Skip to main content
True Value
Project

Prepare PEX Pipe — Verify Crimp with Go/No-Go Gauge

Beginner2 hours

Part of project

How to Cut and Crimp PEX Tubing Like a Pro · Step 6 of 6

Helpful?

In this video

Prepare the PEX tubing for connection. Slide a PEX crimp ring onto the end of the PEX pipe. Insert a threaded PEX fitting into the pipe. Position a PEX crimping tool over the ring and squeeze firmly to create a secure connection. Use the included go/no-go gauge to verify the crimp is correct; the 'go' side should fit over the crimped ring, but the 'no-go' side should not.

Goal: Plumbing Pipe Installation (PEX) (Installing PEX plumbing pipes.)

  • Crimp the fitting onto the PEX pipe before installation, as the crimping tool may not fit into the tight space near the valve.
  • If your existing pipe is soldered, you'll need to cut the copper pipe and use a push-to-connect (SharkBite) fitting to transition to PEX.

Used in this video

  • PEX Crimping Tool — Securing the crimp ring over the PEX pipe and fitting.
  • PEX Go/No-Go Gauge — Verifying that the PEX crimp is properly sized.
293.5K views1.8K20 minutes
Home Repair Tutor

671K subscribers

View Channel

FAQs

Why is using a go/no-go gauge so critical after crimping PEX, and what does it tell me?

The go/no-go gauge is essential for ensuring your crimp connection meets industry standards and is leak-proof. The 'go' side should fit over the crimp ring, and the 'no-go' side should not. This confirms your crimp is properly sized and secure, preventing costly leaks down the line.

What are the most common mistakes beginners make when crimping PEX tubing, and how can I avoid them?

Common mistakes include not cutting the tubing squarely, placing the crimp ring too far from the end of the tubing, or failing to use the go/no-go gauge. To avoid these, ensure clean, square cuts, position the crimp ring about 1/8 inch from the end of the tubing and over the barb, and always verify your crimp with the gauge.

The materials list both PEX-A and PEX-B tubing. Does the type of PEX tubing (A or B) affect how I use copper crimp rings?

While copper crimp rings primarily use barbed fittings that are compatible with PEX-B and PEX-C, they can also be used with PEX-A tubing. The crimping method itself remains the same for all PEX types when using barbed fittings and copper crimp rings, but PEX-A is also commonly used with expansion fittings.

How accurate is the 'beginner' difficulty rating for this project, and what's a realistic time estimate for a first-timer to get a good crimp?

The 'beginner' rating is accurate as the steps are straightforward once understood, but practice is key. For a first-timer, expect each connection to take 10-15 minutes initially as you get familiar with tool handling and positioning. With a few successful crimps, your speed and confidence will quickly increase.

Transcript
Hide

take the fitting off from the top of the shower valve. For this particular project, we're going to use pecs, which is a plastic flexible line used especially for water lines. The great thing about pecs is with the conversion fitting, you can connect pecs directly to the copper without much problem at all. Some of you may have a shower valve where the copper is soldered directly into the valve. In that case, all we'll do is cut the copper about midway up, we'll use a specialized sharp-byte conversion fitting and slide the pecs right in place. In our case, we have a screw on fitting, so we'll take this sharp-byte fitting that fits specifically into the pecs, we'll take our ring, put it on here first, and crimp it in place. Now we do this first because we'll never get that crimping tool close enough to the brace in order to get it to fit tight. So let's go ahead and take the tool and crimp the ring on. With the pecs crimping tool comes this handy little gauge. It has a go-side and a no-go side. You want the no-go side not to go on and the go-side to go on. That ensures that you've crimped it tight enough but not too tight.

Auto-generated transcript. May contain errors.