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Hi folks. I just moved to Tennessee from Michigan. I'm installing an under sink water filter. It's a unit that uses 3/8" PEX on both ends. The connection piece that they gave me to connect to my cold supply is useless for my circumstance. What's the best way to connect PEX to a standard cold water shutoff valve without using special tools? Can I use an old fashioned nylon compression fitting like the ones commonly used for ice maker connections?
Thanks for your attention.
yes........
Do I sense an impending qualifying statement, or am I reading too much into the trailing periods?
What is wrong with the connection they gave you? There is no such thing as a "standard cold water shutoff valve", because there are many types of cold water shut off valves.
Attachment 18026 This is what was provided.
Attachment 18027 This is what I have. It fit my new Delta faucet perfectly. I can add a splitter to the top of the shutoff valve to connect my faucet and the water filter.
The adapter looks to be 1/2" pipe threads x 3/8" OD.
Your shutoff is 3/8" comp or also considered 3/8" OD
You may want to pick up a double shutoff for the wall fitting
or a 3/8 comp x 3/8 comp x 3/8 comp tee for the top of your current shutoff.
http://terrylove.com/images/add_a_tee.jpg
The triple 3/8 tee is what I ended up doing. I'm just concerned about the PEX compression fitting holding. I used a nylon ring, properly installed. I suppose it's no worse than the line going to the new Delta faucet. A leak would be bad in a hurry though.
Attachment 18029
They make inside sleeves for the tubing too.
Yeah, I actually have one. In all the excitement of putting it together, I failed to use it.
The inside sleeve provides a hard, smooth, round surface to support and mold the pex so the compression fitting will hold and seal properly. It is included for a reason, you should use it! The connection will be much more robust.
The connection Tee they gave you was to go between a "flexible hose" supply line and the 1/2" MIP threads on most conventional faucets. Delta, because of their DST versions no longer uses the MIP connection which is what caused your difficulty. The "Add-a-Tee" adapter you used is what I would have used also.
http://terrylove.com/images/add_a_tee.jpg
Thanks for all the input. Jim, I'll add the sleeve. I have a dishwasher to install in a few days, so I'll be under there again.
Installed new Delta DST kitchen faucet, and because supply lines were so long, I cut off the manufactured ends and opted to use the nylon compression rings supplied with the kit to 3/8" angle stop valve No insert is provided. Instructions say to turn compression nut 2 full turns after hand tightning, that seemed way too tight at first try, but hot water side let go within 15 min. flooding kitchen. I then retightened to much tighter and then removed tubing to see that nylon compression ring was crimping tubing. And did a pull test. I installed ring in correct manner and deburred end after cutting with standard tubing cutter. It's holding now, but I can't find any recommendation to use an insert inside Pex tubing except on your site here?????? It seems standard practice with softer polybutylene?????? A call to Delta, just produced a woman trying to blame me for not cutting tubing correctly!! I'm an aviation mech. and have been making tubing connections for 40 yrs. Tubing was cut square and deburred. Connection makes me nervious, I always turn off my outside incoming water valve when I leave home, because all my plumbing is 20 yrs old....Quote:
Originally Posted by hj
No "oh by the way" will follow! The forum requires minimum 10 characters in a reply,...hence the dots.Quote:
Originally Posted by ddmoit
quote; No insert is provided. Instructions say to turn compression nut 2 full turns after hand tightning, that seemed way too tight at first try, but hot water side let go within 15 min. flooding kitchen
You discovered the reason why I NEVER cut the manufacturer's supply lines. I just loop them to use the whole thing.