Going to be doing some plumbing soon...switching over to pex and making much needed repairs. I came across a deal on two sets (1/2-3/4) of Viega press pliers for 100 bucks plus some fittings. I looked them up and they are normally crazy expensive. So...is the Viega system any good? What are some advantages and disadvantages to the system. Thanks

Look into the clamp type bands the same tool for all sizes you just crimp the end the bands, that's what I used on my boiler setup.

What brand is yours and what was the cost? I like same tool for all sizes.

Watts the claps have notches the more you squeeze the more notches it locks into until it bottoms out.

You just crimp that tip the one tool fits all sizes!

Sweet! Thanks I’m gonna look into this!

I replaced all my water lines last spring with pex. I used the clamp law dog showed. The tool to crimp them was only 25 bucks. Guy at the do it yourself store said function and longevity were the same. Since he sold the more expensive system also I figured it was probably good advice. Anyway I got it all done, one try on every joint. Still no leaks.

I plumbed my house and many other jobs with the Viega pliers. The Viega clamps have more surface area that presses down on the fitting. That being said, I bought pliers and clamps at Southerlands a few years ago like Law dog showed. I really like the fact that you can do different sizes with the same pliers, and haven’t had any problems. Great tool.

We do have a feedlot that’s water eats brass up. We didn’t know it until this year when drinkers replaced five years ago started to leak. Found stainless steel Pex fittings and problem was solved. If you have bad water I would take a look at them.

I just did my house last winter. I used the Uponor expansion fittings, and they rock. They work with the pex's desire to return to it's natural shape instead of against it the way crimp systems do, and the fittings flow a lot more than the crimp systems. There's also no chance of a missed clamp or a connection leaking due to not being tight enough. I just bought the manual tool, since I only used it once. I used the plastic fittings; they're supposed to be more durable than the brass actually because they don't corrode or get eaten by chemicals in the water.

the expansion tools are the best...I've seen clamps fail

They also make plastic insert fittings. I've switched over to them for the same reason. No corrosion and considerably cheaper.

Being in interior Alaska, I don't know if you ever have problems with freezing pipes, but supposedly the expansion systems do better with freezing than the compression fittings. First off the expansion fittings use PEX-A, which is a lot more flexible, the compression systems can be done with PEX-B, which is not nearly as flexible. Also if an expansion fitting gets expanded by freezing water, it'll just compress back into place when the water melts, where as the compression fitting, once expanded by freezing water, is done for and has to be replaced. Of course it's best to just not let your pipes freeze

Expansion style is best. Pex is quite amazing. Seen it freeze and bulge like crazy, and next spring you cant tell.

Only thing is, remember it isn't UV resistant. A year in sunlight and it gets extremely brittle.

I like the expansion type connectors because they do not restrict the water flow like the crimp fittings.

Good to know. Thanks

Well now I’m really on the fence...headed to the building centers this weekend to check stuff out. Missed the opportunity on the used stuff while inquiring about it...lol oh well. I really appreciate the info on this.