Polyethylene pipe, commonly referred to as PEX, is growing in popularity among homeowners and professional installers. This is due to the ease of installation of the flexible polyethylene piping and the wide variety of connection types available to fit every situation. When you need to connect a polyethylene pipe and do not want to purchase expensive crimping or pressing tools, you do have an option. Screw-type fittings or compression fittings use pressure to hold the polyethylene pipe within the fitting, and you do not need to purchase expensive tools to make the connection.
Things You'll Need:Tubing cutter，Rounding and beveling tool；Screw-type polyethylene fitting；Two adjustable wrenches
Instructions：
Step 1
Square cut the end of the polyethylene pipe with the tubing cutter. It is important that the end of the polyethylene pipe is cut square to ensure that you achieve a proper seal in the screw-type fitting.
Step 2
Prepare the end of the polyethylene pipe with the rounding and beveling tool. To prepare the end of the pipe, you need to press the end of the rounding and beveling tool tightly into the end of the polyethylene pipe and spin the tool around to remove the bur from the pipe and round the interior edge of the pipe. Make sure the bevel meets the fitting manufacturer's specifications before proceeding to the next step.
Step 3
Slide the threaded nut onto the prepared end of the polyethylene pipe, and then slide the metal compression sleeve 1/4 of an inch down the prepped end of the pipe. The threads of the nut need to face the prepped end of the polyethylene pipe.
Step 4
Insert the barbed end of the screw-type fitting into the prepped end of the polyethylene pipe, and press the fitting firmly toward the end of the polyethylene pipe to seat the barbs within the pipe.
Step 5
Thread the nut onto the male threads of the screw fitting by hand.
Step 6
Place one adjustable wrench on the male side of the screw-type fitting, and place the second adjustable wrench on the threaded nut. Turn the adjustable wrench on the nut clockwise to tighten the screw-type fitting. While tightening the nut, hold the male side of the screw-type fitting still with the adjustable wrench you placed on that side.