It’s easy to remove ProPEX rings from existing connections if you have access to a heat gun. Disconnecting the plastic ProPEX ring makes it possible to reuse brass ProPEX fittings, but EP ProPEX fittings can only be used once. To remove a ProPEX ring, heat one side of it with a heat g…
The Pros and Cons of PEX-AL-PEX
PEX-Aluminum-PEX (PEX-AL-PEX) tubing contains a layer of aluminum embedded between two layers of PEX. SupplyHouse.com carries standard PEX-AL-PEX made by Rifeng and Uponor. The aluminum serves as an oxygen barrier and makes the tubing more rigid. See the chart below for some of the the advantages an…
Fix Kinks in PEX
It’s possible to kink PEX tubing if you bend it too tightly. When using PEX-B or PEX-C grade pipe you will normally want to cut the affected piece of tubing out of the line and replace it with a coupling, depending on the severity of the kink. With PEX-A, heat can be used to fix the kink (watch …
Direct Burial of PEX Tubing
PEX tubing is approved for direct burial outdoors, a practice most often necessary when running a water supply line to a house. PEX, since it can expand, resists freezing more effectively than rigid pipe, but PEX can still burst if water freezes in a line. As a result, it’s a must to bury the tubi…
Sioux Chief Copper Manifolds
Brand new to SupplyHouse.com are a range of Sioux Chief Copper Manifolds with Crimp or Compression Balancing Valves. Both of these styles are available with 2, 3, and 4 loops, and have brazed branches which are perfect for hydronic applications. These economic PEX manifolds will be useful for anyone…
Connecting PEX to PB
Polybutylene (PB) piping was commonly used for domestic water piping in the United States during parts of the 1970s and 1980s. Polybutylene can be identified by its gray color. Lawsuits related to fitting assembly failures caused the production of PB to stop, but the plastic tubing is still present …
Black PEI Fittings
New to SupplyHouse.com, John Guest’s PEI Twist & Lock UV resistant Push-Fit Black Fittings come in 3/4” and 1” CTS sizes. The fittings are manufactured from high quality engineered plastic with EPDM ‘O’ rings ensuring a leak-free and lead-free connection. The installation is quick …
Fittings for PEX-Aluminum-PEX
PEX-Aluminum-PEX, or PEX-AL-PEX, is PEX tubing with an embedded layer of aluminum. The aluminum serves as an oxygen barrier and keeps the tubing rigid. PEX-AL-PEX offers the additional advantages of less linear expansion and a larger diameter than standard PEX. Due to the tubing’s different dim…
Dual-Approved hePEX from Uponor
Most oxygen-barrier PEX does not have the appropriate approval codes for use with potable water and should not be installed in domestic plumbing applications. Uponor’s hePEX recently received NSF approval, making it one of the few types of oxygen-barrier PEX on the market that can also handle …
PexTV Episode 6
Take...me out to the Ball-Valve gaaammmeee! This weeks episode of PexTV is a baseball themed episode and it's all about "Home Run Plumbing Systems" Also, check out the features and benefits of the MANABLOC by Viega, and get live coverage from Coach Joe's post installation press conference. S…
PEX Fittings for Large Tubing
Six options for fittings exist for PEX tubing 1” and smaller: crimp, clamp, ProPEX, PEX press, push-fit, and compression (watch our video below to learn more). The choices decrease for larger PEX sizes. 1-1/4”, 1-1/2”, and 2” PEX requires ProPEX, PEX press, or SharkBite 2XL fittings. New Sha…
Connecting PEX to PVC
There is no traditional fitting that can connect PEX directly to PVC. Most push-fit fittings such as SharkBites work with PEX, copper, and CPVC -- but not with PVC pipe (Schedule 40, Schedule 80, DWV, etc.), but there is a recently developed SharkBite fitting that can do the job. The tried and tru…
