Pex Connections

Al_19

I'm repiping a filter and adding a water softener tomorrow on a job that has pex plumbing. I believe its Wirsbo Aquapex. The existing fittings look like the pex is pushed over a brass fitting, and it looks like there is a pex collar around that. Or is it just expanded over the brass fitting?

I still do all my water treatment systems with copper. Most installations use very little pipe. So I want to pipe my equipment with copper and then transition "to" and "from" the pex with a couple of Sharkbite fittings.

Do you guys have any issues with these type fittings (it would only be two fittings)? Otherwise, what would I need in the way of tools to use the Wirsbo fittings?

By the way, I'm not a DIY'er. I do this work full time, just not with pex. Its still not very common in my area for potable water.

Timco

Sharkbite claims to be all that, and is certainly rated for this, but I would not use them. If you do, be sure you have a floor drain and they will be in an accessible location and not buried in a wall. You are looking at standard pex fittings, that slide into the pipe and seal with a copper crimp ring. You need the crimper for the size you are working with to make these connections, and they do make pex to copper fittings.

Tim

Al_19

Thanks Tim,

The fittings I'm looking at have no crimp rings. I researched them and found them online last night. There the wirsbo/uponer fittings that you use an expander tool for. I don't know who handles this locally. That's why I wanted to use the two Sharbite fittings to transition to copper. Now you've got me worried about the Sharkbites.

Timco

Guess I missed that part about the expanede ftgs. Their website as well as my supplier claim Sharkbite is great, and it very well may be. I hate to knock a product, and have not tested them even on a temp system, but I personally have not been without my pex crimper or copper setup ( or desperate enough ) to try one yet. I have played with the display while waiting for parts and the way the pipe spins in it just makes me shiver, and my insurance guy would surely agree! What is their warranty? Maybe give them a heads up and see if they post?

Tim

Timco

shark!!!

http://www.cashacme.com/sharkbite.php

yourchizzler

pro pex fitting

the pex fitting you have is called a pro pex fitting. you need a expander tool and pex rings and the proper fittings. sounds like you need a pro pex by sweat adapters. I wouldn't trust the shark fittings yet on a pex connection yet, I have personaly used 1 or 2 on copper and haven't had a problem yet, the extra plastic ring you see at the fitting applies extra force on the connection so it can't blow off, just like the metal rings on other brands of pex, good luck and don't swim with the sharks in a pex pool if you know what I mean.

hot_rod

That Sharkbite type

has been used on pex and other plastic tube for years in the water treatment industry. RO, under counter water treatment units, etc. Unless you have ultra high pressures it should be safe for your intended use.

I believe Wirsbo aka Uponor also allow those cinch type pex clamps and some compression styled fittings if an expander tool is not available. I have used basic copper crimp rings on that brand also.

hot rod

Home Depot Employee

Been around

As Hotrod states, sharkbite type fittings have been around for awhile in water conditioning, and air lines. Buy an in-line charcoal filter for your fridge, and 9 of 10 times you will find this type of connection.
I personally fully trust these fitting and they work well in the adaption of different types of pipes and repair work.
I wouldn't use them for new work as it would get expensive.

Weezbo

Shark Bite fittings work well.

i know that i installed the first one in this area . now they are on the shelves of every wholesaler and box store here.

i have installed them on test headers for inspection and checked them with air ,water and an ultra sound machine....no leakers .no problem. though only a few years here in America , there are a variety of push fittings all over the planet that function well and have track records that go into the decades....

many older workers recall various configurations of push/ compression multiple parts pieces type fittings and have indeed encountered more than one "leaker" in there experience....

still, the shark bite may have a bit more fine tuning in there tolerances and quality of construction.... i have them where i can get to them ...never the less ,"just in case"... the ground water temp here is super cold .They work..the base board( fin tube convectors) radiant supply and returns....

i've installed them so that i could see them . should one leak happen, i would spread the word and hope by then no one remembered who told them they work fine

one thing though.. i have never really cared for the looks of pex connected straight to an appliance no matter what the connection,pex on the supply water on a boiler via valve chech backflow purge in copper looks ok .pex has one other thing about it if it is bent and has stresses on a fitting like in a circular arrangement i don't trust that arrangement either...even though i did not get a leak on a test header that i made with a group of "T's" in a complete circle... leaving them in that formation might force a leak in time because they are not in proper alignment... connection to a boilers heating near boiler piping in an over heat condition might not be real great for a shark bite fitting. so it may be best to be careful with when and where you use them ..there is a temperature range that comes with the literature .

read it

..it is worth it...

*~/:)

Aidan (UK)

QTite Tec-Tite = Shark Bite

Q-Tite A French Company who also owns Elkhart, sells them to Cash Acme as Shark Bite. Elkhart markets them as Tec-Tite. I believe they are mfg in Australia.

Qtite is a little less money and not removable - looks nicer too. Here are some of the specs

Hot Cold Potable Water:
32° F to 200° F, max. 200 PSI

Sell both, have used personally several times - once on a Snowmelt system (cold side)- no issues. Fast, easy, amazing. You can rotate a tee while under pressure, wiggle it around, no leaks.. Can connect pex to copper quickly, painlessly. See photo and literature attachments.

Hydronic Heating :
0° F to 250° F, max. 200 PSI
Ethylene Glycol - 50% max. concentration
Propylene Glycol - 50% max. concentration

Aidan (UK)

cinch clamp

is no longer approved / endorsed by Uponor. Change happened about 6 - 8 months ago.