XPress fittings, pros and cons. Opinions please.

[Deleted member 96286]

the geberit ones do its 22m thats the pain as all the others are close

Great info, I'll leave you alone now.🙂🙂🙂

 

[Old Account]

If you start using a crimping machine DO NOT USE xpress fittings. These are cheap, after crimping you can easily turn them around. Those fittings also leak. These fittings are the poorest crimping fittings which you can get. Viega or geberit for me.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

really this again ron they dont turn

 

[boblydon]

i have never had that problem and have used thousands of them in commercial boiler houses and systems over the years.

 

[Old Account]

really this again ron they dont turn

They do!
Poor quality fittings. They aren’t even round those fittings. I used to use them but due to 2 leaks I stopped using them. Never had any issue with viega fittings. If you had a leak you would see it straight away which has a specific german term sc Kontur... normally those fittings are sealed without even using an o ring because it is a metallic connection. However, nobody said you cannot use them, I stopped due to their poor quality. You should try it out to turn them once they are crimped.

 

[Old Account]

i have never had that problem and have used thousands of them in commercial boiler houses and systems over the years.

That’s fine, I never said that no one should use them. I decided otherwise due to my experience. But you can see the difference if you hold two different fittings in your hand ( viega and xpress ).

 

[Deleted member 96286]

My understanding of the XPress fittings is that they are deliberately not made round and made triangular. This is a feature called LBP, or leak before pressing so that they intentionally leak if not pressed so that you can confirm that it hasn't been pressed. I'm a complete novice with press fittings, so all info is appreciated.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

You sure you pressed it with m jaws and no a different type

As m type presses a hex in the fitting a pipe so it's physically impossible to turn it without disforming the hex

 

[ABK]

Apart from price, a couple of things to consider:

Working in tight spaces and trying to get the crimper in can be tricky, and could crush the fitting if not on properly, so you must plan ahead. The mini rems is better for tight spaces imo, and alot lighter.

Also, not sure if you would use the fittings in concealed places as they are sealed by a rubber o ring, which I heard will degrade after time.

Other than that, they are quick and easy to use, with no mess from flux or heat mats needed etc.

 

[Welder]

Also, not sure if you would use the fittings in concealed places as they are sealed by a rubber o ring, which I heard will degrade after time

Interesting point, well from an engineering perspective anyway...

My, albeit limited, knowledge of o-rings is that certain ones do degrade over time due to oxygen and also uv light. I'd be interest to know what they use.

If people recall, the org JG pushfit inserts had 2 nitrile o-rings. They then had failures so changed one to blue (viton)...

 

[ShaunCorbs]

One point to add they don't count on the oring it's only there for a secondary seal

I've removed one and pressure tested upto 14 bar no leak

 

[Welder]

One point to add they don't count on the oring it's only there for a secondary seal

I've removed one and pressure tested upto 14 bar no leak

So how do they seal? Why put an oring if not needed?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

So how do they seal? Why put an oring if not needed?

A back up I guess

It's a copper seal like compression

 

[Deleted member 96286]

A back up I guess

It's a copper seal like compression

So there is no movement in these joints and can't be rotated like pushfit? Reason I'm asking is that I've cut into lines in boiler rooms with these fittings already on the pipe work and they have rotated, but still kept their seal.

 

[ABK]

One point to add they don't count on the oring it's only there for a secondary seal

I've removed one and pressure tested upto 14 bar no leak

Interesting. I have seen a crushed fitting pass a pressure test before lol.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Correct they can't rotate due to the m profile

I'm not saying you can't force them round but I wouldn't like to

 

[ShaunCorbs]

So there is no movement in these joints and can't be rotated like pushfit? Reason I'm asking is that I've cut into lines in boiler rooms with these fittings already on the pipe work and they have rotated, but still kept their seal.

I've seen them pass a test but not been pressed 😀

 

[ABK]

Also, I wouldn't bother with the corded versions as they are much heavier, bulkier and even slower than the cordless.

 

[Ric2013]

Ah. So press fittings are a metal to metal seal? Perhaps I'll withdraw my main objection then.

That said, the fact that there is an o ring is a concern as how will you ever know if the copper seal if doing its job or if you are relying on a bit of rubber that will eventually degrade?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Ah. So press fittings are a metal to metal seal? Perhaps I'll withdraw my main objection then.

That said, the fact that there is an o ring is a concern as how will you ever know if the copper seal if doing its job or if you are relying on a bit of rubber that will eventually degrade?

Yes

Geberit have a 25 year warranty on the fittings so if anything goes wrong it's upto manufacturer aslong as it's fitted to spec

Most schools and hospitals are plumbed hot and cold services in press now