Pex 101

Timco

I like vanguard fittings, but you do not get the full pipe size, as the fitting is smaller and slides into the pipe, then is crimped with a copper ring. Wirsbo (who just had a name change) enlarges the pipe, and a full size fitting slides in. Vanguard is cheaper to start up, but wirsbo is a better product, as I understand it...either will save you more hours than you will be able to keep track of, leaving you much more shooting time!

Tim

Chris in Albany

Sweating in Albany NY

OK, I know, you can't remember the last time you sweated a copper joint. But I am in Albany NY (Which I heaRd was the last city in the US to allow PVC DWV) and I rehab 100 year old houses. So I sweat a lot of copper for heat and water supply.
But I want to be a better person, and well, make more money. Any thoughts on where to learn more about Pex tools and techniques? Any books or articles? Should I just rely on my plumbing supply shop? (currently Security Supply).

And what about those new fangled fittings you can just slide Pex, copper, or cpvc into and which hold it like a chinese finger puzzle? THose new fangled things really work?

I think I am really missing out here and I would appreciate some help in entering the 1990's.

singh

pex

Chris I'm one hour south of you.
I've been using pex for 3 years now, not one problem.
I only use Uponor Wirsbo propex connections. Small
investment in hand tool,if you start doing a lot buy
the cordless models.(BTW I have manual hand tool 4sale)

I have not tried the push to connect method,looks to much
like a DIY method. But I do use the copper press system
from Viega for all my copper work in exposed areas.

Both methods are labor savers and in my opnion a way to sell
more work than the other guy stuck in the last century.

Good Luck.

Weezbo

here are a few sources of information....

Here on this site is a manufacturers listing of products,look under I-Pex...the installation manual is what you are specifically looking to find. then there is a design manual from Wirsbo ,it has a variety of salient points of interest....then there is Rehau's site for clarification of a great many uses of pex in the modern world with some of the more exotic utilization's like medi pex for example. The pex -a products of Rehau and Uponor Wirsbo each have their own fastening systems and require separate tools for these fittings and fasteners. a couple few years ago a "Co-mingling addendum " was added to the code .as the pipe and system fittings have different "Eye appeal" i like using the Rehau silver shiny fittings for some applications .( these sleeves have also changed in that system and are now brass which doesn't have quite the same eye candy to it ) these fittings are also now sold by Uponor Wirsbo as an approved method of attachment . The PLS fittings by Wirsbo are my favorite and they are very light and are fastened to the tubing by expanding the tubing and its "collar" (which i call an "O") the fitting was the best to me as one could haul two 5 gallon buckets about with a complete range of every fitting made with ones left hand, something difficult to do were they brass or copper. when you have heating or potable water these fittings are the way to roll. there are also transition fittings made to copper or threaded pipe ...while heavier these are generally what i use on transitions to convector heating or through walls where i then blaze the work in in using copper or brass to more clearly exemplify another type and level of skill.

there are other pex products like gas pex xx and Multi core Pex Aluminum pex for example which also can zipp a job along ,and or have more favorable attributes for the purposes intended.*~/:)

and these products can help increase quality and reduce the expenditure of time and bring your work into this century ....:)

John Barba_2

PEX help...

Chris,

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. I"d be happy to help in any way I can.

John Barba
Uponor Wirsbo
800-321-473

adayton_2

John Barba Uponor Wirsbo 800-321-4739

John's complete phone number....

Alfred

John Barba_2

Thanks..

I guess I was a little quick on the "post" butto