How to Remove a PEX-A Coupling **Includes Mistakes**

How to remove a PEX-A fitting. Showing all of our mistakes and lessons learned replacing a PEX-A coupling when replacing our water service line.
You can check out the rest of the PEX knowledge drops based on this single coupling experience here so you don't repeat my mistakes: kzbin.info/aero/PLzio78R2Y1xlq06yBiraGaa3nJBq4RtIN
DISCLAIMER / HONESTY POLICY: The links in this description may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. You are not obligated to do so, but it does fund these videos in hopes of helping you improve your home and there is no additional charge to you.
TOOLS USED:
○ Milwaukee 12V Propex Expansion Tool Kit - amzn.to/3xAGMpD
○ HOWEVER, if you are already invested in the DeWALT family of tools you can check out the DeWALT version here: amzn.to/3e7gvYe--keep in mind this link is only for the tool and not the batteries so you can save some!
TOOLS YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO USE:
○ Any heat gun: amzn.to/2RyEdUs--if you have one on hand, you won't use it ;-)
○ Careful (and I mean CAREFUL) application of a blade to cut the PEX off the barb: amzn.to/3b7AdBx
○ PEX pipe cutting tool: amzn.to/3nRSiZq
RELATED PLAYLISTS:
○ Running a Replacement Water Service Line - kzbin.info/aero/PLzio78R2Y1xnj1uLqG5NDS0JxWX4KXyIB
○ Leak Detection (different tool options and how to pinpoint the location) - kzbin.info/aero/PLzio78R2Y1xnNOr1Hv2UCVAZsWF0X-S2L
COME SAY HI!
Blog: www.justneedspaint.com/
Instagram: justneedspaint
Pinterest: pinterest.com/justneedspaint

[@rjs2974]

You have a great voice for narrating.

[@jonnysixgun]

Ok, since no one else is going to say it, you don't have to redo a joint just because you didn't get the pipe on the last 1/8". Sure it's a good habit to get it on all the way but there's a margin for error in the design. The factory reps will tell you so. The honest ones anyway. I was taught by a factory rep to cut off the "collar", "ring", "etc" without heat, and then heat the pipe without cutting it until I can pull it off. If you heat the collar first some of that heat will bleed into the pipe making it softer and more susceptible to a cut. I've reused hundreds of plastic fittings and they work just fine. As for cutting off the pipe to start fresh, mostly people do this because they can't figure out how to get a new collar on a previously stretched pipe. Just stretch the collar by itself and usually, it will go on. 1" pipe is stiffer and so are the collars so I have stretched a collar once and then shimmed it with a sliver of the old collar in there to stretch farther a second time. Finally, if you do have a joint that leaks from the get-go, put a stainless steele hose clamp on it and tighten it down hard, then remove it. That will seat the barb deeper into the pipe and if the fitting isn't damaged too much that will seal it every time.

[@NoMoreLeaks]

Thank for sharing your experience!

[@tonyguzzo8419]

Thanks for advice, I will be trying the hose clamp method for sealing some leaks.

[@kevinjoyce2678]

You rock! That advice of using a hose clamp on the sleeve to tighten it down worked like a champ, and saved me a bunch of time and effort. Thanks!

[@billmitchell427]

I had the remove a 3/4 proper brass elbow from the pex pipe. I used a torch to heat the collar and pipe. Took 20 seconds to heat both the collar and pipe without damage to the coupling

[@IRoYaILTY]

That’s basically how I do it in the field. Usually I don’t have a heat gun so I bought one of those small torch style lighters at a gas station. I don’t heat it up nearly as much as you did just a bit and a nice sharp blade and you can get through the ring fairy easily. The pex I lightly score then cut deep on the pex below the fitting. Put my thumb in the hole I cut and just pull it off. That way I can still use the fitting even if it isn’t brass. Sometimes you don’t have the option of changing fittings without going crazy with couplings and doing a hack job.

[@NoMoreLeaks]

Thanks for sharing your experience. We certainly don't have ideal situations all the time and the first acceptable answer is the one that gets the job done.

[@theruckusdj]

I just cut off the outer ring as the inner pipe protects the barbs on the fitting. Then heat gently and pull off. No need to cut the pipe

[@moderntouchfurniture]

Thank you for posting this, I'm surprised I could not find any other How to video's on how to remove PexA expansion rings. I opted to buy brass couplings instead of poly even at twice the price just for this reason, you can't reuse a poly fitting, and I was working on a project that I might have to take apart in the future if some of the surrounding non pex fittings failed.

[@NoMoreLeaks]

Good call for planning ahead. Glad to hear you found it helpful. Best of luck on your project!

[@jimmypchacko]

Thanks for this

[@NoMoreLeaks]

Glad it helped. Hope you were able to complete the project and get water up and running!

[@mesatex]

My that solder joint is clean. Too bad it will not be seen for a very long time (hopefully)!

[@NoMoreLeaks]

Yes, it certainly is. Your skills are much improved. And ha, I never want us to see it again! 🤞

[@davidh6809]

Thanks

[@switchbeck6673]

Can you make a video on how you got such a nice solder joint?

[@NoMoreLeaks]

@got2learn he's the best. And a couple years of very intermittent practice.

[@switchbeck6673]

@NoMoreLeaks funny enough, I just watched those, thanks 😅

[@brucestorey917]

I have never needed to use heat to remove the collar or the pipe. All that’s needed is a new knife blade and a good bit of strength to pull the pipe off of the fitting. There is no reason not to reuse a plastic fitting if you didn’t damage it - I can’t count how many times I have done everything I mentioned without having any problems. Also, there is enough “wiggle room” to where the pipe doesn’t need to be completely bottomed-out onto the fitting. The Uponor rep told me that while bottomed-out is ideal, the pipe can be as much as 1/4” away from the stop and still perform as it would if it were bottomed-out.

[@MaxVincent-dj7mi]

Yea and it’ll hold just long enough for the check to clear. Then it’s someone else’s problem. /s

[@donfrussell]

what temp is best for heat gun to be set at?

[@NoMoreLeaks]

We have 3 settings on our heat gun. We used the middle one. Low would have taken forever and high might have compromised the materials. Good luck!

[@donfrussell]

Thank yo@@NoMoreLeaks

[@kevinw7575]

That solder joint is going underground? Better leave a flag in the yard!!

[@Ppepochaz]

Is easy with the torch, and if you use a knife you will mark the fitting and it will leaks, your welcome…

[@NoMoreLeaks]

Yes, thanks for the backup. That is exactly what I said at 2:03.