Wirsbo pex connections

Wayne_29

Are you installing them in an unheated space and turning on the water right after installation? Pex-a has full expansion memory but in cold weather their response time is very, very slow. They even recommend that the rings be kept warm. I have sold thousands of fittings back in my wholesale days and only a couple of fittings had defects. Just a thought...

cowie_4

Wirsbo pex connections

Has anyone had any problems with leaks on propex connections using an expansion tool??? I have had several leaks lately and there is no rhyme or reason to it. Some leak and some don't while they are all done the same way.

Bob Bona_4

not me, but,

experiences from seeing and having drips over the years, and causes..

Are you rotating the tool slightly with every expansion per factory wishes?

The rings aren't slipping down as you are expanding?

Look at the fittings closely, tiny grooves/damage perpendicular to the ridges is a sure fire channel to leaking. Doesn't take much to nick a fitting when it's been handled a lot.

You are doing only the minimum squeezes to expand? If memory serves, about 4-5 max so as not to torture the PEX.

Lastly, cold PEX takes a bit to contract to leak free status, and of, course, there isn't any pressure behind it as it's shrinking again?

Tim_41

pex

I had a freeze up a couple days ago. The propress joint leaked. Like the previous posts, it was cold. I took a blow dryer to it and it was fine and did my hair at the same time.

Rich Kontny_3

Since 1996

I have had two leaks with Wirsbo.One was a deep scratch in the seating ring of a brass fitting and the other was a piece of wood sitting across two rings of the seating surface.

I make sure the rings are set right and also rotate. Also you have to make sure the expanded joint is properly set.

Temperature does have an effect on the time it takes to expand and pull up. Proper handling of fittings to avoid damage is also important.

cowie_4

I'm pretty careful about inspecting the fittings before use. I also don't over expand, just enough until pex ring bottoms out on tool which on 1/2" tubing is 4-5 times. That is why it is frustrating. I ordered a Wirsbo auto rotating tool today. I do rotate the tool as I expand but maybe this does a better job of it. We'll see. The problem is more frequent during colder months, however I've had it happen it occupied homes where it is 70F. Has anyone heard of having to use a heat gun in cold weather?? A friend told me that he uses a heat gun on every fitting he does regardless of the time of year and says he's yet to have a leak.

Bob Bona_4

don't

sweat the rotation TOO much, I remember bfore that memo came out, I was trained the old way and that worked ok. I do understand the importance of varying expander indentations now though.

Go ahead w/ the heat gun, won't hurt, I use my hands around the fitting for heat all the time, just to speed things up. PexA HAS to come back, it's in the DNA, it's just about how long you hold the fitting steady before it's good and tight.

Other thought. You are leaving a healthy distance of straight pipe after the connection so things don't get stressed?

cowie_4

I've been using Wirsbo since 2001 and was trained at the factory in Apple Valley. I've always just rotated the tool as best I could and never really had any problems so I agree with you. I am close to jumping ship and going with Watts or Viega. But before I do I figured that the investment for the tool was worth it. As for a healthy length of straight pipe after the fitting, I do the longest that I can. The leaks however, have been on tees, plugs, adapters, etc.

Jack Smith

The only leak that I've had was with an over-exposed tube. For some reason I can't remember, the tubing was run and we didn't get to the job for some time, the tube was exposed to sunlight for better than 2 months.

1974 bobcat

viega

I have been through a lot of systems wirsbo,watts,zurn. I have finally settled on Viega. It is a much simpler,faster and the tool fits in more tight spaces. Wirsbo, Wirsbo, Wirsbo, I have no idea why people put themselfs through the fustration of trying to keep this ring in place ( worse when wet) expand the tube and then jam it on a fitting. I just think it is terrible. If I run in to wirsbo I will use wirsbo but Never on a new install.
They did the extreme home makeover house with wirsbo (in the cold) it was a sprinkler system when they turned it on. they heated it and heated it and then finally cut out a bunch of joints and relpaced it. The cold temp does not seem to bother the Viega system.

Dobber

Expander Head

How old is the head you are using? I started getting leaks when my tool was about 8 yrs old and countless connections. Replaced head and it was good as new. Don't bother with automatic head, waste of money.

Good Luck
Dobber

Unknown

Yes I have...

in cold weather and the answer was the heat gun.

Chris S

wirsbo rings

The new wirsbo rings have a "lip" on them so that they only fit on the tube one way, and cannot slide uo the tubing as it gets expanded.

Bob Bona_4

didn't

know that, thanks for the heads up.

Pex ends had always gotten a scuff w/ emery cloth when I had slippy rings.

Unknown

Hah!

I thought I was the only guy that did that!

Bob Bona_4

it's

an old Yankee thing?