—

uponorengineering.com

PAGE 19 OF 25

SERVICE BULLETIN

5. Release the trigger, remove the
head from the piping, rotate it
1
⁄8 turn and slide the head back into
the piping. Continue expanding
and rotating until the piping
and ring are snug against the
shoulder on the expander
head. See Table 2-1 for the
recommended number
of expansions.
Important! Rotating the tool
between expansions will provide
smooth, even expansion of the
piping. Failure to rotate the tool
will cause deep grooves in the
piping which can result in
potential leak paths.
6. After the final expansion,
immediately remove the tool
and insert the fitting. Ensure
the piping and ring seat against
the shoulder of the fitting.

SAV.1E.2012MA

BS4173E

5b

6a

6b

6c

Insert ProPEX Fitting into 2" Uponor PEX Piping.

ProPEX EP Tee Inserted into Uponor PEX Piping

Plumbing Design Assistance Manual

—

ProPEX Brass Coupling Inserted into Uponor PEX Piping

Chapter 2 – Making ProPEX Connections

13

PAGE 20 OF 25

SAV.1E.2012MA

BS4173E

SERVICE BULLETIN

Making ProPEX Connections with
the ProPEX Hand Expander Tool
1. Square cut the PEX piping
perpendicular to the length of
the piping. Remove all excess
material or burrs that might
affect the fitting connection.
2. Slide the ProPEX Ring over the
end of the piping until it reaches
the stop edge. If using a ProPEX
Ring without a stop edge, extend
the ring over the end of the
piping no more than 1⁄16" (1mm).
Important! If making a 3⁄8"
ProPEX Connection, you must
first expand each side of the ring
before placing it on the piping.
Refer to the “Making 3⁄8" ProPEX
Connections” instructions on
page 16 for further information.

3. Brace the free handle of the tool
against your hip, or place one hand
on each handle. Fully separate the
handles and slide the expander
head into the piping until it stops.
Full expansions are necessary to
make a proper connection. Bring
the handles together to expand.
Separate the handles, remove
the head from the piping, rotate it
1
⁄8 turn and slide the head back
into the piping. Continue
expanding and rotating until

the piping and ring are snug
against the shoulder on the
expander head. See Table 2-1
for the recommended number of
expansions for each piping size.
Important! Rotating the tool
between expansions will provide
smooth, even expansion of the
piping. Failure to rotate the
tool will cause deep grooves in
the piping which can result in
potential leak paths.

3a

1

2

ProPEX Hand Expander Tool
14

Chapter 2 – Making ProPEX Connections

—

uponorengineering.com

PAGE 21 OF 25

SERVICE BULLETIN

4. After the final expansion,
immediately remove the tool
and insert the fitting. Ensure
the piping and ring seat against
the shoulder of the fitting.

SAV.1E.2012MA

BS4173E

3b

Important! You should feel
some resistance as the fitting
goes into the piping. If you do
not feel any resistance, the piping
may be over expanded and will
require additional time to shrink
over the fitting.
3c

ProPEX Hand Expander Tool

4a

4b

4c

Insert ProPEX Fitting into Uponor PEX Piping.

Plumbing Design Assistance Manual

—

Chapter 2 – Making ProPEX Connections

15

PAGE 22 OF 25

SAV.1E.2012MA

BS4173E

SERVICE BULLETIN

Making 3⁄8" ProPEX
Connections
The 3⁄8" ProPEX Ring must be
expanded once on each side to
properly fit over the piping. Refer
to the following instructions to
make a 3⁄8" ProPEX connection.
1. Square cut the PEX piping
perpendicular to the length of
the piping. Remove all excess
material or burrs that might
affect the fitting connection.
2. Expand each side of the 3⁄8"
ProPEX Ring once.
3. Slide the expanded ring over the
end of the piping. Extend the end
of the ring over the end of the
piping no more than 1⁄16" (1mm).
4. After the ring is on the piping,
continue with the regular steps
for making a proper connection
with your specific tool.
1

E6081128 Pipe Cutter (plastic)

Proper Expander Tool
and Head Maintenance

Caution: Excessive
lubrication may result in
improper connections.
Only use a small amount
of lubrication to keep the
tool working properly.

• Use a lint-free cloth to apply
a light coat of lubricant to
the cone prior to making any
ProPEX connections.
• If used regularly, apply the
lubricant daily to the cone of
the ProPEX Expander Tool
(manual, air or battery) as well
as the ProPEX Auto Rotation
Adapter. Failure to keep these
tools lubricated may result in
improper connections.

• Keep all other parts of the tool
free from lubricant.
• Once a month, soak the heads
in degreasing agent to remove
any grease from between the
segments. Clean the cone using
a clean, dry cloth.

• The handles of the ProPEX Hand
Expander Tool will open and close
smoothly if properly lubricated.

2
A

B

B

A

Important Tips for a Proper 3⁄8" ProPEX Connection
• The thicker 3⁄8" ProPEX Ring shrinks over the fitting faster than
larger-sized rings.
• When the temperature is below 40°F (4.4°C), fewer expansions
are required.

3

Max. 1⁄16"

16

Chapter 2 – Making ProPEX Connections

—

uponorengineering.com

PAGE 23 OF 25

SERVICE BULLETIN

Disconnecting a
ProPEX Brass Fitting

SAV.1E.2012MA

BS4173E

4. After removing the ring, apply heat
directly around the fitting and
piping connection. Do not use
open flame. Gently work
the piping back and forth while
pulling slightly away from the
fitting until the piping separates
from the fitting.

ProPEX brass and EP fittings are
manufactured connections that
can be concealed in walls, ceilings
and floors. When necessary, ProPEX
brass fittings can be disconnected.
Important! EP fittings cannot
be reclaimed.

5. After removing the fitting,
measure:

Refer to the following guidelines for
disconnecting a ProPEX brass fitting.

- 2" (50.8 mm) minimum for
3
⁄8" to 1" pipe

1. Ensure the system is
not pressurized.

- 3" (76.2 mm) minimum for
1¼" to 2" pipe

2. Use a utility knife to carefully
cut through the ProPEX Ring.

- 5" (127 mm) minimum for
2½" and 3" pipe

Important! Do not heat the ring
prior to cutting it. Take care to cut
only the ring and not the piping or
fitting. Gouges in the fitting may
result in leaks. If you accidentally
damage the fitting, you must
discard it.
3. Remove the ProPEX Ring from
the piping.

6. Square cut the piping at the
proper marking.
7. Allow the fitting to cool before
making the new connection.
8. Use a new ProPEX Ring and
follow the steps to make a
new connection.

2

4a

5

3

4b

6

4c

Plumbing Design Assistance Manual

—

Chapter 2 – Making ProPEX Connections

17

PAGE 24 OF 25

SAV.1E.2012MA

BS4173E

SERVICE BULLETIN

Troubleshooting
ProPEX Connections
Trouble-free ProPEX installations
begin with a tool that is maintained
in proper working condition. If the
tool or segment fingers are damaged,
it is very difficult to make a proper
connection. Refer to the following
guidelines to assist with challenges
in the field.

Expansion with Proper Rotation

Fittings Won’t Seal
• Make sure the expander head is
securely tightened onto the tool.
• Ensure the segment fingers are
not bent. If the head does not
completely close when the drive
unit is fully retracted or the
handles of the manual tool are
open, replace the head.
• Examine the tool for excess
grease on the segment fingers.
Remove excess grease prior to
making connections.
• Check the fitting for damage.
Nicks and gouges will cause the
fitting to leak.
• Make sure the internal driver
cone is not damaged or bent.
• Make sure the last expansion is
not held in the expanded position
before the fitting is inserted.
You should feel some resistance
as the fitting goes into the piping.
If you do not feel any resistance,
the piping may be over expanded
and will require additional time to
shrink over the fitting.
• Be sure to rotate the tool 1⁄8 turn
after each expansion to avoid
deep grooves in the piping which
can result in potential leak paths.

Expansion is Difficult
• Make sure the internal cone is
properly greased.

Expansion Head Slips
Out of Piping When
Making Expansions
• Ensure the piping and
ProPEX Ring are dry.

18

Expansion without Proper Rotation
• Make sure that grease is
not getting into the piping.
• Examine the segment fingers
to ensure they are not damaged
or bent.

ProPEX Ring Slides Down
Piping During Expansion
• Ensure your hands are clean while
handling the piping. Any sweat
or oils on your hands can act as a
lubricant. Due to the smoothness
of PEX, any form of lubricant can
cause the ProPEX Ring to slide
down the piping during expansion.
• If you anticipate the ProPEX Ring
may possibly slide down, position
the ring slightly farther over the
end of the piping and make the
first couple of expansions slowly.
Once the ring and the piping
begin to expand together,
continue with the normal
number and type of expansions.
• Place your thumb against the
ProPEX Ring to help support
it and feel for any movement.
If caught early, you can slide the
ring up the piping and expand
as described in the previous
bullet point.

•

More Than the Recommended
Number of Expansions are
Needed to Make a Connection
• Ensure the head is hand-tightened
to the expander tool.
• Examine the segment fingers
for damage.
• Be sure to completely cycle
the tool on each expansion
(i.e., close the manual tool
handle or release the trigger).

Cold-weather Expansions
• Temperatures affect the time
required for the piping and ring
to shrink onto the fitting. The
colder the temperature, the slower
the contraction time.
• Warming ProPEX fittings and
ProPEX Rings reduces contraction
time. Put fittings and rings in your
pockets prior to installation to
keep them warm.
• Fewer expansions are necessary in
temperatures below 40ºF (4.4ºC).
Note: Do not use a heat gun on EP
fittings to speed up the contraction
time as this could result in damage to
the fitting.

Chapter 2 – Making ProPEX Connections

—

uponorengineering.com

PAGE 25 OF 25