Propress Fittings with PEX Tubing

[watersourcepacific]

Has anyone used Propress fittings with PEX tubing? We like the fact of only having to inventory one system of fittings (ProPress), but we use PEX tubing for drinking water / high purity applications and don't like to inventory two systems of fittings. Has Ridgid or Viega done any testing on with PEX?

[PLUMBER RICK]

they make jaws on the 100-b compact that works with the viega pure flow pex tubing. the jaws work with the pex fittings. copper viega fittings don't work on pex. these jaws come in 3/8'', 1/2'', 3/4'', and 1''.

there is a watts shark bite fitting that will work with pex, copper and cpvc. 1/2'' and 3/4''.

rick.

[watersourcepacific]

We've used 1/2" copper Viega fittings with out 1/2" PEX tubing in a test setting and it worked great. Is there any reason why you say it doesnt work? I would love to hear from a Ridgid associate.

[watersourcepacific]

I'm always apprehensive using any kind of "Quick Release" or "Shark Bite" style of fittins behind walls. Propress system seems a lot more positive. any thoughts?

[Rick H]

watersourcepacific,

Plumber Rick is correct. ProPress fittings can not be used on PEX tubing. Viega does have a Pureflow PEX tubing system that uses PEX fittings - and RIDGID does offer different compact series pressing jaws that can be used on that system - but both the fittings and jaws are unique to the Pureflow system.

Hope this helps,
Rick H

[gd5362]

We used propress to connect copper to Wierzbo Pex to make an emergency temporary repair to a water service line. We later cut out these fittings when the permanent repair was made and were amazed at what a solid connection it was. I know that propress is not approved for Pex but we have used it several times to connect copper to pex with absolutely no leaks.