I have eighteen (18) 3/4 inch pe pipes that terminate in the basement from my nine slinkly loops.  Looking for opinions on the best method(s) to get from pe to PVC schedule 40. 

 

 1) pe to scheudle 40 fitting (requires fusion)

 2) pe to male brass fitting - and then convert to PVC(requires fusion)

 3) pe to brass barbed fitting X 3/4 male thread - and then convert to PVC.   (I used these during pressuriziation testing prior to backfilling the slinkly loops and had multiple problems getting them to seal properly.  Tried heat and other techniques without great sucess.  A bit leary of this method. ) 

 4) Alprene coupling pe to pvc.     Salesman out of Ohio assures me these work great are problem free and will not leak. 

  Any comments or opinions on the above methods would be greatly appricated. 
 
   If I receive postive feedback with option 4 I will be going with that since my total cost will be around $200.00.  
   I know option one and two are proven methods, but after having two pe couplings fused on two nicked areas of the sllinkly loop at a cost of $266.00, I believe it is cost prohibitive....... Couplings - $3.08 each (x2) plus Fusion tool usage fee - $150.00 plus labor of 1 hour $95.00 plus tax @ 6%- $15.07 = $266.23.
 
 And therefore based having two couplings fused in (four fusions total- one on each side of each coupling) I estimate the eighteen fusions I need done will run between $700. and $900 dollars. 

  Thank you for your time and assistance,
  Newville, PA

Barbed fittings for standard SIDR PE won't work because the ID of SDR-11 is slightly larger. Like you, I used them to pressure test my loops and could get them to seal with double hose clamps after a few tries. Clearly not for long term use. I ended up using compression fittings from Cepex designed especially for SDR PE. I don't have the exact cost handy, but I think they were in the $6 range. Mine have been holding for about 2 years with no leaks yet.

http://www.cepex.com/download/brochures/PP%20Compression%20Fittings%20USA.pdf

Thanks for the input. The option 4 method I mentioned, (Alprene coupling) is a compression fitting. I will be looking into the Cepex brand.
Thanks again.

Below is a picture illustrating alternative number 3 listed above.  It's a picture of my push-pull pumping setup for my 5 ton water-to-air WaterFurnace Envision unit, up in my attic.

Three of the four pump connections are 1" HDPE to brass barb connectors with radiator clamps.

I was advised, a while back, on this forum, by Dwayne Dean (geodean), that this connection is problematic, particularly noting my static water pressure (pumps not running) is 60 psi .  I didn't catch the problem connections at installation time.

Dewayne recommended I increase the total of radiator clamps to 2 for each connection, and that I reduce the static pressure.  I did both.

I continue to monitor for leaks.  At the 2+ year point after installation, so far so good.  Parenthetically, these HDPE to brass barb connections are subject to the heat extremes of an attic in a Dallas climate.

I believe the HDPE pipe was heated to a melting point such that the inside HDPE pipe plastic material was melted around the brass fitting barbs.  I don't know if this makes any difference from a connection reliability point of view.

I think this is just FYI for you.

Best regards,

Bill

If it were me, I would do fusion of PE to Brass fittings! I am not sold on compression yet (although have used them on plenty of jobs) and will never ever install barb fittings. When we pressure test, we fusion the fittings on, to ensure proper sealing and never use barb fittings.

Send me an e-mail, depending on your time table, we might be in your area and could help out.

www.ACES-Energy.com

I used stainless IPS to barb fittings with double hose clamps for about eight months now(lube the barbs with thread sealant). No leaks yet, but I don't really trust it.
 OK for an unfinished basement, really wouldn't do it anyplace that couldn't get wet.
Purchased PE to brass fittings but the nearest place to rent a fusion machine is four hours away, so I've been procrastinating.

I'd use the PVC barbed fittings, double-clamp it, and a non-pressurized flow center.