I’m hooking up a hose bib in my house (along with all the other plumbing I’m doing) with pex.
For the hose bib, I can’t get the crimp tool up into the joist bay to crimp it on. I thought using a worm drive clamp for this case might work, but wanted to make sure that this would be a satisfactory solution.
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Replies
Maybe you could crimp on a NPT fitting with the pex hanging free and then screw that onto the inner end of the hose bibb. Some pex connections still allow (some) fittings to still turn (albeit with difficulty) after crimping.
IF you can remove the screws from the outside of the hose bibb, maybe you could crimp on the fitting while holding the pex in an easier area, then hold it in place whilst someone rotates the hose bibb.
Or , perhaps you could adapt it to a better area. Make an NPT-Pex-Coupler "extension", twist that on, then make the Coupler/Pex connection in an easier area?
Just some thoughts that came to mind. I am not a plumber, just creative.
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Edited 1/11/2007 5:25 pm by jhausch
I'd not. I'd make a "make up" first, then a union back side and insert the whole shebang. But if the space is VISABLE for leak checks, I'd prolly go with the gamble, if I was feeling lazy.
Edit for a typo..and crappy keyboard.
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Edited 1/11/2007 5:23 pm ET by Sphere
That won't work. That's why I only use Wirsbo pex. You can expand it and then just shove it up and connect it almost anywhere.
If you know someone with the Wirsbo SSC ratchet tool, that will work in that small space. It installs a metal ring over the connection.
I have a crimp tool - unfortunately the handle is pretty long. A one handed ratchet type tool would be great.
This is not a crimp tool. You have a ring about 3/8" wide with a nub sticking out of it. You squeeze the nub together with the tool and it locks it on to the pex. It squeezes the ring similar to what a hose clamp would do, but it is much tighter and stronger.
It's great for working under sinks and in other places where you can't get to with a big crimp tool.
Then I'm mistaken in what a crimp tool is - I have the rings with the nub that you are talking about. The tool that squeezes the nub has 12 inch handles, so I can't maneuver it into place to clamp it down.
Can't you pull the pex through the wall to the outside, clamp it, and then push it back in? Or, how about getting a longer hose bib?
When you say "worm drive clamp" do you mean a hose clamp? If so, that sounds like a very bad idea.
That's probably the easiest - I'll take the hose bib off & pull it through.I mean the same kind you use on barbed fittings with the black polyethylene pipe - probably not a good idea since you use two on those & reverse them - not enough room with the pex fittings.
Thanks all for your replies & thanks to Matt for pointing out what I should have thought of first (take the hose bib off, crimp from the outside & then push it back in)
Soultrain, Ask your plumbing supply house (Not Home Depot) about a Sharkbite fitting. I am fairly certain that they will work with Pex. You just slip pipe onto fitting and your good. Jay
Shark bite advertises it will work with pex.
I've used sharkbites in a couple places, it would be a good fit here since it's just a push fit. My local hardware store has them as well as the local plumbing supplier.
Get a frost-proof bib.