PEX Fittings: What People Often Overlook When Choosing What Type Of Fittings They Use.

For most people tackling DIY plumbing installs and repairs using PEX tubing it is easy to grab the fittings for the size of the tubing they are using and piece everything together. There's nothing "wrong" with that approach because the goal is to assemble you pipes and fittings so water gets where it needs to go without leaking, right? But much like working on an engine where you can put it together exactly as the book says and it will run, there are those of us that like to squeeze a little more power or above average performance out of our finished product. If you are looking for some info to get some better performance out of your PEX plumbing, then this is a video you need to watch! Currently at most hardware stores you will find a large variety of PEX fittings made of brass. These are the most common and a lot of people like them because they're a bit shiny and they think of brass as being a heavy duty material that has been used in plumbing systems for longer than you or I have been alive. The second most common type of PEX fitting you will currently find at most hardware stores are the black plastic alloy fittings. These are a great option for anyone who has issues with brass corroding due to their water. The plastic alloy fittings are also less expensive. Both of these types of PEX fittings have their pros and cons but ultimately will work in your plumbing system and hold up well when properly installed. But one thing that most people don't consider is the possibility of water flow being restricted by the PEX fittings and possibly not delivering enough water to parts of your plumbing system. When it comes to choosing between brass or plastic fittings for your PEX tubing you don't have to worry about corrosion with the plastic alloy fittings, but the trade off is that because they are plastic the sidewalls of the fittings are thicker to make them strong enough to hold up to the pressure. This means a smaller inside diameter (ID) which will restrict water flow. In our video you can see how a plastic alloy fitting for 3/4" PEX tubing actually has an ID of less than 1/2". Brass fittings for PEX have an ID of .540 which is just slightly over a 1/2". Of course, fittings used for 1/2" tubing PEX tubing also have a smaller ID than the tubing, but it is much less of a drop off than you will see with the fittings for 3/4" tubing. Now here's the good news! There is a 3rd type of fitting for PEX tubing that is starting to be sold at more and more places. And those are the 304 stainless steel fittings. Not are the 304 stainless steel fittings do not corrode AND have a larger ID than plastic alloy fittings. Infact, the ID of the 304 stainless steel fittings is the same as the ID of the brass fittings. And if you're looking for better water flow the 304 stainless steel elbow fittings are radiused rather than a true 90 degree fitting like the brass and plastic alloy fittings. Think of cars in traffic. If you want to turn 90 degrees to the right at an intersection you basically have to bring your car to a full stop to make the tight turn. But if you are driving your car and it is a gradual curve to the right you can slow down slightly and keep going. This is the same with the flow of water inside your pipes and fittings.

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