The new king of PTC fittings? Hands-on with Uponor TotalFit

[@brianhope5853]

Stiffener, also known as flow restrictor.

[@qtip919]

just picked up some unions as my solution to go from Pex B to Pex A - Brilliant and simple!

[@wtfpopupforyoutubechanel1500]

Or you know use a Pex B fitting for the job. Pex A is compatible with all fittings on the market. meaning you can crimp with a standard Pex B rings and coupler.

[@EK--ry3lr]

Just did my own house with Uponor fittings, but might put a few of these in my toolbox just in case. Thanks!

[@trespire]

The design of the internal parts are very simmilar to pneumatic connectors used in manufactoring industry.
Some quick fittings have a plastic spring collet that grabs on to the tube, some have a metalic spring collet, like the Uponor product shown.
Both styles have advantaged and disadvantages. On some tube materials, the metal collet will gouge into the tubes material, making it tricky to release.
In other tube materials, the plastic spring collet can wear out after several cycles, leading to air leaks and even failure.
Personally I like pneumatic fittings from SYSTEC Italy.
However, this Uponor seems very well engineered.

[@callmemika839]

Guess PTC fittings are doing so well that every manufacturer is jumping in. SharkBite, Plumbite, NibcoPush, Legend Smart Click, etc...and now Uponor.

[@peterman8058]

These are a good transition solution. Honestly, with the Uponor name behind it, I trust the product, and I am not a fan of push-connect fittings. I love the Uponor Pex-A product. I have never seen a failure on a properly installed component.

[@scha0786]

What’s the pressure drop on those compared to a standard copper sweat fitting?

[@jeffreywolfe6313]

Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Baby shark!

[@BryanTorok]

So, these are basically plastic Sharkbite fittings, cheaper than brass because they are plastic. And, like all of these quick fitting, whether Push or Crimp (Pro Press) they rely on an artificial rubber (EPDM) O-ring for the seal. Even if the O-ring is not in the water flow, it is in contact with the water.

[@michaelpatrick6950]

I've used EPDM gasket material in industrial processes at temperatures up to 300F and 125 psig in plate and frame heat exchangers. These gaskets are many orders of magnitude greater in surface area than these little o-rings and have been in service for many years and some for decades. About the only tougher polymeric gasket material I can think of is silicone, but its softness limits its application in gaskets.

[@BryanTorok]

@@michaelpatrick6950 I find it interesting that both Sharkbite and ProPress warranty their connections for 25 years. I've always thought of soldered connections as being forever and the gold standard. I don't want to risk fittings leaking in the ceiling of a room where I have boxes of documents and books stored.

[@csealand]

Anything Uponor is top notch. Thanks Matt

[@carrabellicusp]

The big benefit of upnoor is the large bore of the connection the stiffener really reduces the diameter of the pipe and will significantly reduce flow

[@johnwhite2576]

Word

[@dansr6333]

I don't understand how you tell the pressure from the end user. Unless you are taking the water saver out of all your fixtures 🤔

[@hotrodpaully1]

@@dansr6333 watch a washing machine fill with PEX crimp or or a push to fit vs copper/PVC/galvanized u will definitely notice a difference

[@dansr6333]

@hotrodpaully1 i think you are right, tub fillers and washing machines do let out the most volume. Then I think about a garden hose. You have to hoses, two buckets. Let the one fill the bucket normal. The other, put your thumb covering half to make it shoot like a jet. Which bucket will fill faster? I was going somewhere with this...

[@wtfpopupforyoutubechanel1500]

@@hotrodpaully1 I don't stand next to my washing machine and wait for it to start. set it and forget it, Come back in 1 hour and its done. you are paying a premium for a product that will not have any difference in quality of life.

[@michaeltca3103]

QUESTION -- Matt can you please do another real build series. That was your best series I must say, and it will greatly increase viewership as it is an excellent practical show. SUGGESTION -- start with the search for a building lot and take us through every step. And some colder place with a basement would be perfect Yes, I know how easy it is for me to suggest this and how hard that is in real life... But we can ask, right?

[@buildshow]

Funny you say that…. Stay tuned for a new series this Fall from Austin Tx! Shhhh don’t let anyone know

[@johnwhite2576]

Try Steve B’s Build show Boston series now running on Matt’s channel !

[@mattv5281]

Do these do anything that Sharkbite fittings don't, besides being cheaper?

[@nickmatarazzo879]

It’s a plastic shark bite

[@StealthNinja4577]

As they say you get what you pay for. It's just a plastic sharkbite. If you were worried about the longevity of pex or pvc least with brass at the connections you could be like well there's some strength there. I think these are just fuel for the scum plumbers that will charge you the same as if they were sweating copper all day for a 5 minute push connect job they'll drag out and not want to be watched doing it

[@apex007]

@@StealthNinja4577 actually you don't want brass. The water will start corroding the only metal surface in your system.

[@pomnichowski]

looks handy...
thanks for the show...

[@D.N.R.911]

I'd try it

[@zachc1297]

Repair truck? As a DIY'er these PTCs make it still possible for some of us to do basic things with less risk and cost. Bath fitting swaps or repairs (especially valved connections), comparable hot water replacements, other basic maintenance or changes.

[@shadeiland]

I do like them for say emergencies, pressure testing for leaks, accessible locations and other such things. Don’t like the idea of them inside the walls or inaccessible locations.

[@ohiosportsdreaming]

@@shadeiland Not sure this is a permanent solution. But agree with you on the emergency fix, pressure testing, and easily accessible. A buddy of mine in Seattle just used one as a water heater swap....holding up like a champ!

[@zachc1297]

@@shadeiland As opposed to Shark bite methods? That is a pretty long warranty to not be intended for permanent use IMO, however I am far from even a novice. I have used some PTC to repair broken ball valves under sinks, which are accessible but the intent was permanent.

[@shadeiland]

@@zachc1297 don’t disagree. My issue is that I and many other plumbers have been burned by to good to be true plumbing supplies. Orangeburg, Kitec are just two examples of bad products that burned a lot of us. So it maybe just fine. I’m just know that they will never be the only tool in my tool box. To me they are a support/quick some applications type product. But for me to do my job and able to ensure quality workmanship I am going to stick to the things that have been proven to work till PTF fitting have been thoroughly vetted.

[@Dave-ld3dr]

Do they make an angle valve like the Sharkbite?

[@LukePighetti]

Uponor is my second favorite engineered products company, right behind the king: 3M

[@marcelinoramos2784]

Can you check on Rhonda from Colorado to see how the house came out

[@dennispost433]

Matt, have you experienced any problems with Uponor pex a pipe and chlorinated city water?

[@buildshow]

I haven’t experienced any issues

[@bshumway]

Matt
Love your educational videos I'm most definitely a believer and follower of what you do and share.
Please can you address the UPONOR WARRANTY having Chloramine to purify the water. Sounds like UPONOR has issues.
Please look at this plumber in California and the issues he's dealing with with UPONOR warranty. He has many videos on it on UA-cam.
Thanks
NEW UPONOR WARRANTY. PIPE MUST BE: - Not Exposed to Water? Oct -1-2022"
ua-cam.com/video/VdSpJIsisL8/v-deo.html

[@thenexthobby]

I'm attracted to F2080 aka "Rehau style" connections, and either Zurn or Sioux Chief tubes. I just haven't heard categorically great things about Uponor long term.

[@edgrenzig]

where can I find info on the Uponor class action lawsuit of 7/29/21? Matt, what is your take on this PEX problem?
Do I need to remove and redo the Uponor red & blue PEX A that I installed 2 years ago.
CIVIL ACTION NO.:
JOEL W. MATZDORF;
MIKAYLA MATZDORF;
DUANGDOW C. HOYORD; and
LUKE T. HOYORD; individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated,

[@CHenry1951]

Thanks for sharing........................................

[@ohger1]

1) A plastic Sharkbite in other words...
2) The O-ring isn't in the water stream, but it IS in constant contact with water pressure.
3) The stiffener reduces flow and eliminates a big advantage of PEX A expansion.
4) This is no quicker than using an expansion tool and no where as reliable a connection.
It's good for transition, but then, a Sharkbite does the same thing, and an expansion PEX to copper fitting would be better for no restriction.

[@ocularshift1091]

Shout out to all the she plumbers out there 👍❤️

[@rockys7726]

Are they ever going to address the rat bite problem? I had a friend's house that sprung leaks because mice chewed on his pex pipes.

[@shadeiland]

I don’t know if they could. I’ve seen squirrels chew through the side of a pvc till a hole ran down the side of it from the roof to the attic space. Austin squirrels are no joke. I have also seen rats chew through no hubs under a house. I’m not sure if any plastic immune to the potential.

[@rockys7726]

@@shadeiland Couldn't they put some additive in the plastic to make it taste bad or smell bad to the rodents?

[@shadeiland]

Doubtful, it would probably impact the chemistry in some way. It’s why they print the info on the surface of the pipe instead of in the material of the pipe. I am guessing it would impact the material. Not an material scientist so don’t quote me on that. I just know as a plumber that each pipe has set tolerances that it has to meet.

[@rockys7726]

@@shadeiland That's the only thing stopping me from using pex on my house. I probably won't have mice but just in case I don't want to deal with water issues if one gets in.

[@DannySauer]

Rats can chew through steel wire, and easily go through copper. Mice generally won't. So it's somewhat important to differentiate which problem you're trying to solve. ;)
Rats: galvanized steel pipe, I guess
Mice: copper is probably enough
Or learn to love cats. 😂

[@MARKE911]

Can they be used as Direct Bury in soil?

[@rsecord]

Actually a good question, but unless your nuts why would you be direct burying uponor Pex?

[@MARKE911]

The PTC FITTINGS themselves is what I'm referring to.
I go to make a emergency repair quickly on a bad house line. I give no warranty unless I replace the line from meter to house. I let the area dry up then come back for trenchless e
replacement.
Less than 50% of my customers call me to do full replacement and that's fine by me I'll likely see them again within a year or two when another spot blows out.
I have been using Ford or McDonald Brand solid brass pack joint fittings for the emergency repair. I know they are very expensive fittings but I know they hold up to extreme pressures and water hammers and are reusable.
However I have seen hundreds of new homes where the uponor pex is direct buried. I have seen very few homes where it was actually properly bedded in sand.
I've used Powerpex, Uponor, Sharkbite brand piping when supplies were short.
My choice to use underground is Municipex made by Rehau. Does not require sand bedding, resistant to slow crack growth and works. It is about the same in cost as uponor.
**update added**I do not like Quest fittings but they will do if my choice is not available

[@rsecord]

@@MARKE911 I would not us a connection that is NOT underground rated. Hence why would you have the Pex this was made for buried? Hence, it's not rated for the use you are questioning. Use the "quick connected rated for the pipe that is buried.

[@allenmason1098]

We got 20 years out of Pex pipe and it leaked at the top plate
$3000 repair

[@__WJK__]

Interesting product, however, seeing that copper piping is easily a multiple "life-timess" product, why would anyone want to go with something that only offers a 25yr warranty(?)

[@johnwhite2576]

Cost-assume you have priced K copper recent;y…and all kidding aside , I list on my yard sign on site ‘no copper pipe in this house’ on my yard sign to deter theft….

[@shannabolser9428]

@@johnwhite2576 does that work?

[@ledebuhr1]

Is this Uponor's version of SharkBite?

[@robertfitzgerald8243]

I wonder if he would use these in his house hmmm

[@bigred8162]

Sharkbite

[@michaelweatherhead9470]

I've had Sharkbite fittings in my house for over 7 years no problem at all used PEX A not upenor.

[@rsecord]

You mean pex b? Cause a is to soft for sharkbite.

[@michaelweatherhead9470]

@@rsecord nope PEX A it is Souix Chief.

[@rsecord]

Still makes me paranoid! 😀

[@rsecord]

@@michaelweatherhead9470 I keep forgetting them even though I have their fittings in my shop for passing through wood.

[@akilfahd]

Yes so it’s plastic sharkbite that’s 30% cheaper

[@cheako91155]

I don't buy this oring that doesn't touch and sponge up water, but is also necessary. I get the verbiage you used, but I feel you're being disingenuous if you say most ppl are meant to understand that nuance.

[@ocularshift1091]

At what point does the industry just concede that these Sharkbite style fittings are just as good as traditional plumbing?

[@rsecord]

It's a sponsored video.... Matts just running a business bro!

[@shadeiland]

A lot of plumbers were burnt by things like orangeburg, kitec and other junk. It has made plumbers very very careful of what they are willing to be okay with. Push to fit fittings seem a bit to good to be true for us to trust. Not sure if it is a good thing or not to be that iffy about new products and ways of doing things. But I can I understand why they and I are that careful.

[@johnwhite2576]

@@shadeiland push to fit reduces ID-

[@ocularshift1091]

@@shadeiland how do we know plumbers aren't just mad that people don't need them anymore to sodder copper?

[@shadeiland]

I don’t care if people don’t need me for that. Since pex is becoming such a big deal with water, soldering is only going to be needed for older homes. Plus I had plenty to keep me busy that was beyond the skills of the vast majority of people when I still plumbed. So are plumbers mad? Doubt it. Not trusting a product doesn’t equate to being upset with home owners.

[@PlanetFrosty]

Uponor pex is demonstrating problems in micro cracking in its material. Some only 5 years old. I’m building a 17,500 house and I won’t use Uponor after I’ve see horror stories from plumbers and homeowners.

[@markshute3207]

Due to Over chlorination at WTP. CPVC is Chlorinated PVC and resistant to the Chlorine.

[@drewgraham]

I have also seen this happen a lot, but every instance I have seen of this happening was because of one of two things:
A. Freezing temperatures
B. It was left out in the sun
Even if the water in the pipe doesn't fully freeze, cold temps causing it to expand and contract will slowly weaken it over a few years.
And this stuff does not last well in the sun for any period of time. It should always be kept out of the sun. I have mostly seen this as a problem with large developers that buy lots of it at once and just let it sit outside for months while they use it.
I have never seen it fail when handled properly, so unless I see something different I will probably use it on my next house.

[@rsecord]

I've been using Uponor for 5 years including junctions to pex B with expansion fitting and with Blocks that entire time, Blocks and Junctions are aways in safe areas with moisture alarms for the haters. But push fix is a no go for me unless it's temporary. If the junction will be in bad areas I just use matching pex.

[@rsecord]

Hum sounds like poor material handling b4 install. PEX A must be kept in the dark, like most ........

[@victorvek5227]

You mean you’re building a Sam’s Club?

[@nelsongilbert1695]

No more $harkbite?

[@J_N969]

stiffener and bottoming out….what im i watching?

[@pitt1108]

Nothing beats copper and sweated fittings. I just remodeled my own home. Used fresh 3/4 to 1/2 copper. I wasn’t going to use anything else. I want 0 problems installed correctly and I will not for the lifetime of my home.

[@J_N969]

if you hit copper and pex a with a hammer what one will last longer?
just cause it is “new” doesnt mean it is bad.

[@skylerwilliams]

Pex also doesn't freeze & burst

[@pitt1108]

@@J_N969 the bio static alone In copper more of advantage. 12mm hole vs 9mm hole. 9mm in pex less volume ( longer toilet tank filling times) . Splash a solvent on pex. It would be leeching into the system in no time. Where does the leeching go? In your body. What’s at an all time high and continues to grow? Cancer rates

[@J_N969]

@@pitt1108less restrictions do to less fittings.
i dont change oil above pex pipe so good there.
if plastic scares you then dont store food or drink in it.
turns out water passing through plastic is not a big deal

[@travelfeet]

There's definitely places where copper has the advantage, but not always. We had three different leaks from corrosion in the copper supply lines cin our home during the first three years of ownership. The house was 90 years old at that time, I assume on its second set of copper supply (could it have been the first?) regardless, as a skilled layperson, I replaced all water supply lines in the house in pex in a weekend. It was cheap (compared to copper) easy, and I only had to cut one square foot of plaster and drill one hole in a floor to snake all the pex. I had no hesitation on my material choice due to ease of installation, cost, and performance. I did buy and install 4 copper manifolds with pre-soldered shut-off valves as part of the job though.

[@dphellner]

Oh no thanks, Matt, I like to suffer.

[@danbedard290]

Nope. Its a plastic sharkbite. Only good for temp fixes.

[@gonzostwin1]

I won't even buy these, looks like a amazon knock off brand

[@StealthNinja4577]

So cheap plastic shark bites gotcha. I don't get the use case. If I want a temporary solution and I'm going to a location then why not use brass if I'm gonna remove it anyways, I'll get more disconnects and reconnects out of metal vs plastic. As a home owner in an emergency why not just stock like 100 bucks worth of brass fittings. As a professional that doesn't like push connect why wouldn't you have all the fittings for various repairs already that you'd need to use more than the cap already available in brass at every size. This is for the cheap diy and house flipper that will install these and leave you with the repair bill when they fail

[@garycasper2929]

So, just to clarify if your house was built in 1998…….. these fittings would have reached there life expectancy as far as the warranty goes.?……. 🤔
No freakn’ thanks dude..! Not to mention what kind of chemicals they’re leaching into your drinking/ bathing water. 🤮

[@alagrad0308]

Awesome! I’m the first to see this video!!! 😂

[@neipas09]

Legend Valve Smart Click is still the superior and better option.