| PEX Fitting | PEX Fitting Type | Material* | ASTM Standard | Connection method(s) | PEX Tubing Compatibility | Manufacturers/ brands | Price Factor+ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEX-A | PEX-B | PEX-C | PEX-AL-PEX | |||||||
 | Crimp | Brass | F1807 | Crimp (Crimp Tool + Crimp Rings) or Clamp (Cinch Tool + Cinch Clamps) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Everhot Watts Viega Nibco Apollo A.Y. McDonald Matco-Norca | 1 |
 | Poly | F2159 | 1 | |||||||
 | Push (Push-fit, Push-to-connect) | Brass | None | No tools required | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | OmniGrip SharkBite TecTite ProBite GatorBite | 5 |
 | Poly | John Guest Watts | 4 | |||||||
 | Expansion | Brass | F1960 | Expander Tool + PEX Sleeves | Yes | No | No | No | Uponor (Wirsbo) Sioux Chief | 4 |
 | Poly | 2 | ||||||||
 | Brass | F2080 | Expander Tool + Compression Tool + Brass Sleeves | Yes | No | No | No | Rehau Sioux Chief | 3 | |
 | Compression | Brass | None | No special tools required | No | No | No | Yes | Everhot Uponor (Wirsbo) Watts Mr. PEX | 3 |
 | Press | Brass | None | Press (Press Tool + Steel Sleeves) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes** | Viega | 3 |
 | Poly | |||||||||
 | Brass | No | No | No | Yes | Watts Uponor | 5 | |||
* Primary or the only material used. Brass alloy most commonly used in lead-free PEX fittings is either C46500 or EcoBrass. Poly alloy refers to PPSU (Polyphenylsulfone) in all crimp and expansion fittings and other alloys for push type fittings (John Guest and Watts).
** Viega FostaPEX only.
+ Pricing on scale from 1 to 5 (lowest priced to highest priced) based on averages from multiple vendor comparisons.
PEX Crimp Fittings
Crimp style fittings are the most common and affordable type of PEX fittings and can be found in majority of supply houses, home improvement stores and online stores.
Brass PEX crimp fittings are manufactured to ASTM F1807 standard. Poly alloy PEX crimp fittings are manufactured to ASTM F2159 standard.
Both types are compatible with all types (A, B, C) and brands of PEX tubing and can be installed using either one of the following methods:
Crimp Method: requires a PEX Crimp Tool and Copper Crimp Rings (also made to ASTM F1807)
Clamp (Cinch) Method: requires a PEX Clamp (Cinch) Tool and Stainless Steel (Cinch) Clamps (made to ASTM F2098).
Push PEX Fittings
Push-Fit or Push-To-Connect fittings are the only ones which do not require any PEX tools or rings to make a connection with tubing. A special composite mechanism securely locks and seals the pipe, preventing it from leaking or popping out of the fitting. Push fitting can be disconnected from the tubing with a help of a disconnecting clip or tool.
These fittings can be manufactured from brass or poly alloy and are compatible with all types of PEX as we all CPVC and copper piping.
Expansion PEX Fittings
All expansion fittings can be divided into (2) major groups:
1. Uponor (Wirsbo) ProPEX expansion system: proprietary style expansion fittings + expander tool + PEX sleeves. Both brass and poly fittings manufactured to ASTM F1960 standard.
2. Rehau RauPEX expansion system: proprietary style expansion fittings + expander tool + compression tool + brass sleeves. Fittings manufactured to ASTM F2080 standard.
Expansion style fittings can be used only with PEX-A tubing and are not compatible with other PEX tubing types.
Compression PEX-AL-PEX Fittings
Unlike most other methods, PEX-AL-PEX connection method does not require a PEX tool. Design of the compression fitting incorporates a split O-ring and a nut, used to tighten over the PEX-AL-PEX pipe and secure it over the fitting. PEX-AL-PEX compression fittings can be identified by (2) rubber O-rings over the fitting’s barbs.
Press PEX Fittings
Viega PEX Press fittings are installed using a PEX press tool and have press sleeves already pre-installed onto the fitting for ease of installation. They work with all Viega PEX tubing (including FostaPEX), as well as all other brands and types (A, B, C).
Watts and Uponor press fittings are designed for use only with PEX-AL-PEX tubing (any brand).