I’m a remodeler that does a few plumbing jobs a year and am considering switching to PEX. Most of the advice I’ve received has favored the SSC crimp rings over the uponor expansion connection, but I worry about the reduced pipe diameter from using ssc fittings. Does anyone have a formula that says something like “x” number of fittings per “x” number of feet of run. I’ve not found any information addressing this issue. Or is this a non issue? Thanks, Brian
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Because PEX piping needs very few fittings, it's not a big deal about the flow restriction of fittings. Plus, the pipe flows very smoothly, and the loss from fittings is very small.
The one advantage that I can think of with the Uponor system is that you can't accidentally forget to crimp a joint since you can't put it together without going thru the expansion proceess.
Every plumber I know has sometime forgotten to crimp a joint, and it doesn't always leak before you leave the job because the fit is tight.
Our three story house is plumbed with crimp type PEX. Homerun design, so there are lots of long runs. There is no problem with restriction.
The only place you will have a restriction problem is between the tub spout and the shower mixing valve. You have to use 3/4" PEX there, or 1/2 soldered copper for that small section. Otherwise the backpressure from the smaller pex fitting diameter will cause water to run out the shower head when you fill the tub.
I know this because it happened to me!