How To Make A Repair In 1/2 Inch Pex

Are you afraid to solder copper pipes?

If you lot've never soldered before it tin be intimidating. Plus y'all can easily catch your house on fire – never a good matter.

Today you'll learn how to install PEX pipe. This is a general overview that'll share quick tips and get you familiar with PEX.

Which by the way comes in pretty handy when your married woman tells you lot the kitchen ceiling is leaking water.

We promise that yous'll be able to gear up any leaky pipe in your house after you read and watch today's tutorial.

So permit'southward dive in and save you lot money!

PEX Supplies

Here are all the supplies we discuss

Crimp Rings (1/2 inch)
PEX 90 Caste Elbows (i/2 inch)
SharkBite 90 Degree Elbows (1/2 inch)
PEX Crimping Tool
Pipe Cutter for PEX
PEX Crimp Ring Cutter
SharkBite Depth Tool
Sharpie Marker
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SharkBites aren't cheap but if you lot buy the PEX fittings in bulk they're actually competitively priced.

And in one case y'all have the PEX crimping tool y'all're all set to begin your plumbing setup.

One alert: brand sure your local plumbing code allows PEX.

Some places don't. And you'll have to use copper. So call the local building inspector and ask…utilise someone else'south vox if you're agape of their response, haha…just kidding.

How Piece of cake is PEX to Apply?

Easier than you think.

You lot've probably seen it in the dwelling store. PEX comes in scarlet, white and blue colors. Red is for hot h2o lines, blue is for common cold water lines and white is neutral, pregnant you can use it for either hot or cold.

The colors are more than for forgetful folks like me who can't remember what they were doing iii seconds agone.

Slide a crimp band onto the PEX.

Slide your plumbing equipment, in this case a 90 degree elbow, into the PEX.

Crimp rings should be 1/8 to 1/iv of an inch from the end of the PEX. This recommendation is per SharkBite who makes these crimp rings.

It might be different for your PEX system so follow the manufacturer directions.

Position the PEX crimping tool at 90 degrees over the crimp ring. Then slowly squeeze the crimping tool until you hear it popular and compress the ring.

Our only complaint about the PEX crimper is that it has brusque handles. We wish you could extend the handles to create more leverage…hmm, peradventure we should develop some invention.

It's that simple.

But how do you know if your crimp band is tight enough?

The nice affair about the SharkBite system is that it has a gage. If the 'Become' slot fits over your crimp ring you know it'southward on the PEX correctly. You also want to slide the 'NO-GO' slot over the crimp band, if it doesn't fit you're totally skilful to go.

What if you mess up the position of the crimp band?

Not a trouble.

How to Fix PEX Crimp Rings

If your crimp ring is more than than 1/four″ away from the stop of the PEX information technology'south super easy to repair.

Cut the PEX but shy of the PEX fitting.

Slide the removal tool into the PEX.

Clasp the handle and snap the crimp ring. Identify the removal tool 180 degrees on the other side of the crimp ring and snap it again. Although, we observe that this mostly opens the crimp band just enough to permit it to slide off the PEX.

Inspect the PEX plumbing fixtures and make sure information technology'southward okay to utilise again.

What if you don't want to use PEX fittings with PEX?

Use SharkBites instead!!

Using SharkBites with PEX

We love PEX but it's fifty-fifty easier if you utilise SharkBite fittings.

The 1 downside is the fact that SharkBites are expensive as all heck. We're talking movie ticket prices.

Just we Honey them and SharkBites come in handy for super tight spaces.

Place the SharkBite depth tool on the PEX and make a mark with your marker.

Slide the SharkBite over the PEX until it meets upwardly with the mark.

Each SharkBite plumbing equipment has a plastic insert and this makes the PEX connexion solid. Little side annotation, you can leave the plastic insert in the SharkBite plumbing equipment even if you use it with copper. We chosen SharkBite and asked them most this.

SharkBites volition spin 360 degrees around PEX or copper pipes. This is completely normal. So don't be freaked out.

Scout our quick video to see extra tips and a funny outtake at the terminate…my daughters crack me up

What'south Next

This was meant to be a high level overview and teach you the basics of PEX.

We truly think y'all'd love working with it more than than copper in some instances.

That said, if you want to learn how to solder copper pipes nosotros accept a nifty tutorial.

If you lot're doing a bathroom remodel and need help, bring together ane of our online courses – they'll make your bathroom renovation much easier!

Permit me know if yous have any questions and I'll practice my all-time to help.

Cheers,

Jeff

PEX Plumbing Tips