Pex fittings question

[fishheds]

Has anyone used the plastic pex fittings instead of brass?I'm on my third fitting replacement in an 11 yr old house.The brass/bronze fittings are corroding due to what I now believe is a low ph situation.
I'm on a well,so I took a sample into work and it tested to a ph of 6.8.I plan to install a chlorine pump system to get the ph back up above 7.0.
I'm wanting to go back with plastic fittings,but am also old enough to remember the poybutylene debacle and that has me a little leery.
Also do the plastic fittings go in the same way as brass,with the copper rings and crimping tool?
Thanks,David

 

[zulu226]

Can't offer any advise on the fittings. But as far as adjusting the PH back to neutral , a Calcite filter cartridge would be much easier than a Chlorine feed system.

 

[Rockerbox1]

I have used a couple handfuls of the platic fittings. never had a leak. ones I used, use a small sleeve that inserts intot he pex, then insert pex into the fitting and twist like tightening a nut.

Ones I used came from Lowes, brand name is Apollo

 

[Fyrme]

Pex is great stuff. But I don't think that it will fix your troubles because most Pex fittings are also brass I don't know if I've ever seen 100% plastic fittings. I've seen brass with plastic inserts but they were compression fittings with a brass body.

 

[Makman]

You might want to look into viega polyalloy fittings. Basically plastic and use standard crimp rings. Never had to use them, i use brass for everything I do. pexsupply.com has them. Apollo may have a similar product as mentioned above.

 

[Boomer343]

Local suplier has them and has no reports of problems with them. I now use the stainless steel crimps on all my pex. More money for the crimps but only one tool needed and the tool is small enough to fit into a lot of small spaces.

I would think any mfg of the plastic fittings would have very good testing and quality control given the dollars it cost the Poly B mfg.

Interesting enough the Poly B pipe installed locally had the brass or copper fittings so everyone thought the installs would be ok but the pipe developes small pin hole leaks that can go undetected for a long time.

Most recent house I redid didn't have any leaks but a couple of pipes broke off when given a good tug and twist.

 

[luvit]

hey, i've never replaced a pex brass fitting.. ever.
but if i had your problem, i would look at sharkbite (hd) or gatorbite (lowes).
these may have brass in them, but perhaps the connection method could make the difference..

unrelated to pex:i used my first gatorbite on 190*F copper water line a month ago.. i'm impressed! ..i could never sweat copper very well..

.

 

[Big-Foot]

I'm a huge fan of SharkBite fittings, but have also used Watts plastic WaterPex fittings with no issues.. Make sure that you put in the sleeve/liner on the end of the tube that's inserted into the fitting and you'll have no troubles..

http://www.watts.com/pex

 

[Rhsty]

I have been doing plumbing and heating for 27 yaears and have used almost
Exclusively for the past 10 years Wirsbo brand PEX And I have never had a fitting failure. But in the OP's case wirsbo does make plastic fittings and the way their stuff goes together there is no metal in the fittings. Its called the Pro press system I have numerous new homes complete water system plumbed with it including plastic fittings with no troubles.

 

[Makman]

I have been doing plumbing and heating for 27 yaears and have used almost
Exclusively for the past 10 years Wirsbo brand PEX And I have never had a fitting failure. But in the OP's case wirsbo does make plastic fittings and the way their stuff goes together there is no metal in the fittings. Its called the Pro press system I have numerous new homes complete water system plumbed with it including plastic fittings with no troubles.

Propex is a great system but requires an expander tool to install it instead of a crimper. Theres another system similar to this that uses brass comp sleeves and a fancy expander gun. It's ridiculous expensive! Can't remember the brand.

 

[thammel]

a ph of 6.8 is not very low, but I would recommend an acid neutralizer. Just get a neutralizer tank that gets filled with calcite. This should work well for you. Check www.qualitywatertreatment.com

Tom

 

[coljar]

My house was already plumbed in all copper including the drains, but I've plumbed all pex in my rental houses during complete renovations and I like it. I've only had experience with 3/4" & 1/2", though. I'm not sure it will help your situation, because mine are brass barbed fittings with nickle plated rings.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

The best advice I have is to avoid shark bit at all costs. It is garbage. I have replace at least 15 shark bit fittings for several of my clients in just the past year alone. In all cases they were slow drips or intermittent gushing leaks if the fitting were to be bumped or twisted in a certain way. I personally have never installed one nor will I ever use one given the choice.

As mentioned above you might want to neutralize you water and look into viega polyalloy fittings, Wirsbo Pro press system, or stainless fittings.

 

[Mattlt]

There was a recall and class-action lawsuit on a certain brand of fittings a few years ago. I believe it was Kitec brand fittings. Maybe you're just getting the bad brand?

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

No the lawsuit/recall was a number of years ago on a similar product from a company called Quest. This was a grey PVC type material used extensively in motor homes with push-in fittings very similar to the Shark Bit push-in type fittings. It's not IF Share bite push-in fittings leak it's WHEN they leak! The o-rings eventually dry out and it leaks. If there's movement of the line it also leaks. I would consider them only a 'quick' (temporary) fix until a more permanent repair can be made and I would never conceal them within a wall where you cannot see if they have begun to leak.

Shark bite brand PEX copper crimp ring fittings are fine and I use them all the time.

If you were to find a licensed plumber who recommends and uses the shark bite push in type fittings, I'll show you a lazy hack! Just my opinion and I do not mean to offend anyone.