If you’re a homeowner who’s going to attempt their first do-it-yourself plumbing repair or upgrade, you’re in the right spot. If you’re looking for information to feel confident about your endeavour, this blog will help push you in the right direction.
Boshart is well known within the world of PEX fittings, particularly for our Stainless Steel PEX Fittings. If you want to look at some of the most common professional options for PEX Fittings, check out our blog How to Choose the Right PEX Fitting.
However, if you’re looking for the most simple, straightforward, no-nonsense fitting for repair jobs, read on.
PUSH FITTINGS: THE BEST FITTING FOR REPAIRS ON COPPER, PEX PLUMBING, AND MORE
There is another kind of fitting that can be utilized in PEX (and copper!) plumbing systems that you might want to know about.
Push Fittings are one of the best bang-for-your-buck options for homeowners and general contractors dipping their toes into plumbing.
HOW DO PUSH FITTINGS WORK?
Push Fittings are specially engineered fittings that do not require any tools whatsoever to install. Instead, the user simply pushes the fitting onto the end of the pipe and, when the
fitting has seated fully onto the pipe, the connection is made.
Push Fittings utilize an O-ring to create their watertight seal. They have teeth inside the fitting that hold it firmly onto the pipe. If desired, a specialty disconnect clip can be used to easily remove the Push Fitting from the pipe for re-use.
THE BENEFITS OF PUSH FITTINGS
There are a few key advantages to Push Fittings that make them an attractive choice for the DIY homeowner making a one-time repair or upgrade to their home.
CAN BE USED ON COPPER, PEX, C-PVC, AND PE-RT SYSTEMS
Whether your house is plumbed with copper or PEX pipe (by far the 2 most popular materials in residential plumbing), you can use Push Fittings to make repairs on either 
material.
But wait - there’s more! Push Fittings can also be used on C-PVC and PE-RT systems. They aren’t exclusive to only one or the other.
And lastly, the biggest benefit of Push Fitting versatility is that it can easily act as a transition coupling between any of these materials; allowing you to switch what material you’re using in case you don’t want to be locked in.
NO SPECIAL TOOLS REQUIRED FOR INSTALLATION
Any other contractor-grade fitting will require you to invest in the tools required to make a connection. These can range from $50 on the low end to hundreds of dollars if you wanted to go all-out.
Push Fittings, however, don’t require any specialty tools for installation. The fitting you purchase is all that you need to make a connection between any of the materials we talked about in the last point.
Specifically in the case of copper, you need to work with an open flame in order to make a connection. In many environments near wooden beams or insulation, this can be a fire hazard that requires special preparation. Once again, Push Fittings do not require any of this.
CONTRACTOR GRADE 304 STAINLESS STEEL
New to market is Boshart Industries’ Stainless Steel Push Fittings. These contractor grade
fittings are made with 304 stainless steel which means they are safe for any potable water situation.
304 Stainless Steel is also what our best-selling Stainless Steel PEX Fittings are made out of. If you wanna learn more about those fittings specifically, click here.
BRASS vs STAINLESS STEEL
Why is Stainless Steel such a big deal over existing brass push fittings?
Brass is a metal alloy that is highly susceptible to corrosion in environments with poor water conditions. Dezincification happens when the zinc content of a brass alloy makes up at least 15% of the density.
Dezincification is when small pieces of brass flake off, which leads to more and more of the same. Pin holes develop in the fitting (and the walls of the fitting become thinner overall) which will inevitably lead to leaks if not catastrophic failure.
Stainless Steel doesn’t contain any zinc, so it is at literally no risk of dezincification. If you want the peace of mind knowing you’ve installed the best of the best, stainless steel is the way to go.
BOSHART’S STAINLESS STEEL PUSH FITTINGS
There are a whole host of other reasons to love Boshart’s Stainless Steel Push Fittings. To learn more about key features like our sweep elbow design, 360º locking collar, and more, head over to our Push Fittings page here.
IN CONCLUSION
If you’re new to plumbing repairs on copper, PEX or other pipe, Boshart’s Stainless Steel Push Fittings are a fantastic option for your next project.
If you use Push Fittings on your repair or upgrade, tag us on social media and use the hashtags #PushFit and #KingOfTheWater for a chance to win some Boshart swag.
If you’re looking to buy Boshart's Stainless Steel Push Fittings and don’t know where, reach out to us and we will find the nearest retailer to you.
Have further questions about this subject?
Head over to Boshart's Knowledge Base: technical product information, guidelines, and more.
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