Best PEX fitting system?
I know what the first thing people say when it comes to PEX fittings, and that's Sharkbite/Gatorbite/etc. However, with those, there is only a single O-ring that can easily get nicked if one isn't ca...
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ctilsie242 wrote:
Crimp fittings are commonly used by RV makers, but twist the lines slightly, and they start to leak.
What they commonly use in RVs are "cinch clamps", not crimp fittings. Crimp fittings use a copper crimp ring and a PEX "crimper" is used to install them.
There are 6 ways to connect PEX piping to the fittings as explained in this youtube vid. Never use gear/hose clamps on PEX.
I really like copper crimp rings. They're small and pretty inexpensive. I bought a crimper off ebay about 10 years ago when building a new shop & house. I've used it a lot off and on over the years. Has interchangeable dies that will do 1/2" to 1" sizes. There are a few smaller sized "pocket" crimper styles like in the photos. These are great for working in tight spaces like inside cabinets in an RV. Full size crimper is on right. A pocket crimper would be a good choice for a box o' tools in an RV.
Using copper crimp rings is pretty much foolproof providing the crimper is correctly calibrated and there is a "go no-go" gauge that will tell you if they are properly tightened. It's very fast too. I've done thousands of PEX crimps and never had a single leak. Using a PEX tubing cutter is a must-have tool so you get clean cuts and square ends.
Sharkbite (or equivalent) fittings have their place but are heavy, bulky and expensive. The photo below shows a solenoid valve setup I just installed in our TT. It's very compact and there's no way that could be done with sharkbites. Also shown is a pressure regulator and filtration under the kitchen sink. Besides being bulky, using sharkbites would have been quite expensive.
RVs typically use plastic PEX fittings. Personally I don't like them but they don't seem to cause problems. I always use brass fittings in our TT. Easy to find all over the place too.
I am guessing that the reason they use cinch clamps at the factories is because of all the one-eyed monkeys they use to slap RVs together and cinch clamps are probably more foolproof. Copper rings are cheaper and you'd expect them to be used in that case, but they don't.
