I gotta replace a water heater and pressure tank. In 2020 I had to remove and fix some pex tubing and I used the quick connect shark bite fittings. Well when I was done I spent a fortune on those junks. So now I want to undo alot of that garbage. My question is do I use the copper crimp rings or the ones that look like crimp hose clamps. Which one has the least amount of learning curve. BTW I'm a diesel mechanic who can do in frame rebuilds on engines on class 8 trucks, diagnostic work on current gen emission systems and old gen. But I'm no carpenter or plumber. So which one would be the best for me. The pex size is 3/4" if your wondering
Is that what that is? I found one at a yard sale years and years ago for .50 and I got it just because
The crimp for copper rings at lowes is 80 bucks and the crimp for the crimp hose clamps is like 40
Yeah I mean mine was 50 cents
It's got a red handle if I remember right. It's been a WHILE
Also found three sticks of NAPA sockets for $1 stick, with Allen (metric and SAE) and Torx bits
best plumber I know swears by the clamps, says the rings are outdated.
Seems the copper rings would be stronger but I honestly don't know and was hoping some anon would have some first hand experience on this issue
I just got my house done and they only used the rings when going from copper to pex, and clamps for everything else.
plumber bro says he's seen the clamps hold on when pipes freeze and burst the rings fail in that scenario
Been using the copper ring for about 15 years, never had a problem, the clamp style doesn't look trustworthy to me. Just my opinion.
Well when I research this one guys says he's got 20 years experience and cinch clamps are junk and only go with copper crimp because he's seen the cinch leak. Next video guy says he's a master plumber and says the opposite.
Buy a Milwaukee pex gun and use cold expansion uponor. Pex A is way better than pex B.
Pex A fittings don't reduce flow.
With pex A the tubing is constantly trying to shrink down further onto the fitting, with pex b the tubing is constantly fighting against the ring.
Done tons of houses and repairs with pex a. Only advantage of pex B is that the tool is cheaper than a pex A tool.
Viega pureflow is a good pex B system if it absolutely must be pex B
uponor bursts
so they got new type of lines that is not supposed to burst
but with track record like that? I will never trust them again
Maybe I am misreading this, but sharkbite fittings are reusable. Just buy the tool that pulls them off. Get the tong style. The 'C' ring style tool is a bit of a hassle.
If this is new install stuffs then I vote for the pinch kind.
I polish every tubing section I use Sharkbites on for best results because Sharkbites are really just gaiter seals used since forever in automotive and machinery applications. Like OP I've been a mechanic for a long time (jets on down).
Mine don't leak. I only use them where I can get to all the connections and need to do something like rotate an assembly into place where I cannot get a torch.
Shark bites absolutely are reusable, just byluy the removal tool mentioned.
I also vote for the crimp rings, that's what I used and I never had an issue. Just practice once or twice on a fitting and you should be fine. If you really mess up you can cut them off, it's just a pain.
Is the main water line running through your house 3/4"? I'm sure you already know, but match the size tubing going to your water heater to the hot and cold trunk running through your house.
Yes main water lines are 3/4