PEX push to connect?

[bloomingtonmike]

My concrete pour will happen next weekend weather permitting. Wanted to have some connections on site in case of an issue. What fittings do people use in an emergency situation? Do the push to connect PEX fittings work? Can you embed them in cement with zero issue in the future?

 

[75gmck25]

I'm not a PEX expert, but I thought you were supposed to use the sleeved PEX (like pre-sleeved AquaPex) when you embedded it in concrete. I would look at the manufacturer's guidelines to find out if you could embed a splice in the slab. As a minimum it probably needs some type of protective wrap, since the metal bands on the push connector could react with the concrete.

Bruce

 

[Highbeam]

If you are planning on being so rough with the pex as to rupture it during the pour then you need to plan on making this repair in dirty conditions. This repair will be very difficult to access in the future so do it right. The push to connect devices use an O-ring to seal the outside of the pipe which will be covered in concrete slurry. The standard crimp connections seal to the inside and can be SS rings, copper rings, brass fittings, or plastic fittings. Check with the manufacturer about contact with concrete.

Really, you should plan to do the pour in a way that prevents pex injury. It's pretty tough stuff. You can pump it up to 100 psi and that way if you hurt it, it will be very obvious during the pour and the air will be rushing out so fast that the inside of the pipe should stay clean.

 

[anthony666]

My concrete pour will happen next weekend weather permitting. Wanted to have some connections on site in case of an issue. What fittings do people use in an emergency situation? Do the push to connect PEX fittings work? Can you embed them in cement with zero issue in the future?

you're talking about a shark bite style fitting ?? DO NOT use them in the slab .. they'll leak in time .. use RED BRASS fittings, with a crush ring, not oetiker style ring and electric tape the hell out of it so the concrette does not touch anything directly

 

[rlitman]

you're talking about a shark bite style fitting ?? DO NOT use them in the slab .. they'll leak in time .. use RED BRASS fittings, with a crush ring, not oetiker style ring and electric tape the hell out of it so the concrette does not touch anything directly

Really? I'd trust an oetiker ring more, and under concrete, I'd trust a plastic fitting more than brass. The less metal, the better.

But seriously, do WHATEVER you can to NOT HAVE ANY CONNECTIONS IN THE SLAB!

 

[Rookie2]

The biggest problem I had was tripping on the pex and dumping wheelbarrows ( the nose jambs into the floor) I did make runways with plywood and kept pulling them up as we worked our way out. Pex can be heated with a heat gun if you kink it.

 

[Highbeam]

Those nose jambs are the biggest risk. Use a line pump and place a pad under each coupling.

Sharkbite is a brand that also makes brass and plastic fittings for use with copper crush rings or ss otiker style rings. Just don't use the push to connect sharkbites.

 

[anthony666]

Really? I'd trust an oetiker ring more, and under concrete, I'd trust a plastic fitting more than brass. The less metal, the better.

But seriously, do WHATEVER you can to NOT HAVE ANY CONNECTIONS IN THE SLAB!

when the choice is make a repair connection in the slab or scrap the hydronic system you have invested thousand in, the answer is YES, really, MAKE A CONNECTION IN THE SLAB !!!!! .. read the original post sir