Which is better for Pex?

crimp much holes tighter, all-ways brass fittings , cinch or crimp on a plastic fitting may cause failure or cracks.not seen until a leak or flooding. I've and done the freeze test on pex with a 2'ft. piece with plugs in the ends, both cinch& crimp, plastic fitting & brass/ both pex piping swell, but the plastic gave out. use pipe insulation with 3/4 wall like armor flex. check r value on insulation for your area.

The best you can do is use Wirsbo (Uponor) Pex piping and fittings.

Most plumbers don't like it because it takes longer to install.

But since you probably can't get the tool for it, the fairly recently approved polymer fittings with Vanguard pex pipe is next up.

I only use crimp fitting on existing systems that already have it.

When I put in a new system, it's Wirsbo.

If you use brass fittings on the regular crimp Pex like Vanguard piping, make sure the fitting is never in a bind. The crimp type brass fittings are thin and does last long if they are in a bind.

The crimp type brass fittings also cannot hold up the hard well water. Wirsbo pex fittings can.

If it would really make a difference, I'll post or send you a pic showing a 3/4" Wirsbo ell beside a 3/4" crimp ell. Once you see the difference, you'll be sold on Wirsbo.

The foam pipe insulation you mentioned is fine and UPC plumbing code requires water piping to be protected from freezing so your piping in the unheated area in your part of the U.S. should be covered with something. . . .Joe

Check out this article here on how to install PEX: http://www.miconstruguia.com/en/how-to-install-pex... See if there's something there that you can find helpful.