PEX Piping Newby

[GLyford]

I have hard+slightly acidic water...it eats brass and copper which is why I had to rip mine out (besides it being the thinnest "letter" copper). For me, the plastic fittings are actually preferred.

I just replaced an outdoor faucet this spring, and had an issue getting the replacement to seat...the exposed inside threads of the brass adapter where the old faucet stopped were plated with rust after only three years and kept the new replacement from seating. Brushing it out with an old copper sweat fitting brush allowed me to get the replacement to seat fully. So for me, less brass is better...

 

[Snaker]

I have crap CPVC in my crawl space and had 3 breaks over a 2 year period which made my life miserable. We have chert water (as the locals call it) and it is city water, which will rot copper out in a few years so everyone went to CPVC. I replaced portions of CPVC with PEX as needed but only had brass fittings so am concerned about brass rotting out. Now I see there are PEX plastic fittings that work and are 1/5 the price so I will go with those shortly.

I bought a tool with 4 sets of dies a few years ago but working in close quarters in a crawl space with a tool with arms that that need to be extended so the gripper can fit over the copper ring is something to be desired.

I am following this thread for info on hand crimpers that are easy to use in tight quarters. I asked HD or Lowes employees for such a thing and just get blank stares. Not there fault because unless someone actually used one, you just don't know.

S, if anyone knows of a crimper that will work in very close quarters like under sinks etc. using cinch rings, speak up. I really need to find out.

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP....HaHa&w=108&h=105&c=8&rs=1&qlt=90&pid=3.1&rm=2

I used this as my only crimp tool for years before I got a hand crimper
Sioux Chief brand 2 half blocks you flip around for what ever size you want. 4 sizes

 

[newbury]

Good thread -
I'm in need of crimp tools, I've 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch pex and a 4 port manifold, 3/4 in, 1/2 out.
I was going to get the Apollo PEX 69PTBJC 3/8-inch - 1-inch One Hand Cinch Clamp Tool - Crimpers - Amazon.com recommended before but see a lot of negative reviews on Amazon.

Is there a better "1 hand" manual crimper?

 

[aczlan]

Good thread -
I'm in need of crimp tools, I've 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch pex and a 4 port manifold, 3/4 in, 1/2 out.
I was going to get the Apollo PEX 69PTBJ1C 3/8-inch - 1-inch One Hand Cinch Clamp Tool - Crimpers - Amazon.com recommended before but see a lot of negative reviews on Amazon.

Is there a better "1 hand" manual crimper?

Looks decent. I have one that I bought from Lowes that looks like this one (but with yellow handles): IWISS PEX Crimping Tools Cinch Clamp Tools for Fastening Stainless Clamps Sizes from 3/8-Inch-1-inch with Go No-Go Gauge Suit Sharkbite, Watts, Apollo and All US F298 Standards - - Amazon.com

Aaron Z

 

[bcp]

Looks decent. I have one that I bought from Lowes that looks like this one (but with yellow handles): IWISS PEX Crimping Tools Cinch Clamp Tools for Fastening Stainless Clamps Sizes from 3/8-Inch-1-inch with Go No-Go Gauge Suit Sharkbite, Watts, Apollo and All US F298 Standards - - Amazon.com

Aaron Z

That's the one I have (the Amazon one). Works fine on 1/2 and 3/4, but needs a gorilla to crimp 1 inch PEX.

Bruce

 

[BoylermanCT]

I have the Apollo crimping tool. Works great. I like the light that goes on when the crimp is tight enough.

 

[aczlan]

That's the one I have (the Amazon one). Works fine on 1/2 and 3/4, but needs a gorilla to crimp 1 inch PEX.

Bruce

It is hard to get the first little bit of a 1" crimp started...

Aaron Z

 

[JamesKingTT]

I have the Apollo crimping tool. Works great. I like the light that goes on when the crimp is tight enough.

Excuse me, could you tell me where I can get this, or my friend asked me several times, he really needs this Apollo crimping tool !?

 

[BoylermanCT]

I bought mine at Home Depot for $45. Its the Apollo Pex Pinch Clamp Tool. I did approx 50 connections in 1/2" and 3/4" Pex tubing and did not have one leak or bad connection.

 

[woody]

has anyone used Pex for their main water line from the meter, I am going to run about 1500ft of water line and the least number of joints the better.

 

[LD1]

has anyone used Pex for their main water line from the meter, I am going to run about 1500ft of water line and the least number of joints the better.

Around here, everyone uses either black PE pipe, or SDR21 PVC (gasketed) pipe.

1500' is gonna require some sizable pipe. Like 2" or bigger. Dont know that I have seen pex that big

 

[MoArk Willy]

I installed my water softener with Pex. I used copper valves and fittings for Pex, used the ring type clamps.
I bought the fittings from PexSupply.com....but they may have changed their name.
The fittings were a 1/3 of the cost of any local supply house. I purchased the crimping tool which is 1/2" and 3/4".
All I bought locally was the tubing itself. After many years of using cpvc, copper and galvanized I can honestly say that Pex, by far is the easiest to use. I always liked copper because of it's appearance and neatness but Pex is my new favorite.

 

[MIkeWard]

I replaced all the copper In my Moms house with Pet. What a difference. Made manifolds for hot and cold with shutoffs for each fixture.
ordered all parts online and saved a lot of $. These are the 2 places I ordered from

SupplyHouse.com - Plumbing, Heating & HVAC Supplies - Formerly Pex Supply

PexUniverse - PEX, Plumbing, Heating, HVAC Supplies

 

[swnoel]

has anyone used Pex for their main water line from the meter, I am going to run about 1500ft of water line and the least number of joints the better.

That's a long ways... make sure you use a very large line and hopefully you won't have any pressure issues. You may want to consider a booster pump.

 

[hawkeye08]

I replaced all the copper In my Moms house with Pet. What a difference. Made manifolds for hot and cold with shutoffs for each fixture.
ordered all parts online and saved a lot of $. These are the 2 places I ordered from

SupplyHouse.com - Plumbing, Heating & HVAC Supplies - Formerly Pex Supply

PexUniverse - PEX, Plumbing, Heating, HVAC Supplies

Thanks for the links, I just put in my shopping cart on the second link everything I think I need to complete my re plumbing of our house. I am getting rid of the gray plastic that is no longer allowed by code and going with PEX.

 

[MIkeWard]

price compare the 2 links there are differences
some things are only sold on one site.
I've used both and one site has discount coupons!

 

[MoMower]

Thanks for the links, I just put in my shopping cart on the second link everything I think I need to complete my re plumbing of our house. I am getting rid of the gray plastic that is no longer allowed by code and going with PEX.

Another good one is essential hardware.com

 

[tomplum]

So this was a timely thread for me. One question that I have regarding taste and odors from the PEX. We have great tasting well water with a 6.6 Ph. We have a sediment filter in the pump house , but don't filter anything else nor want to. Has anyone else on well water here run into chemically tastes or odors?

 

[bcp]

Not here.

Bruce

 

[BoylermanCT]

I think the water tastes better. I could taste a very slight metallic taste from the copper pipes.

I can also now use my well water in my salt water fish tank. Copper in water will kill invertebrates like shrimp and crabs, and my water registered copper that was at a level that would cause problems with them. Now that I have pex, my copper levels are 0 parts per million.