How To Repair Pex Line Break

Cross-linked polyethylene, popularly known as PEX, has been widely used for h2o pipage, insulation, and heating systems. They are flexible and are freeze-resistant which makes them also ideal in cold climates. Plus, they are more affordable and easier to install. They can final for up to 200 years given that they are not exposed under direct sunlight.

However, like any other type of pipe, you will demand to repair your PEX pipe once in a while. PEX pipes are not actually prone to leaking. Accidental holes may occur, but near plumbing leaks happen at connection spots or joints which are acquired by incorrect installation.

Hither, nosotros are going to evidence you lot how to fix kinks as well as PEX holes and leaking PEX connectors on your own.

How to Repair a Kink in Your PEX Pipe

At that place are 3 methods on how you can fix a kinked PEX pipage:

Method 1. Using Smooth Pliers

If the kink in your PEX pipe is not that bad, you can but carefully circular the tubing using smooth pliers. Nonetheless, if the kink occurred on a aptitude part of the PEX pipe, the kink might re-develop if the said method was used. To prevent the kink from re-developing, you tin put a firm bend support to the pipage.

Method 2. Using a Hot Air Gun

If using smooth pliers to repair the kink is not effective, you can brand the kink disappear by using a thermostat-controlled hot air gun. This is done by heating the PEX pipe at a temperature higher than the pipe's melting point which is around 270°F. However, you lot need to make certain that the temperature of the air that reaches the pipage's surface will not become over 330°F. You lot tin can employ a thermometer to check the temperature.

Below are the steps y'all should follow when heating a PEX tube:

1. Straighten the PEX tubing to reduce the tension on the kink.
2. Rut the PEX pipe carefully while turning the air gun continuously to make certain that all of the kink's sides receive equal amounts of heat. The heated tube will become transparent within 2 to iv minutes. During this process, the kink starts to disappear.
3. Once the kink disappears completely, stop heating. Let the pipe cool downwardly until it turns opaque again. Do not touch it. Y'all tin can also apply cool water if you want the pipe to absurd faster.

Though heating the PEX pipe slightly damages its barrier layers, the PEX tubing's cadre will still be fine. Slight damages to the tubing'southward bulwark layers volition non decrease the tube's integrity. The heated function can also aggrandize slightly, only this is okay.

NOTE
DoNotheat your PEX pipe using a torch. When the torch overheats the tubing, your PEX pipe's life expectancy might be compromised.

Method 3. Using the Conventional Repair Method

The conventional repair method involves replacing the damaged section of the PEX piping with a new ane by crimping. For this, you can follow the same steps listed in the next section.

How to Prepare Holes in Your PEX Pipes

If your PEX pipe has a hole, all you lot need to do is remove the damaged section of the pipe and then utilize the crimp connection method to fix it:

Materials

• PEX pipe
• Go/No-Go gauge
• Tape measure
• PEX crimper
• PEX cutter
• 4 crimp rings
• 2 direct crimp fittings

Directions

• Step 1. Cut the pipe's damaged section using the PEX cutter. When cut, cut at a 90-degree bending and make the cut even to ensure that the fitting will create a reliable seal.
• Stride 2.Mensurate the length of the damaged section of the PEX pipe that you lot removed.
• Step 3.Cut the new PEX pipe to the same length every bit the damaged pipe you removed using the PEX cutter.
• Step iii.Put one crimp band on one end of your existing PEX pipe before inserting 1 direct crimp fitting into information technology.
• Step iv.Align the crimp ring on the ribbed section of the crimp fitting.
• Stride five.Secure the PEX tube over the crimp plumbing equipment past using the PEX crimper.
• Step 6.Verify the accuracy of the connexion past using the Go/No-Get guess. Make certain that the Go slot fits perfectly effectually the rings while the No-Become slot does not.
• Step vii.Put one crimp ring on one stop of the replacement PEX pipage. After that, connect it to the end of the piping that you lot crimped earlier past inserting it on the other end of the crimp plumbing equipment.
• Step 8.Over again, adjust the crimp ring on the replacement pipe and make sure that information technology is over the crimp fitting then use the PEX curling to secure information technology.
• Step ix. Consummate the connection by following steps 3 to eight to connect the other end of the replacement pipe to the other pipe section.

How to Fix Leaking PEX Connectors

As we have mentioned earlier, PEX connectors can break if you lot oasis't installed them correctly. These connectors are made without using chemicals or solders. This ways that even if you installed them tightly, they might yet come up apart or leak.

Although there are various PEX connector types you lot can utilize, the well-nigh recommended ones for existing PEX pipes are insert fittings. Whether you are using a clamp or crimp connection system, the well-nigh affordable PEX repair method is by using brass fittings with stainless steel or copper crimp rings.

Why Do PEX Connections Leak?

#one Improper Pressure Testing

Failure to pressure test your system properly can crusade leakages and expensive repairs such as the removal of fixtures and your entire floor/wall.

#ii Uncalibrated Tools

For clamp/cinch or crimp connection methods, you need to calibrate your tools before you commencement with your installation. You should check them periodically to avoid future bug in your pipe system.

#3 Improper Installation of Button Fittings

Among the about mutual issues of leaking pipe connections are improper installation practices, especially for push button-to-connect fittings. You tin can find some tips for using push-to-connect fittings here.

#4  DeZincification

This occurs when the water's chemistry causes selective zinc leaching from contumely alloys which weakens the fitting and results in leakages. Notwithstanding, this tin can be prevented by using dezincification-resistant brass fittings for your PEX pipes.

Materials

• Crimp-style insert adapter
• Copper crimp rings
• PEX crimper
• PEX cutter
• Get/no-go gauge
• Expanding tool
• Push-fit connector for PEX
• PEX support sleeve
• three-part compression fitting

Directions

• Step 1.Find and remove the damaged PEX connectors. Set up the replacement connectors likewise.
• Pace ii.Secure the 2 crimp-style insert adapters to both of the PEX tube's ends using the crimping method as instructed in the previous department.
• Footstep three.Cheque the reliability of the connections by using the Get/No-Go gauge.
• Step iv.Use the three-function compression fitting to create compression connections. Thread the brass nut to the section facing the cease of the tube.
• Step 5.Complete the push button-fit connection by putting in the PEX support sleeve to preclude the tube from collapsing.
• Step 6.Finish your repair by creating expansion connections.

Boosted Tips on How to Prevent Leaks From Happening During PEX Pipage Installation

Below are the tips you can follow to avoid leaks on your PEX pipage system:

• Pressure test your piping organization according to your local building requirements. A leak exists somewhere in your system if you get a lower initial temperature gauge reading.
• For crimp connexion systems, always use a Go/No-Go gauge to make sure that your connections are accurate and secure.
• Follow the installation tips in your manufacturer'southward transmission regarding freeze prevention and freeze protection.

FAQs About PEX Pipe Repair

#1 Which is amend: PEX crimping or clamping?

The fittings used in PEX crimping and PEX clamping are the same. These fittings are chosen spinous or crimp PEX fittings. Each method uses different tools and different band types but their way is like. They both produce equally reliable seals, so your choice ultimately depends on your personal preferences. You lot can read more on PEX crimp vs PEX clamp hither.

#ii Can you glue PEX?

No, you lot can't. Y'all need to do either the PEX clamping or crimping method to secure your connections.

#iii Tin can I cut PEX with a copper pipage cutter?

Yep, a copper pipe cutter allows easy cut of the PEX pipage. You lot can utilize it to cut both pocket-sized and large tubing diameters.

#4 Tin you use a PVC cutter to cut PEX?

A PVC cutter is designed to cut different pipe sizes upwardly to 2 inches in bore. Thus, you lot can also use them to cut PEX and CPVC pipes.

Wrapping Information technology Up

Leaking pipes in your plumbing system tin exist a big stress. Nonetheless, you practise not ever need to call a professional plumber when you can do the repairs on your own. Fixing leaking PEX connections and holes in your PEX pipes is not as hard as you call back it is. You just need the right tools to help yous brand your repairs easier. This is where Tubomart, a professional manufacturer of plumbing materials, can help you. Feel free to contact us if you lot demand whatever assistance.

Source: https://www.tubomart.com/how-to-repair-a-pex-pipe/

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