting (elbow, tee, etc.) When assembling several pieces of pex and fittings where I had to assemble some of it to get the lengths of pex correct, I found that I could do partial crimps to hold the parts together and then come back and complete the crimp when everything was correct. Could probably do the same with clamps. This worked out well as I could remove the assembly complete the crimps and then just have to do one crimp in tight quarters.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #7 – October 08, 2019, 06:02:34 pm

I have used both types of fittings and both have worked well for me. The SharkBite fittings are significantly more expensive, but unless one is using large quantities of them it's not a major issue. At times (in certain locations) the SharkBite fittings are much easier to use.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #8 – October 08, 2019, 08:32:03 pm

Have done years of plumbing and both the clamp and Sharkbite work great! The Sharkbites are more expensive, but in some area's of the coach, it is the only thing to use since you lack the necessary space for the crimping tool. Neither has ever failed me! The one thing I do like about using the Sharkbite is it can be removed easily and reinstalled.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #9 – October 08, 2019, 09:03:33 pm

One other possibility to put out there that I have been using is the Uponor Logic Pex Bands. Super easy to use, works well in tight spaces, and have never had a leak. The only issue is that you do need a special tool to install the bands that is different than the clamp style. While I have never had a bad experience with a shark bite, I have always considered them temporary for home repairs and changed them out as soon as I can.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #10 – October 08, 2019, 09:21:33 pm

Used brass Shark bites to plumb my whole shop bath. It gets cold too. 10+ years and counting.

I do all RV repairs with "Flare it" pex fittings, been using them 25 + years, never an issue. Cheaper, and positive locking

Flair-It 16816 Plastic Swivel Elbow, 0.5" Size: Pipe Fittings: Amazon.com:...

Amazon.com: Flair-It Coupling: Automotive

Flair-It 1/2 in. PEX x 1/2 in. Dia. FPT PVC Coupling - Ace Hardware

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #11 – October 08, 2019, 10:23:07 pm

Those look good Chris

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #12 – October 09, 2019, 12:54:30 pm

I have been replacing all my grey pipe and plastic valves with pex and brass ball valves little by little and not having any problems

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #13 – October 09, 2019, 05:58:19 pm

What are you using?

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #14 – December 29, 2019, 10:56:02 pm

OK, so well on my way to redoing the mess the previous owners made to my water system. Hope to make it more user friendly and eliminate a bunch of stuff not needed.
This project has morphed into a redo of both wet bays. Eventually.
First started on the passenger side. Removed a ton of old pex. Also rerouted the drain from behind the bulkhead to under the coach.
I am also adding a hot water bypass that Roger had posted on previously to save on water and grey tank space.
That is being sent from the bottom of the maniblock on the hot side to my new direct fill on the drivers side wet bay.
Most of that is done. Since I won't have the solenoid for direct fill anymore I plan on using that switch to power the relay for that system.
Below is a pic of all the parts in my system I did not need or replaced with new. Some were pretty beat up, with gaskets eaten away by time. Can't replace those as far as I know, so put in new. I also repositioned the water pump. Not completely finished yet so pics will have to wait till done.
Also need to replace the black water flush, and possible change my third valve to a remote valve in order to accommodate the Lippert waste master hose. Going to redo the faces of the wet bay as well. To many holes from PO changing stuff.
I changed my water filtration system from pre fill to post tank as well. I will put in a single larger sediment filter prefill on my water hose. I have both a glendinning 50 foot 50 amp wire reel and a 35 foot water hose reel ordered. That will be hooked up to the direct fill at the top of the tank. Both are on order and not expected till mid January or so.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #15 – December 30, 2019, 12:22:45 am

IMO pex makes a outstanding product. Have always used the copper crimp rings and brass fittings. Had great luck with them. That being said I really am intrigued with the plastic pex rings used with plastic fittings. Expensive tools thou. The problems with the kitec fittings with the hi zinc and corrosion is hard to forget. I've never seen the pex fittings sulfate but?? Our water in southern Nevada is terrible and corrodes everything. I've got literally hundreds of fittings around and in our house, radiant heated floors and solar heat collectors. Always in the back of my mind. The plastic would never corrode but may dry out and crack. Guess I'll stay with what works pex with copper crimp rings and brass fittings. I've never used the stainless rings, they cost to much to change too being I'm already set up to crimp. Also I have one small crimper that uses two 5/16 bolts to pull tight. Never not been able to make it fit were needed. I have seen the shark bite or similar direct buried and corroded till failure, but they were not intended to be used that way. Always felt they were a temporary expensive patch although many swear by them.
Scott

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #16 – December 30, 2019, 07:01:20 am

PEX is great but the brass fittings are beginning to show deterioration after 12/15 years, do not yet see them leaking in installations but the plastic fittings are becoming the fittings of choice.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #17 – December 30, 2019, 08:26:57 am

Quote from: Irish – December 30, 2019, 07:01:20 am

PEX is great but the brass fittings are beginning to show deterioration after 12/15 years, do not yet see them leaking in installations but the plastic fittings are becoming the fittings of choice.

I've seen some plastic fittings weaken and begin to seep as they age as well. I'm not sure either style is the perfect design.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #18 – December 30, 2019, 11:36:20 am

Anyone who has tried to remove (cut) a copper ring knows how resilient they are. I have never been able to pull a pex line from a fitting after having done so. I can't imagine this crimping rings ever corroding, especially considering that the water doesn't come in contact with the crimps. I would not trust plastic. The only failure I've had was with the 20 year old quarter turn valves in the wet bay when one started to leak. It was an easy fix.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #19 – December 31, 2019, 12:00:04 am

I used the stainless steel crimps because that's what tool I bought as it was the least expensive. But I was really impressed with the copper rings that I removed from some of the PEX fittings on the coach. If I was going to do it again with the knowledge I have now, I would have went with those. But the tools a whole lot more expensive. I would not use plastic fittings but that's just me. One thing I did make a mistake on was not buying the large contractor pack at Lowe's. 50 bucks for a hundred of them, and the other pack of 10 was $6.50, I'm on my third pack and have to go back for more. Laughing out loud. Live and learn. Today working on it's some more I realize that I needed to reroute some of the lines I already put in. So out came some of the work I've done, but I already had a large amount of the hose and I just needed a few more crimps. In the end it will be much better.

Re: Pex questions...

Reply #20 – December 31, 2019, 08:18:44 pm

I have the ring tool which I bought when re-plumbing the vacation house and bought the smaller one for the stainless crimps for the RV since it can get into tighter spaces. Considering the cost of someone else doing the work, especially on the road, the tools are a good investment.

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