Utilising PEX Fittings To Set Up A Better Plumbing System
PEX fittings are used to join the resilient polyethylene pipes utilised in PEX water plumbing systems. flexible PEX pipes are a low cost, trouble free alternate to metal or plastic schemes. You can avert the troubles of corroding and scaling when you employ a PEX system. Altogether PEX water plumbing arrangements are a vast improvement over earlier arrangements that use copper or rigid plastic pipes.
The main advantages of PEX tubing is its ability to remain supple in cold temperatures, its resistance to scale build-up and corrosion and its smaller cost compared to metal or rigid pipes. PEX tubing is less expensive than copper pipe, requires less time to put in and necessitates fewer fittings.
PEX tubing is rolled around reels. employing reels is cost cost-efficient because of their lower weight and ease of storage. They cost less to transport than other types of pipes. PEX tubing can be set up directly from the reels with no need for coupling fittings. There is also no need for elbow joints because the flexibility of PEX tubing permits it to be flexed to a 90 degree angle. Installation is easy and quick. There are no fumes and health perils from soldering because there is no soldering involved when you use PEX materials.
There are a number of joining methods some of which are proprietary. But basically the fitting is placed either over or into the tube and a ring is crimped on to the tube or fittings. Rings can be constructed of plastic, copper or stainless steel. There are proprietary joining systems which require particular tools and fittings.
Three basic tools are required for the standard crimping method when working with PEX: a main crimping tool, a pipe cutter, and a de-crimping tool. The pipe cutter tool cuts the tube before putting it into the fitting. There are a variety of main crimping tools available which can crimp 1/2″ or 3/4″ pipes. A de-crimping tool is utilized to remove the copper crimp ring from the tube and fitting.
Fittings are normally made of brass, although there are some made of bronze, copper and engineered plastic fittings for PEX plumbing. There are characteristic ridges on the “insert” part of the fitting. The ridges, the PEX pipe and the pinched metal ring all work together to form a high-pressure seal.
Water plumbing systems that take advantage of PEX tubing and PEX fittings have distinct benefits. The materials are less costly than metal and plastic pipes. Fewer fittings are required. The Installing process is easier and quicker. Your system will never corrode or burst so it will last longer with less potential troubles.
This entry was posted on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 4:55 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.