PEX fitting
There are many different fittings and products that are available for PEX tubing installation. When installing PEX tubing, it is important that you take costs and ease of installation into consideration. Try to choose the fittings that will make the job easiest for you. There are many different types of fittings that are available, and there will certainly be one for what you are trying to accomplish. Also, keep in mind that you are looking for fittings that meet the quality standards of your local area. There are many brass fittings that are being imported from China, and often times will resemble fittings that would meet the quality standards, even though they are made from cheap brass.
PEX fitting coupling
The most popular fitting that is currently being used is the brass insert fitting that also uses a copper crimp ring. All you have to do to install them is to use a tool that clamps the crimp ring down tightly around the fitting to ensure that there is no risk of a leak. These can usually be applied within a few seconds and are generally very easy to use. They are most commonly used for straight shot fitting and can be used to connect PEX tubing to a large number of different types of tubing.
Brass fittings are standard for use on standard applications. In conditions that contain acidic water, or in hot soils the brass could potentially corrode and fail over time. This is something that you should avoid. Some choose to couple the brass fitting with a crimp ring to ensure that the fitting is snugly fit.
PEX fitting tee
Another popular fitting is the hose clamp. This clamp goes around the outside of the pipe and then is crimped down over an already existing insert fitting. Although these require a bit more time to install, they still only require one tool. Keep in mind that if they are crimped too much they will likely break. This means that you will waste more fittings when using a hose clamp fitting on a regular basis.
It is recommended that contractors take their time to investigate each product on its own to see how it will work for their business. As with any fitting, there is a give and take for each type. With others will require more time to install, they may leave you with less waste and therefore less needless money spent on fittings that might break when over-crimped.
