Different types of pex pipe; the cost, the tools required and applications of and advantages.Tips
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2012
- This is a video on several different types of pex pipe. Ths cost of each system and the places where pex can and cannot be used. I also talk about the cost of installation tools that every homeowner can purchase at their local hardware store.
I really like your videos, Sir. Thank you. In my home, I have a mix of PEX-B tubing with copper ring crimp-style brass fittings, and Uponor (Wirsbo) AquaPEX PEX-A tubing with Uponor EP ProPEX fittings. I'd guess 80% ProPEX and 20% Crimp. I started a little at a time replacing my old Gen 3 PB tubing with crimp style PEX. Then I discovered AquaPEX, and finished off the 100% re-piping with AquaPEX. Truthfully, I like crimp style just fine, but I have become 100% sold on the Uponor ProPEX system. The flexibility and repairability of the PEX-A tubing, and increased flow potential of ProPEX fittings (due to having larger inside diameters for a given pipe size), make the Uponor system hard to beat. The money spent for the Milwaukee expander tool and heads is well worth it, especially of you already own M12 batteries. Buy a heat gun also.
Great video!
I just bought (and moved into) a home built in the 50's. A lot of the plumbing had been re-done in CPVC, except the toilet Christmas tree.
The shower/bath lines were a constant running leak, so I attempted to replace them. Bought brand new handle, faucet/spout bath/shower unit for installing ( please excuse my lack of proper vocabulary in terms of explaining plumbing).
I went to Lowes and they helped me pick out what I needed. I replaced the 1/2 inch CPVC with 1/2 inch pex, and crimped down the crimp fittings. I prefabbed as much as I could on the front room floor, then ran the lines in the bathroom and finished under the house. I had to use my weight to crimp the pieces together on the floor ( using my weight with a slight jerking/thrusting action), as I don't have the hand strength to do it freestyle. Needless to say the crimps and the shut off valves under the house leak. I realize this is due to my issue with the my lack of hand strength, The only part that appears NOT to leak is where I glued the CPVC fitting to the SharkBite fitting. I have read ALL of the comments to sum up the new plan of action. I am thinking the Wirsbo fittings would be best. However, is there a drill type action tool that I can purchase instead of relying on hand strength for installing the fittings? I am in remote Oregon and I am searching out the places to buy all that I need, even if it is online. Any suggestions for that as well would be greatly appreciated.
Hello E. S.,
Sorry to hear that.
There are tools that will work to expand the pipe. They are quite costly though.
Remember that certain types of pex pipe cannot be expanded. There are only a few. Pex A category and they are Wirsbo and Rehau.
Pex B and C are for crimping. I am not sure what type of pex you have in your home, but if you bought it at a local hardware store; it mostly likely is B or C which can only be crimped.
Did you use copper rings or did you use stainless steel cinch clamps?
Thanks for commenting and get back to me when you get a chance.....Al
Hey Al !!!
Thank You so much for the Shout out my Friend !
I love my Sharkbite Crimp Sytem !
I found it fairly simple to use,to me a homeowner can easily use this system with a few practice runs !
Al what a Great Instructional Tutorial on Pex Piping !
I appreciate you taking your Time to Share with Us your Master Plumber Skills,to Help Enlighten the Masses to the way Plumbing Jobs should be Performed and the Tools and Materials they take to do the Job Correctly !
Thank You for all you Help Al
Hey Al,
Great video on pex. I have only used the copper crimp rings system, but have been using it for 10+ years and have never had a leak or callback . I have one crimp tool for each size @ $100 to $125 each. They are compact enough to easily use in tight quarters. I use mostly Apex, Apollo or Zurn piping that is carried locally. I never allow any to be in uv or sun light at all. Pipe and fittings are affordable and with experience can be done quickly. Love seeing the others too . thanks.
Hey Al,
Wow, what an awesome educational video!! I learned more about pex from this video than I have from watching all the home improvement shows on TV over the last 20 years! Great job!!
Nice demo on the durability of Pex A vs B and C!
I never realized you needed an O2 barrier on pex for heating and closed loop systems, that is quite interesting to know!
The UV light really did a number on that pex, that is good to know!
Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and experience Al!!
Ray
Years ago I used those white plastic push connect fittings for my pneumatic air fittings with clear polyethylene tube similar to ice maker line for my haunted house setup. They are cheap and worked well. I only had used them for air pressures of 50 or so and below. Anything before the pressure regulators and storage tanks was regular air compressor hoses but most things after were the push fittings and poly tubing. Most of my props used around 10-20 psi
Hey Ben,
Cool!
Very familiar with them.
The push fitting work well for air. I have used some myself over the years. I wouldn't use them on anything too high in pressure, but since the introduction of pex pipe; it is my go to for all my work whether it is air or water unless stated otherwise.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your week! Al
Al - thanks lots for your series of videos on the PEX. great info as I've got a kitchen and laundry room gutted right now and moving fixtures around; the new lines most likely will be PEX. I appreciate your time and expertise (and even your honesty... don't hear people on videos say "I don't know" when they don't very often). Take care, vic
Hello Vic;
You are more then welcome!
I hope they help you out with your repair!
I enjoyed doing the series.
The big thing is to take your time and do a little research like you have done. Nothing like going into a project blind and making a shambles of it.
I will be the first to say I don't know. No sense in slinging it as sooner or later it will bite you on the backside.
Thanks for commenting and best of luck with the project! Al
great video. I'm about to redo the plumbing in a old house. I'm about to move in to. this has been a great help. I'm not new to plumbing. but pex is new to me. this was a great help..
Hello James,
Thanks!
Sounds like you have your hands full for a little while. One thing to remember before you remove the old waterlines; install as many new lines and tees as you can since you will be living in the house and you don't want to go without water for a few days.
Good luck with the project!
If you have any other questions; feel free to ask.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your week! Al
@erthworm13 Hello Erthworm;
You are right on with the wirsbo. It is amzing how it works and as you say will continue to tighten even with the pressure on it. I had the same experience a few times myself with a small leak and then go back to find it sealed.
The crimp rings have to be tightened to a certain size for sure and you have to check every joint to make sure they are at that point.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy the weekend!!! Al
In 22 years I've NEVER had a crimp ring leak. Good video. I recommend good old crimp rings. The ones with the red stop are stupid proof. They never leak. You must learn to rebuild and adjust and maintain your crimpers though.
+Steven King
Thanks very much!
I like to hear that.
They have a very good record and are an easy product to purchase as most hardware stores carry them.
Thanks very much for commenting and have a great week! Al
I love my Wirsbo for a couple reason, With their expansion rings once you have the ring seated over the fitting it keeps tightening up. One of the things we'll do to show people how cool it is is to turn the water back on before the last fitting installed has had a chance to fully tighten, it will leak but even under full pressure it will not separate and will still seal itself off and stop dripping. The crimp rings are cheaper but if you over or under crimp them you are in trouble.
@hvactecster79 Hey hvac;
That crimp ring system is very popular and the cost is very affordable for sure!!!
I am swinging back to the wirsbo myself as the cost is much cheaper then rehau that I was using and it makes a big difference for sure.
Good call on the UV no show as well. Not a lot of people realize that it harms the pipe,
as you can see breaks it down considerably.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your weekend!!! Al
Hello cuff links;
Thanks very much!
There are 3 different classifications of pex! Pex A, Pex B and Pex C. Pex A can be used for any type of system; as it can be expanded and crimped. Wirsbo and Rehau are the only ones that fall under Pex A classification. There is a different procedure while this pipe is being made and therefore gives them the ability to be used on every system. All other pex pipe can only be used with crimp systems.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your day! Al
Hello Keith;
I am not sure what happened to my response from before, but it obviously didn't get to you.
You are more then welcome for the vids!
I have used the brass fittings on Uponor or Wirsbo system as I call it and have had problems. The problem was in the retaining ring did not seem to squeeze around the brass as well as the plastic. Once I changed over to the plastic fittings and the regular plastic ring; everything was fine.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your day! al
@Jdcap26 I was out visiting my son in Alberta and most homes out there have the crimp ring system with the BOW pipe from Home Depot. Very popular and not very expensive which is appealing to most consumers.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy the weekend JD!!! Al
Hello MrJones706;
You have to plan out the Viega system well! Always thinking about the next connection.
I have installed Wirsbo which is the Uponor system as well. The fittings are cheaper and the pipe is about the same price as its competitors. Wirsbo is Pex A. The sleeves can be a little tricky at times, but for the most part it is a good system as well. Ran into a few issues while using their brass fittings. The tool is costly as well!
Let me know what you think!
Thanks! Al
your channel is awesome sir, I'm glad I subscribed. you are an excellent teacher, you have a relaxing voice and avoid loud noises, which is highly appreciated and helps me focus. please keep em coming.
@spelunkerd Hello there;
Thanks very much for the compliment! There are a number of systems and pipe manufacturers today and they all do things a little different.
I hope this has helped you with your install or repair!
I live in Nova Scotia. Have yourself a great day!!! Al
@AVTreasures Hey Ray;
Thanks very much for the compliments there Ray! Means alot friend!
I was a little long winded on this video.
When I first got invloved with pex I had no idea of all the different companies that produced it, different applications or different tools required to install it. It is sort of never ending. I am sure there will be much to learn as technology changes and so will the tools for installations.
Thanks for the comments Ray and enjoy your weekend!!! Al
Excellent vid! Thanks again, planning on changing out my 1960s copper for Pex and your vids have been a big help with figuring out a game plan!
Hello Kale,
You're more than welcome!
If you should come across any problems in the project; drop me a line and I will try and help you out!
Thanks for the kind words and enjoy your week! Al
Thanks Al, Will be a while before I tackle this(Just one of many projects in the pipeline!)
I will definitely drop you a line when the time comes.
Thanks again
Kale
Hey Kale!
No worries.
Always something to tackle.
Have yourself a good evening! Al
I would leave the copper pipe up if it's not in trouble. I just don't know abt this pex stuff for the long haul breakdown....what kind of trouble will it have years down the road....if it not broke don't fix it...
Hello James;
Thanks very much James! I appreciate that!
Pex will break down if exposed to UV rays. Rays from florescent fixtures can also break it down. made a video on this subject as well! All pex has a UV protection on it. Some is longer then others!
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your day! Al
Great video. Wish I had seen it sooner.
Hello Lucas sacuL;
Thanks very much for the kind words!
I am glad you liked it!
Thanks for commenting and have a great week! Al
Thanks for sharing your tips with us.
@BustersRyder Hey Buster;
Pex has been around for such a long time, but I don,t believe anyone has ever come forward and actually told anyone much about it.
I hope this has helped you understand it a little better as I am sure there will be much to learn in the future as technology will change and perhaps make the systems even better.
I appreciate your comments and I hope you have yourself a great weekend!!! Al
Hey Lucius Dark;
What I was talking about when I mentioned pump up the sleeve was with the Wirsbo pipe and fittings. I pump up the sleeve just a little to make the sleeve go on the pipe easier. Since both the pipe and sleeve have to be stretched to fit over the fitting to make the connection. It is the only application where this applies.
Thanks for commenting and I hope this makes things a little clearer! Al
Hello cuff;
You are more then welcome!
Wirsbo and uponor is actually the same pipe.
You should be all set! They are both type A!
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your day! Al
Thank you for your opinion.
hi I'm trying to install an air compressor and im not planing to use more than 120psi. what kind of fittings and tubing would you recommend? thx in advance.
3:35 Apollo Crimpex, crimper goes on sale from $100 to $40. Fittings are reuseable, crimp rings get cut off but only cost thirty cents. Lowes, Home Despot, Cantire...
@fritzhvac Hey Fritz;
I was a little long winded on this one, but there is a lot to cover with pex.
There are so many different types out there that not eveyone knows the little things that will help with the life expectancy of the pipe; so I thought I would put this one together. UV from the sun and flourescent lights are a killer on it.
They say that under normal circumstances it should last at least 100 years. I May miss that celebration!! LOL!
Thanks for commenting friend!! Al
TheOldkid888 I have a mobile home I want to run one straight lne hot and cold water 36 ft what do I need I live in Los Angeles will not be exposed at all
Please there people are taking advantage of me already 500 and problem not fixed
Excellent video
Hello Nancy Xiong;
I can honestly say that I have never saw rubber waterlines used in a home. Are the main waterlines copper or pex? You if you wanted to leave the rubber line there and install a valve in it; you would have to look at barbed fittings with clamps. Depending on the internal size of the hose, you will need 2 barbed male adaptors and 1 threaded ball valve. You will then use teflon to join the adaptors to valve and use hose clamps to make the install.
Hello North Perth Plumbers;
You are more then welcome!
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your week! Al
I would suggest changing them in the not to distant future to pvc supplies or braided hose in the not too distant future. If the mains are copper or pex you should consider a valve directly on the pipe coming through the cabinet and then your supplies of pvc or braided hose
Thanks for commenting and best of luck with your project! Al
kept waiting for you to pick up and talk about the pex 1/4turn valve you had laying to the far right
Hello pgnandt;
Very good question. I am not really sure on the correct answer.
Many of the products today are anything, but high quality. Not saying this is the case here as Watts for the most part makes good products.
I have only come across a few linear cracks in plastic tubing and one in pex. They were caused by exposure to sunlight or freezing. In this case it may have been just a bad batch of tubing.
thanks for commenting and have a great week! Al
Hello Hever;
The Apollo Crimper and the Viega are 2 different tools all together and their fittings cannot be used with the other tool.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your week! Al
Have you seen the water supply to a faucet using a rubber water supply line? It's similar to a rubber hose for a washing machine. I bought a foreclosure home and that's how all the water supply lines for faucets come in. I want to install a shutoff valve but don't know what to use because of that. Thanks, Al.
Hello greektruck;
You are more then welcome!
I hope it has helped in knowing pex a little better.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your day! Al
@Jdcap26 Hey JD;
When I first heard about pex I said "pex is pex", but the more I worked around it, the more I learned about it as we all do. I prefer the rehau system and I was using alot of it until the cost of the fittings began to skyrocket.
So I have gone back to the wirsbo system as the cost of fittings are much cheaper. I like rehau pipe and will stick with that as they have a 1 year UV rating on their pipe and will use wirsbo fittings with it as they are both pexA classified.
TheOldkid888 rehau is still Pex
Nice video very good explained thanks I on prosces to built a container home with metal studs and spray insulation inside then table rock and I expect to use this kind of sistems to avoid corrosion on Cooper for long time.
Hello Juan,
The only thing to remember is to insulate the pipe or at least cover it if it is exposed to sunlight as UV rays florescent lights will break the pipe down. I use pipe foam insulation if I come across any such places.
Good luck with the project as it sounds very good.
Out of curiosity...how much was the container? Wouldn't mind tackling a project like that myself.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your day! Al
Hello Morkvonork;
Unfortunately there is no pex pipe that I would say would last a lifetime in a greenhouse.They will all break down at different times with sunlight depending on the manufacturer.
I am told that Veiga has the best UV protection. I made a video about wirsbo pex and how UV rays from florescent lights broke it down.
The rays would not be shining on it 24 hours a day like it was with the wirsbo.I would use Rehau or Veiga. You want the one with a solid color.
Hope this helps! Al
Really useful, thanks.
Hello Rob;
You are more then welcome!
I am glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for commenting and have a great day! Al
Hello MrJones706;
I was a big time fan of Rehau before the price went through the roof!
Viega is now at the top of the list for me! I made a 4 part series 3 months ago doing the waterlines over in a home using the Viega system. The price is half that of Rehau and much easier to install!
Since the Viega system is only a crimp system; you can use pex A,B or C. All fittings are made of bronze as well!
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your day! Al
Hello Darwin;
Thanks very much for the kind words!
I try and cover all the basis, but if you see something that I have missed or have any questions feel free to comment!
Thanks for commenting and have a great week! Al
viega fosta pex tool is the tool to peel off the outer layer,I've seen quest ,and colored cpvc,.our plumber had some pex alpex used the tool to strip the ends to use pex style fittings on our shower head,he had scraps from floor heating jobs,me...I'm a ol copper guy,....our recirc system has copper coated in pvc,but it's hard to find,they used to put a vinyl sleeve over pipe in concrete to prevent corrosion, also the pex is smaller diameter inside than copper,
Hello Mark,
That type of pex sounds very similar to Kitec, It was actually aluminum with a pvc coating on the inside and out. There was a class action suit against the manufacturer. They had a few problems. That could be the reason that pipe is hard to find.
It took me a long time to switch over to pex from copper, but once it happened; it was all good. If you have been in the trade for a long period of time and things have worked for decades; it is hard to change over, but if you want to keep up with the crowd....you have to make the change.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your weekend! Al
Thank you very much
Question: I need to join a pipe between 2 cast iron (4 inch) pipes that are not line up but one is a couple inches lower than the other, can this be done? can a 4 inch abs or pvc be curved by a torch or something?...thanks for answer...
I haven't seen any videos that show a complete re piping starting with coming off of the existing 3/4 copper or galvanized pipe from the front of the house. i haven't seen any 3/4 pex to 1/2 pex reducers. can I run a 3/4 pex from the front of the house straight under the house then tee off to the bathroom and kitchen with the 1/2in. pex? or should i just go 1/2 in. from the front of the house all the way to the finish?
Hi Al Thanks for taking time and making the videos easy to follow and very clear. My question is: can you use the poly pex connectors instead of the brass? What are the pros and cons? Thank you.
@TheOldkid888 Thank you Al. cheers
Hello johnny;
Sorry about the volume. I will try to make them a little louder in the future.
Thanks for commenting and have a great day! Al
Figures there'd be more than one system to confuse us newbies! Darned Pex I'm trying to fix for an old lady (our neighbor) is leaking a little with a hose clamp. I went out and bought crimp stuff. Better work, it's behind her washer! A little tough to understand what you are saying, but thanks for the video.
Hello Tony;
It may sound a little confusing, but all pex is joined in the same manner basically.
There are just a number of different systems available. As long as you make good crimps; you should be all set.
If worse comes to worse; you can always use sharkbites. A little more expensive, but they will do the job!
Thanks for commenting and good luck with the repair! Al
Hello fudgedogbannana;
Funny you should mention that! I just finished putting up a 4 part series on.... " How to install pex waterlines in your home"..... Check it out and let me know what you think. It covers all the basis I believe. 3/4 and 1/2 fittings!
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your evening! Al
I'm gearing up to replace most of the galvanized in my 76 Y.O. home (just pre-Pearl Harbor). My mechanical room gets lots of morning sun. I was planning to insulate the hot water lines anyway, but from what I've read, I should probably cover all of it -- hot and cold. Is it necessary to cover every last little bit of the pex?
Hello rbarr775,
Unfortunately if the pipes are exposed to direct sunlight you should cover them. They will break down over time do to UV rays. Although it is not poular because many lines are in basements or under slabs; I have seen a few situations now where pipe had leaked because of the UV. Florescent lights was one cause. The lights were on 24/7 so it had breakdown taking place constantly.
If your room only gets sun in the morning; it may not be a big concern, but one that you probably should address.
If you insulate it all, you will have no worries.
Thanks for commenting and best of luck with the project! Al
So Al out of all PEX pipe (colors rated for water use ) you have there what system do you use the most or lets say prefer ? great video series as always , TY. cheers
Brilliant review, Al.
What part of the Maritimes are you from?
I going to replumb my house I have a pinch ring tool already but do you think I should use the expansion rings instead
Hello Cory,
Is it the crimp ring or cinch that uses the stainless steel clamps?
I like the expansion systems myself, but the compression ones are good as well. Viega is a great example of that.
I have seen lots of systems that have been installed using the crimp ring system as well which is available at most big box stores. The tool is relatively inexpensive compared to the expansion ones. It uses copper rings that compress onto the pipe and the fitting. Very popular!
I am not a big fan of the cinch system myself. This is just my personal opinion. I am sure many people would say different.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your week! Al
Thanks for replying so quickly!
I used the steel ones.
I have been looking on Ebay for tools and such. However it sounds like I need to order different pet and pull the lines I currently have up.
Any suggestions?
Hello E.S.,
I have searched on line for a battery operated tool that can be used on stainless steel cinch clamps.
Ryobi makes a battery operated cinch clamp tool that would work for you. As long as it is the cinch clamp you have; it should work great!
Hope this helps!
Let me know what you think! Al
Just to clarify.. ASTM does not have a code for 1 year UV. 6 months is their longest published period. Anyone can say 1 year UV but it doesn't mean anything. Best to keep all pex away from, or protected from UV emitting lighting.
Hi Al:
I learned a lot, but I am still a bit confused.
If it is inside a building, in other words not in the ground, will the blue pex hold up well to freezing? How about the crimps and joints?
Also, I am a bit confused on the oxygen stuff. Is that limit a problem just for home-heating purposes? (Corrosion in a radiator, etc.) Would it be all right to keep a stretch connected to a sink drained for much longer than this?
nice dude
Hello Don,
Thanks!
Hopefully it will help with any future projects!
Thanks for ocmmenting and enjoy your week! Al
I have a mobile home and paid a lot of money a few years ago to have another hot water tank installed. One of the fittings they hooked it up with started leaking and looking at it it looks like they Jerry rigged it on there. They used hot water line to feed it in and connected the copper tube to the peck line with gray plastic fittings. I have been searching for a new fitting online and haven't seen what I need. I am trying to find a quick connect fitting with a 3/4 female end. Do they sell those or not.
Hello Joicelyn,
You won't find a quick connect fitting made in pex.
Sharkbite makes a number of fittings that screw onto the top of the tank and connect ot 1/2 or 3/4 copper, pex or cpvc. They are becoming very popular. There are both braided flex connections and female adapters.
One thing to keep in mind when using sharkbite is to be sure the pipe goes into the fitting the full distance and you are all set.
Hope this helps.
Thansk for commenting and enjoy your weekend! Al
is it possible to use these pipe to make a blade for my custom lightsaber?
I have seen Pex pipe on shelves in several hardware stores that use florescent lighting. Should I be concerned about UV damage or just inspect it carefully for cracks or any discolor before buying.
Hello Bill;
It takes a long period of time for it to break down. I have seen it happen three times and all three times the fluorescent
lights were on 24 hours a day and it happened over a long period of time as in a few years.
I wouldn't worry about that too much as it should be fine to use and I would imagine that the rotation of the pipe should be often.
Thanks for commenting and have a great week! Al
Is there any type of pex pipe for uncovered install in greenhouse with exposure to sunlight?
can you tell me what the expandable pex is called
I have 1" poly black main line from the well that is larger ID than blue 1" PEX. Can 1" PEX expand enough for the larger Poly fitting straight fitting?
Hello Dave,
Sorry...I don't believe it is going to work for you. Pex pipe can (should) only be connected using pex fittings.
You will need a few fittings to make the connection. A 1" barbed male adaptor to go onto the poly and then a 1" female adaptor pex fitting for the pex. Apply a little teflon and join them and use them as a coupling to make the connection.
Is the pex pipe being used outside by chance?
Thanks for commenting and get back to me when you get a chance....Al
@@TheOldkid888 Yes, the pex is going to be buried. According to the information I read from where I bought the PEX it is able to be direct buried.
Hey Dave,
Great to hear!
UV rays from the sun can break the pipe down rather quickly even though it has a UV rating. It only last for a short time.
I would use a male brass adaptor for the poly myself and be sure to use All stainless steel clamps as well on it. What I see quite often are stainless steel clamps, but the screws are regular and they rot out. You don't want to be replacing it in the near future. You will find the clamps will have ALL SS on them.
I would also use both teflon and a little pipe dope on the male threads before you join it with the female.
Also Sharkbite makes a fitting that slides over pex and they say they can be buried. I haven't done it myself, but Sharkbite say they can be used in this manner. Just be sure to mark the pipe and before you place the fitting on to make certain it is on all the way. A 1" sharkbite fitting goes on about 1-1/4 inches I believe.
Here is a link you can find more information about them.
www.sharkbite.com/resources/blog/myth-vs-fact-closer-look-sharkbite-behind-wall-underground
Thanks for commenting and best of luck with the project! Al
Feel free to ask if you you have any other questions...
@@TheOldkid888 Thanks for the tips! I'll let you know how it ends up:)
You never say why you're 'not a big fan' of the push-on fittings like Gator or Sharkbite. Fix'n to redo 100 y/o house's 1950's galvanized water pipes (1st time ever beyond replacing flex hose under kitchen sink, toilets, other non-piping issues). Dollars are tight and the cost of special tools req'd with most systems is making me cringe so much I probably look like I've got a tick (was looking at Wirsbo to keep my costs down vs. the others). However, if I can use those type push fittings on PexA instead, with an expected failure rate being very similar to higher $ systems, why shouldn't I? Your experience with them failing would be most helpful. Also, I'm glad I saw your video because I was thinking that I had a choice of fittings (going with the plastic t's, etc.) and would not have to purchase fittings specific to mfg's pex - did I misunderstand? Think'in the last question is probably stupid, but I may just be over-thinking it all at this point. Just a DIYer trying to get as much understanding and put out lasting workmanship for my family's benefit and peace of mind for me. Thanks SO MUCH for your videos!!
Hello coco1684;
The crimp system is very popular for many home owners as the price of the tool and fittings is very reasonable.
A older plumber I know just did a complete house over with Sharkbite fittings.
The home owner asked for this. He said it was the quickest installation of water lines that he has ever done.
The fittings are a little expensive, but the install is quite simple. Sharkbite fittings have been out for a few decades now and are turning out to be a very good product as well.
I have made several videos on sharkbite. Did a number of test as well to test there strength. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Thanks for commenting and have a great day! Al
Most Pex pipes are compatible with shark bite fittings if they are properly used they are very handy
Hello Hever,
That is correct!
Pex is the go to for most homeowners and Sharkbite work well on them. Like you mentioned about proper installation.
Makes all the difference in the world.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your day! Al
What type would you recommend for a compressed air system in a home shop?
Hell The Moto fixery,
I can't say that I would use any myself. I am a copper guy myself when it comes to compressed air.
I have seen a few videos where regular pex had been run and in service for a period of time with no issues.
I know there are a few different companies that make pex kits for compressed air. Rapidair is one such company. I am not really sure if the pex is any different from what is in the stores or not. Probably not, but I can't say for sure.
I saw one video where a guy had used regular pex from a big box store and had no problems.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your week! Al
@@TheOldkid888
I think I'll give it a shot. Thank you for the info!
PEX is fairly new to me and I already see people with pin holes in it. I think I will replace my 50+ year old copper with CPVC and sharkbite fittings.
Hello Toone,
I have seen a few places where pex had pinholes in it, but it was do to UV rays from florescent lights that it was exposed to 24/7 over a few years.
UV will break the pipe down, but I have not seen any other problems.
Whatever you choose I wish you the best of luck with the project!
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your weekend! Al
Hi, I want to use PEX for a non-plumbing application and was hoping you could answer this for me. I want to make a CURVED dolly track for shooting video using PEX. If you don't know what a dolly track is, it's simply two parallel rails (can be metal, pvc, rubber, etc.) often looking like train-racks that a camera on a dolly or tripod with wheels runs along for smooth movements with the camera.
What I want to do is make a 180-degree track. I've done all the math to figure out the lengths I need for a 360 circle w/ 6ft. and 11 ft. diameters, that will be cut in half. What I'm wondering about is the flexing/bending capabilities of the PEX. If I tie a string or cable to opposite sides of the circle then cut it in half right at the string points, will the PEX hold that exact shape/curvature?
Would the Oxygen Barrier PEX be better since it kind of molds better because of the aluminum substrate? Or might it be more likely to get kinked or warped and not retain a smooth precise curve?
Would appreciate any insight you can offer. Thanks!
Hello TimmyCrackCorn ,
I like the idea!
I believe the pex with the aluminum barrier would be better for you. It would hold the shape much better than regular pex.
Not all pex with oxygen barrier has the aluminum shield in it. Viega manufactures pipe with the shield in it.
Regular pex could change shape depending on temperature changes.
Thanks for commenting and good luck with the project! Al
Thanks, Al ... I appreciate the feedback. Yeah I was leaning towards the PEX with aluminum. My only concern there was that it might bend in place easily and mess up the perfect curve, where it seems like the regular pex, if held at the ends of the curve, would just bow nice into a curve. But of course I could be wrong, would it perhaps colapse in the middle (or elsewhere)?
Hello TimmyCrackCorn,
I don't think the regular pex regardless of it being held at the end will have the same bend or hold it. I may be wrong on that, but it moves easily. You would almost need a stiffener of some sort in the ends I believe.
The pex with the shield will not move once set in place. Might take a little bit to get set up exactly, but once it is doen; you will be all set.
Just my two cents on it.
You can buy the Viega pex in 20 foot lengths as well.
Thanks for commenting and good luck with the project! Al
Let me know how you get a long when you get a chance...
Sorr to take up more of your time, but one last question then ... You said: "Might take a little bit to get set up exactly, but once it is doen; you will be all set. " That's kind of my concern, as I have rubber track now, and it is really hard to get that perfectly smooth arc.
Let me know if this would make a difference with the regular (non-AL) PEX ... Once cut (and tied at the ends), I DO plan on taping it down at the 45-degrees, 90, and 180's. But I will have to transport it to the location after being cut.
Looks like cpvc is about the least expensive to run. All the tools are cheap, parts are cheap and ease of install is way easy. Only longevity is the issue but plastic is plastic right? Using pex,,, what's the life expectancy of it? I know from experience, the plastic pex fittings get brittle and can snap of you pull on the pipe,,say a t or a 90.
can we use sharkbite tubing for compressed air up to 150 psi?
Hello Levy;
made a I am not certain about that. I believe it would work as I have done a few test on the fittings. I made four joints and added 300 pounds of weight onto the joints and they did not blow drop off. It was impressive to me. I am not sure what their operating max pressure is though.
Thanks for commenting and have a great day! Al
Hello there, please, tell us where are the best stores to buy the Pex system. Thanks so much!!!!
+José Flávio
The big box stores such as Home Depot all carry it along with most hardware stores.
The crimp ring system is very popular now and the tool and fittings are not overly expensive. The Veiga, Rehau and Wirsbo tools are sold by plumbing wholesalers and are up there in price.
Thanks for commenting and have a great week! Al
I have got a project to install a solar water heating system on my own house, which brand and type of pex (A, B, C) do you recommend?
What do you mean by "pump up the sleeve?"
Hello morbitron90;
You are more then welcome!
Thanks for commenting and good luck with any future projects! Al
I suggest looking up Creep in Wikipedia as it relates to material science. Understand why crimp and clamp fittings are no good long term. Cheap isn't always the best. Uponor (Wirsbo) is years ahead of everyone in technology
Hello TheTruax13;
Uponor is a great product, but so is Rehau and Veiga.
I would still be using Rehau if it wasn't for the cost. The fittings are 3 times that the price of Wirsbo or Veiga.
The average homeowner would get along fine with the crimp system as the cost of the fittings and rings is reasonable and the fittings are brass.
Thanks for commenting and have a great weekend! Al
Sounds interesting. Do you have any references? Are you saying type A pex is less affected by creep?
I found this: gotaclassaction.com/nibco-inc-named-in-class-action-lawsuit-over-cross-linked-polyethylene-plumbing-tubes/
Anybody familiar with this?
Exactly why everyone should you Uponor pipe and fittings
Why,Sir, B and C cannot be used for expansion system ? And about the orange tube with Alum , can i just bend this around 90 degree turns without metal brackets ?
Hello Sajid,
The manufacturing process of Pex Band C is different then Pex A. Pex A is the only one that can be expanded. Upnor and Rehau are the two brands that I have come across that can be expanded. Pex B and C should not be used on expansion systems. They are used for crimping systems only.
The orange pipe with the aluminum shield in it is no longer made. There have been a number of issues with it so if you have any around, I would not use it. It was great for holding shape. You could bend it in any direction with no worries of it moving, but it was more difficult to use then the pex pipe that is made today.
Feel free to fire away with any other questions.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your week! Al
TheOldkid888 oh thanks a lot ..I keep telling myseld that a long journey begins with the first step and so go ahead and start cutting the drywalls...but still not made up my mind.
TheOldkid888 Sir. How do you compare CPVC , PVC to PEX ?
Hello Sajid,
I have only installed a little CPVC.
Definitely prefer Pex over CPVC and copper.
I believe that Pex is easier to install as there are no glues involved or soldering.
Planning it out is the most important part of the job. Take your time and you should be all set.
Run as much pipe as possible before you make any tie-ins. I would look at picking up a few sharkbite caps that can be installed as you go along to get the water back on after a days work. They can be reused over and over again until the project is done.
You can fish pex through the ceiling that will make the amount of holes in the gyprock.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your day! Al
TheOldkid888 Great ! Thanks. Work begins soon ! My best regards.
Do you know of any lawsuits .. that manufactures the blue ones and red for hot . I'm not sure which one I have but I have one of the blue and red .... House was built 2010 ... I have currently had more than 12 pinhole leaks ... They just don't stop coming .. I know that there was a lawsuit against one of these manufacturers but I don't know if it's the manufacturer that manufactured my Pex pipe
Hello Sonic Seven,
I would check the name of the brand you have and google it. There have been a few law suits over the years as far as certain manufacturers go, but I haven't heard of any on pipe except Kitec which is orange in color. The pipe had layers of material that separated over time and eventually restricted the flow of the water.
May I ask if the pipe is near any florescent lights or exposed to sunlight at any time? The pinholes could be the installers neglect to cover the pipe from sunlight for a long period of time before installing it. UV rays will break the pipe down over time. It does have UV protection built into it, but it only lasts for a short time.
Thanks for commenting and get back to me when you get a chance......Al
I use to work with pex pipe when installing water purification systems but I never heard the term "Pump it up" What does that mean?
Hello OneCupOfCoffee204;
The term "pump it up" is when I am using Uponor (Wirsbo) pex pipe and plastic sleeves. With this system you have to insert the tool and expand the pipe and ring in order to insert a fitting. So you must pump it up to make a connection.
Thanks for commenting and have a great week! Al
Some one please help me, I do have 2 Q. 1) Is the Apollo Crimper (1/2"& 3/4") compatible with Viega flow? 2) Can I use a shut-off with Viega (blue plastic) at the end of the pipe instead of using a 90 stab out. Thanks
What do you mean by “pump up” ? ty
Hello David Dion,
The wording I should have used there was expand rather then pump up. You actually pump the tool in order to expand it.
My apologize for that.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your day! Al
nice video, but you could speak up a little so you can be heard better
where can i buy Ginde Plastic pipe fittings in UK
Hello
Aguiyi Emmanuel,
I am not familiar with Ginde myself.
If no one carries it in the local stores; you are probably best to look on line. Only advice I can give you.
Thanks for commenting an best of luck with the search! Al
You move the parts around too much. Just show the PEX pipe stationary with the printing showing so we can read it, then show us what the writing on it means.
Hello Cedric,
Sorry about that.
I will take that into account on my next video!
Thanks for commenting and have a good one! Al
I can tell you that on Uponor Pex a the print will identify the pressure ratings, code approvals, manufacturing date, time, etc., footage markers, amongst a few other things
You keep saying to "pump up the pipe."
It would help to remember that most watchers of how-to videos are not familiar with regional slang, or trade jargon. I actually am a plumber and I have no idea what you mean.
Hello Daniel;
When I say pump up the pipe; I mean using the expander to increase the diameter of the pipe and the sleeve.
Sorry if there is any confusion. I added an annotation in hoping to make the comment clear.
Thanks for commenting and have a great week! Al
I still don't quite understand but I'll watch it again with an eye toward what you're saying. Thanks so much for your reply and your efforts with these videos.
Hello Daniel;
You are more then welcome! Al
Daniel Peterson
Daniel Peterson really exactly
Question about Watts' Polyethylene tubing. 3/8 OD, 1/4 ID. No marks on the tubing itself. Info from the tag on the tubing itself. Used it for ice maker. Water at 35psi. About 6 years old. Under a mobile home. No UV exposure.
What would cause this type of linear crack?
/watch?v=eCoAymcWGrw&feature=youtu.be
Does led light Affect pex pipe?
Hello Don,
Both the sun and florescent lighting will affect pex pipe breaking it down to a point where cracks will form and eventually leaks.
From the information I have read on LED lighting; they do not give off UV rays.
Here is an article I have read about it....
Do LED Light Bulbs Emit UV Radiation?
For the majority of LED light bulbs, in industrial applications and otherwise, they do not give off UV radiation. In earlier incarnations of LED lighting the reason they did not emit UV radiation was their inability to give off white light. However, since the advent of white light LEDs, this has changed. White light LED bulbs are created by coating brilliant blue LEDs in phosphor. This allows the blue to be absorbed and only allow the white to come through.
Although most types of LED lighting do not emit any UV light, brilliant blues do emit a small amount. However, the phosphor reduces this to such a small fraction of the already small amount, the amount emitted is essentially negligible. There is no need for a filter and this is why they are used in many environments where photosensitivity is a concern.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your week! Al
How can I tell. What kind of pipes I have?
Hello Caren Look,
It is hard to tell wheat types of pipe you may have in your home unless you can see a name on them. Such as ( Rehau, Viega. Wrisbro, Uponor, Kitec ) are a few of the more popular. There are many manufacturers that have produced pex over the years.
There should be a name on the pipe and from there we can usually tell if it is a pex A or pex B. Also the color of the pipe would help. How long ago were they installed?
Thanks for commenting and get back to me when you get a chance.....Al
Halo the containers have different sizes and prices star 20ft to 45ft long the price from 1800 to 3500 and then you need to pick a clean box never transport dangerous poisoning chemical you have to ask for one transport Good's lake food ,clothes, electronics,etc is a lot of videos from people how to they biuld the dream home remember you can go basic with you prollect or go fancy and you can find floor plans to on you tube so you have better idea on my project all pipe and duck wire have to be cover with spray insulation I made a small shoe box we're my T connection 90degre and other connection on case I have to do any repair but remember to live foam on the wall thanks an do your search and put a budget my container go to Mexico because is chip to buy all materials furniture and aplaence here my project is 45k , thanks one more time and keep making great videos happy new year.
Thanks Juan,
Much appreciated!
Will have to watch some videos on them. No doubt there are great ideas out there.
Thanks for the reply and enjoy your weekend! Al
what is your favorite type of Pex /Plastic piping ?
+GetMikeNyce
My favorite type of pex would be type A that can be expanded or compressed.
Wirsbo and Rehau are two manufacturers of this product. I believe all other pex is either B or C.
Wirsbo has been around for many years and uses plastic fittings and sleeves for many of its connections which keeps the cost down. Rehau uses brass fittings and the cost of their fittings has gone up drastically in the past number of years. I believe Rehau makes the best system as i like how the sleeve is pulled over the pipe and the fitting compressing the pipe into the grooves.
Viega is the go to right now by many people as the cost is low for both the pipe and the fittings as they are compressed by a stainless ring. They have started making the fittings plastic which drops the price even more.
The system is very simple and the sleeves are connected to most fittings which helps a lot.
They are all good systems...Can't knock any of them.
Thanks for commenting and have a great week! Al
heat link pex is the best
Hello crephotos;
There are many different types of pex on the market today!
I have never used heat link pex on any system. I, personally, think that Rehau is the best system, but the price is triple compared to Viega. The other advantage of Viega is the crimping sleeves are on the fittings which make installation much quicker then other systems.
Thanks for commenting and have a great day! Al
Ok so. blue cold water , red hot and white drinking water so clear ice makers ?
and orange is for ......? what gas. I will use shark bite for them no the clamps . Does PVC will be better with s-bites than pex .I have well water and copper pipes and I am tire of it they are liking from the weld parts .Old house .Plus I have 5 filters one for ea. line.
Hello Luis,
Pex is a great way to go.
As far as the color goes it is up to the installer. One color can be used for all.
I have installed one color on different occasions. Not a big deal. It all does the same job.
The orange pex in the video has a shield in it and is not used any more.
Thanks for commenting and best of luck with the install! Al
Kitec is a PoS pipe!
Hello Hever,
Very true!
I believe they stopped making it a number of years ago. big problems with it as you probably know.
Thanks for commenting and have a good one! Al
The last item you handled you said someone put you on to. It was a small white tube and a long white sharkbite type fitting. You put it on then took it off with no explanation as to why what it is and why it didn't fulfill whatever purpose. Please, don't leave us in the dark and.
So is there a type of PEX pipe that mice can't chew through?
Hello Vanessa H,
There is a manufacturer called Viega that has an aluminum shield in it that may be the only one that will prevent mice from eating through it. There may be more manufacturers that make this pipe with the shield in it, but I am not aware of it.
I would say that most pex would be able to be chewed through by mice or other rodents such as them.
Thanks for commenting and enjoy your week! Al
best would be FostaPex of Viega
TheOldkid888 Thanks. I'll look for it.
Nice can chew through steel
I've patented a pex, wrap around insulation that has a pest chew deterrent embedded in it. May be a chemical or fiberglass or sand, etc.
In the process of getting some different sample pieces manufactured for proof testing now.
I lost my crimp tool :( someone is lending me theirs for now "sigh"
Hell yeah! I had a half and there quarter compact set I've had for 29 years and they walked away this week! There goes over $200! Good luck.