Perhaps the best "PEX" system is copper tubing??? New is not always better.
On Tue, Jul 2, 2019 at 12:05 PM Curley McLain via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > Well, I got the copper plumbing cut out and the new PEX system turned on > yesterday. It all looked very pretty until I turned the water on. > > Freaking PEX joint leaks all over. I used the clamps and brass > fittings. The "sharkbite" fittings scare me as the seal relies on an > oring which WILL deteriorate. I'd guess in 20 years you'd have to > replace the fittings due to oring failure. I have had some drips in > Pex before, so on most joints, I used double clamps. I still had a > whole bunch of leaks and drips. Sometimes after sitting overnight the > drips will slow or stop. This morning the ones that were dripping last > night, still are dripping. This is very frustrating. > > I guess next time, if there is one, I should buy the expander and use > the Sioux Chief fittings for expansion. They have ferrules that are > about twice as long as the crimp on PEX. Before I started crimping, I > thought about buying the ring (round) crimp tool, because I know that > the bands often leak. But since I already had the tool for the bands > ($80) I did not want to switch. > > I want around with end nippers and tightend the crimps I could get to > and cut off others and re crimped. But there are still maybe 8 more > that are still dripping. > > Also frustrating is the inlet and outlet threads of the manifolds are > all leaking. I have 4 manifolds, so 8 leaking threaded fittings. THe > manifolds are u-bolted to a piece of wood, then the wood is screwed to > the wall. I used teflon pipe dope on all threads, and they leak like a > sieve. My plan with those is to cut the pex band, take each threaded > fitting off, clean it up and use rtv form a gasket, then reassemble. The > other suggestion I got was to use teflon dope, the wrap with teflon > tape. The problem is the freaking chinee threads don't mate to the > other freaking chinee threads. > > What is the best pex system? the bands? The expander? Certainly the > clamps are not the best, but it used to be the only type available. I > guess I could use traditional compression fittings with inserts. I > suppose that is the best. and probably no more expensive that the $5 > or $10 each "pex" fittings. > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > -- OK Don "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." Mark Twain "There are three kinds of men: The ones that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves." WILL ROGERS, *The Manly Wisdom of Will Rogers* 2013 F150, 18 mpg 2017 Subaru Legacy, 30 mpg 1957 C182A, 12 mpg - but at 150 mph! _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
