Step 7 · Making Crimp Connections

This is the step most people slow down on. Take it one move at a time — there’s no rush, and you can rewind the clip as many times as you need.

At each fixture and at the manifold, you will make your connections. Start by cutting the PEX pipe to the desired length with a PEX cutter, ensuring the cut is perfectly square and clean. Slide a copper crimp ring over the end of the pipe. Fully insert the barbed end of the PEX fitting (e.g., a drop-ear elbow for a shower head or an angle stop for a sink) into the pipe until it seats against the shoulder of the fitting. Position the copper crimp ring so it is 1/8 to 1/4 inch from the end of the pipe, covering the barbed section. Squeeze the handles of the PEX crimp tool completely to compress the ring. Finally, use a go/no-go gauge to verify the crimp's diameter; the 'go' slot should fit over the ring, but the 'no-go' slot should not.