PEX joints and manifolds

Gene Davis_2

For PEX, do you like the stretch-n-shrink (i.e. Uponor ProPex), or the ring-n-clamp? Please explain the reason for your preference.

For manifolds, which factory-mades make the best sense, and why?

kevin coppinger_4

it depends...

on Heat...I prefer the Uponor/ Wb...
On domestic water I prefer the copper crimp rings w. brass/copper inserts....aka. Vanguard, watts, Zurn... quickerand if the system has water in it...MUCH easier to work w/....kpc

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mikea23

I prefer The Uponor system I feal its a much more profesional looking joint. Bolth work well and I have had litle trouble with either of them.

The one thing that you should consider is availabilty we used the Uponor system for a long time but no local supply houses caried them and we where forced to have bolth. Now we need two systems on every truck that cost alot of money and aditional materials on the trucks. We are now fasing out the uponor system for that reason alone.

mIKE a

Cosmo_3

joints and manifolds

In my opinion, nothing beats the Uponor expansion fitting. It is economical, and I have never had a leak yet that wasn't my fault. I don't really know that I would trust the stainless or copper crimp rings. Seems to me that over time these would get weaker, where the Uponor expansion fitting gets stronger. But that is personal preference. As long as it is ASTM rated, and approved for use behind walls I would have to defer to the PE's and say it is just a preference.

As for manifolds I really like the Uponor Truflow manifolds, there already assembled and ready to go. I have never had a leak on a Truflow manifold, and with it's robust construction, I think it will have a very long trouble free service life.

I do hear and agree with the complaints about stocking distributors. We all know that they will only carry what most guys buy, and unfortunately as long as reliability is comparable they will always buy what they can get at the best price. Unfortunately I am hearing that the product may become harder to find if things stay status quot, and recent revelations that some of the biggest contractor supporters are wavering does not help things, though I have yet to have a bad experience other than sometimes getting specialty product that distributors don't normally stock. But even that seems to have been improved since a few years ago.

Time will tell but for now I will stick with Uponor, however I must keep an open mind.

Cosmo

Weezbo

so far,

The wirsbo up to one inch and the Rehau sleeve for larger tubing. its a time thing.

i like to make my own manifolds.

Chris_82

crimp rings,...

I am starting to notice that in the early (pex using the crimp rings,) some failures. mostly on the risers to lavs and wc's. no such problems with the aqua pex using the oversized rings. It seems the crimp rings only compress a certian distance and the plastic deforms, and then they seem to loose compressive strength and than start to leak. Perhaps it has something to do with the fittings move a lot in these areas. The crimp rings on the heatway Onix tubing are more similar to those found under the hood of your car and have an excellent record, no failures to date. We got a little upset with the cost of the manifolds and now have the apprentices make up homemade manifolds and we just purchase the barbs for the tubing. yes the manufacturers look a lot better but they are way overpriced. And every time you mention this they will say concentrate on selling comfort over price. Some of our past wealthy clinets have been the most cost conscious ones though...so whatever works. But I suspect if Uponhor reduced the cost of there acessorys they would selll more tube.

clammy

wisbro

I have found and had the after though that years from now that some manafacturesmeatl ring systems will fail for one or more reasons while wisbro propress fitting are a better design then the crimp rings for the simple reason that there pipe slides on to the fitting and is only held in place with the crimp ring and if they corrode or fail the pex will come right off the fitting while with wisbro pro press the pex and ring have to be expanded just to get on the fitting .I have used the he pex with pro press fitting for over 2 years nd not one leak or promblem and even though there manaifolds are a bit pricey there are very nice and with a flow tester avaible from wisbro temp and flow can be read and set using the cicrcuit setter avaible on the manifolds (trueflow manifolds)even though alot of guys in my area are using vantage pex with crimp rings nome of them realize that in the past there where promblems and lawsuits for damages caused by ring failure but in closing it's all up to who is installing it and what they use and are used to working with but my 2 cents say wisbro peace and good luck clammy

Troy_3

Rehau

I think has the nicest manifolds and fitting system. They can be a bit slow to install but they are the best fitting IMHO. When you get to large sizes 1" and above we always use Rehau. An 1-1/4" fitting takes the same time as a 1/2"

ALH_4

Copper Crimp Rings

I am surprised so few like copper crimp rings. I have had excellent luck with them. They don't leak, and they are common, cheap and easy.

For manifolds, I like Caleffi mostly because I like the compression assemblies, but also because every Caleffi component I have seen is well thought out and high quality.