A perPEXing issue

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workthatwedo
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Joined: 04/26/2020 - 12:43
A perPEXing issue

Ok, with ELongest's patient help, I've managed to get the rear floor on my 16' Standard replaced.  Now I'm fixing all the things I broke in the process.  I had to cut the PEX in three places to get the floor in, and I've been having fits getting it back together.  I bought a crimping tool, a cutter, etc.  and started the repairs.  I'm having fits getting the plastic fittings that are extant on the trailer into the 1/2" PEX tubing.  I'd rather not replace the run to the water pump because the fittings don't work, but can if I have to.  I also can't get the 90-degree connector from the city water supply on the PEX.  I'd appreciate any ideas on that one as I can't get water to the system to check my amateur repairs.  Thanks in advance!

ELongest
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Joined: 11/02/2013 - 20:13
A-PEX

Scamp uses Upinor type A-PEX which have larger low flow fittings and expansion connections. The big box stores sell B-PEX with smaller crimp fittings. The A-PEX tubing will fit and crimp onto the B PEX fittings. Bottom line you can splice the two types tubing together with B-PEX  fittings and crimp rings.  

Eddie

ac0gv
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Joined: 09/22/2016 - 13:57
Pex trouble

And if you still have trouble, use a hair dryer or heat gun to warm the tubing.

workthatwedo
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Joined: 04/26/2020 - 12:43
yup.

When i took the T joint into the store with a few of the connections on, one employee knew what was up and set me up with an expansion tool and some crimps.  I could just about slap the first Menards employee who assured me they didn't have 'RV Pex' and I'd need to go to an RV store while standing 3 feet from the expansion tool I needed.  In any event, I now have both a steel crimp pex b tool and an expansion pex a tool, as well as crimps and joints for both, some extra pex, and I ended up getting a heat gun to get the expanded pex to seal correctly to the city water joint I couldn't get to come off.  The gun is awesome, I used it to remove old caulk in the shower and to soften and reapply the window beads.  I suspect I'll have all possible tools by the end of this remodel, just as I'm thinking about going full time and selling everything.  Oh well!  Thanks for the help, all.

scampalicious
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Joined: 09/04/2020 - 15:37
PEX-A (Uponor) fittings

The PEX-A expansion fittings used to be very hard to get, as you'd have to buy them from a plumbing supply house. I recently discovered that Menards (a big box hardware chain in the midwest) stocks a very large selection of the fittings, usually near a section labeled as "Pex Radiant Heat Fittings".

I was able to obtain quite a variety of fittings locally, at prices competitive to supplyhouse.com (who sells original Uponor fittings). Menards also has 5' lengths of PEX-A pipe in stock. The pipe and fittins are manufactured by Siox Chief, under the PowerPex brand.

You will need an expander tool for this system, which can be pricey, but it is much better system than the ones using the crimp style connections, and it maintains a full flow through the fittings.