Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: right2bear on October 04, 2015, 07:40:52 AM

Title: Why to stay clear of "Watts" brand fittings
Post by: right2bear on October 04, 2015, 07:40:52 AM: Last year I helped my neighbor install his OWB system, and he chose to use Watts quick connectors, which is what was recommended by Menards for pex fittings. He deliberated for a while about it because they are so expensive per fitting. But we were very happy with how easy and fast all his hookups went rather it was from pex to pex, or pex to copper.

I was so impressed that I decided that I was going to use them to install my system last Dec. I spent roughly $700 on them. They worked great all heating season. We decided to shut down our stoves the same day, and when the water temps came down, every single fitting in our entire systems began leaking (gushing really). Now I called Menards, and they told me that I was running too hot of water through them, because I run mine at 200°F, but my neighbor only runs at 175°F and his did the same thing so...? When he called Menards, they told him that they would not recommend using them at all for any boiler system. Funny thing though, when you go into Menards, they have a nice display demo of a BOILER SYSTEM, that 100% uses the "Watts" brand quick connector fittings.lol

I tried calling the customer service line for Watts, and have never gotten through to a human being. So I emailed them when this originally came about, and they never responded.

I just emailed them again today as a follow up, and let them know, that I would be sharing my experience with anyone that would listen.

Well... Its cold in Michigan, and I'm going to be replacing fittings all day with normal crimp style ones.
Title: Re: Why to stay clear of "Watts" brand fittings
Post by: yotehunter66 on October 04, 2015, 05:18:44 PM: Bummer.
Title: Re: Why to stay clear of "Watts" brand fittings
Post by: RSI on October 04, 2015, 07:46:01 PM: I talked to a guy a few days ago that said he replaced the o-rings in his watts fittings with some that were slightly thicker and didn't leak anymore.
Title: Re: Why to stay clear of "Watts" brand fittings
Post by: atvalaska on October 05, 2015, 09:29:38 AM: I would run a ad ,diving out watts...till I got some to rant to !
Title: Re: Why to stay clear of "Watts" brand fittings
Post by: tinfoilhat2020 on October 05, 2015, 10:36:44 AM: i used watts traditional pex fittings and never had an issue...i have sharkbite quick connects on my barn loop and never had any issues....thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Why to stay clear of "Watts" brand fittings
Post by: userdk on October 10, 2015, 04:04:23 PM: Did you get the inserts inside the Pex? For us, the half inch and 3/4 inch ones worked but the one inch ones leaked, but now they've started sending little plastic inserts for inside the pex to keep it from shrinking and causing leakage when it cools off.
Title: Re: Why to stay clear of "Watts" brand fittings
Post by: tinfoilhat2020 on October 11, 2015, 03:59:39 AM: I dont use the inserts...no problems thus far
Title: Re: Why to stay clear of "Watts" brand fittings
Post by: right2bear on October 17, 2015, 09:20:16 PM: Quote from: userdk on October 10, 2015, 04:04:23 PM
Did you get the inserts inside the Pex? For us, the half inch and 3/4 inch ones worked but the one inch ones leaked, but now they've started sending little plastic inserts for inside the pex to keep it from shrinking and causing leakage when it cools off.

Yes sir I did... the plastic inserts came with the fittings, and were used... They are just purely junk is all.
Title: Re: Why to stay clear of "Watts" brand fittings
Post by: Marktk on October 18, 2015, 07:04:52 AM: I've heard you shouldn't use the plastic insert with hot water.