I did a few PEX joints and I used those copper bands that get compressed over the PEX joint by a special crimping tool like this one: https://www.amazon.com/IWISS-Crimping-Suitable-Sharkbite-Standards/dp/B0759GM5NL The tool cost more back then and the jaws were held in by set screws. Never had a leak.
Also, I had better luck with Teflon tape than the liquids. I had one really bad hydraulic connection (3000 psi) that blew out the liquid seal every time but the tape did the job. > -----Original Message----- > From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of > Curley McLain via Mercedes > Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2019 1:05 PM > To: Mercedes_Discussion_List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > Cc: Curley McLain <126die...@gmail.com> > Subject: [MBZ] OT Pex > > 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 _______________________________________ 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
