Getting the Most Out of Your PEX Water Pipe

PEX is a great way to transport water through your plumbing system, and has taken the place of copper in most new construction homes. It’s a durable, economical alternative to copper and is even used by national homebuilding organizations like Habitat for Humanity to build new homes. It is highly flexible, and can run longer distances than rigid piping systems.

The best way to get the most out of your PEX pipe is to make sure you use the right fittings. Fittings are the parts that connect the pipes and provide a tight seal, which keeps water from flowing too quickly and reduces the chance of leaks.

There are several different types of fittings, and each has its own benefits. For example, press fittings combine the fitting and fastener in one piece that can be installed by hand. These fittings are ideal for use with smaller diameters of PEX tubing.

For larger diameters, crimp rings are the most popular choice. These stainless steel rings are compressed over the ends of the tube where a fitting is connected, and can be made by hand or using power tools. They are suitable for use with all types of PEX tubing, but are especially useful when connecting to copper piping.

Another type of PEX fitting is the spigot, which is a molded plastic sleeve that fits over the end of the pipe. These can be made by hand, and are most commonly used in residential plumbing installations. They can also be used in commercial and industrial plumbing systems, but are less common because they require a lot of manual labor to install. pex water pipe