bsimonds
Winnsboro, TX, USA
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The inlet to my water heater is PEX tubing with a crimp connection to a plastic fitting that has broken. I want to remove the broken fitting and replace it with a SharkBite fitting. How do I remove the crimp ring to remove the broken fitting from the PEX tube? Dremil Tool? I can't just cut the tubing behind the fitting, it would then be too short to reach.
Bill Simonds
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lv2rom
Kansas City, Missouri
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Actually, you can cut it back, place your fitting on the line and add the proper size nipple to extend your water heater fitting.....Brian
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BurbMan
Long Island, NY
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A couple of options....you can cut the ring with a Dremel tool, then use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the PEX so you can slide it off the fitting. That stuff is tough as nails and a real bear to slide over the barbs on the fitting....much easier if you heat the tubing. Be careful not to overheat if using a heat gun.
OR, if the fitting on the HW heater is standard 1/2" IPS (most are), you can cut the tubing back, install a like fitting and connect the two with a standard faucet connector hose.
I've found that Lowe's has the best selection of these PEX compatible fittings.
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fixruprbob
Raleigh, NC USA
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Dremmel tool is a very good choice for removing the band. I worry about your plan to place a Shark connector directly over where the pex clamp had been. As I recall the Shark connector requires a smoothe surface on the outside of the pipe to seal correctly. On second thought maybe the heat gun application will restore the surface.
Robert
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bsimonds
Winnsboro, TX, USA
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Thanks, fellows. Having never fooled with PEX I didn't realize that the fitting was barbed and that there was more to the process than just removing the crimp ring. I'll try cutting the PEX and then making up the distance with something else.
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fatmanobx
kill devil hills, n.c.
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I have never seen a barb on a pex ring. We use them every week or so and just use a band buster or dremil tool to cut them and slide them off. Never had to use a heat gun for any part of the process...
2003 Four Winds Infinity 37'
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BurbMan
Long Island, NY
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No, the metal band is smooth, but the fitting has got barbs on it that the tubing grips.
The fitting for the HW heater in question probably looks like this:
The ridges that go around where the PEX tubing slides on are called barbs. My experience has been that once the tubing takes a set from being clamped on there, it doesn't want to slide off easily. heating the tubing allows it to expand and pass easily over the barbs.
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fatmanobx
kill devil hills, n.c.
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BurbMan wrote:No, the metal band is smooth, but the fitting has got barbs on it that the tubing grips.
The fitting for the HW heater in question probably looks like this:
The ridges that go around where the PEX tubing slides on are called barbs. My experience has been that once the tubing takes a set from being clamped on there, it doesn't want to slide off easily. heating the tubing allows it to expand and pass easily over the barbs. Not trying to start an arguement, the resort I work for is "blessed" with lots of quest and we have to patch it all the time with pex and I have never heard the rings called barbs. Learn something everyday.
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lv2rom
Kansas City, Missouri
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OK..OK..OK..GUYS....Semantics!..Semantics!...Semantics!
The ridges are actually called sealer rings (ridges..if that floats your boat), and they are intended to facilitate the seal when the ring is "crimped" into place.
True "BARB" fittings have multiple chamfered angled faces that have a relatively sharp edge and are designed to help hold softer tubing in place when a standard hose clamp is used.
That said, you are still both entitled to call them whatever you want, and use them anyway you want....Brian Just my 2cts 
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Vulcanmars
Naples, FL
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I call it s@*ty plastic pipe thing. The guys at ACE always know what I'm lookig for. 
Mars
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