Pex pipe tools, Do you carry them with you?

[AbdRahim]

Is 1/2 inch the most common size?

[CJ7365]

Originally Posted by Woodchopper

CJ7365
I repair my pex with Flair-It fittings, (most RV stores sell them).
PEX Flair It Plastic Compression Fittings Chart for Mobile Home Manufactured Housing

thanks might have to pick a few of those fittings up


They even have them on Amazon


https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...ir+it+fittings

[CJ7365]

Originally Posted by AbdRahim

Is 1/2 inch the most common size?

At least on my RV, 1/2" is the norm.

[Larry]

Only pipe tool I carry anymore is a pair or cutters for the tubing, any needed fittings can be picked up at Lowes, Home Depot or other home center/hardware store. I haven't needed to make a Plumbing repair on the road for about 10 years and then it wasn't for me.

[AbdRahim]

Thanks CJ365. Maybe I will pick up a few and keep with me since I have no toad. Hopefully, I will never have to use any.

[09 harley]

The chances of the Flair-It fitting leaking are very small compared to the crimp style. Invariably the fitting that goes bad is a crimp and there is no way to repair it with a crimp because you can't get the tool on it.
The reason they are used is because they are cheap. Always the least costly option. Upgrade to a better system. There is another system that uses special fittings and an expansion tool but it is the best. Made by Uponor I believe.
I carry both the fittings and blue and red pipe to repair any problem I have.

[jddangelo]

Originally Posted by 09 harley

The chances of the Flair-It fitting leaking are very small compared to the crimp style. Invariably the fitting that goes bad is a crimp and there is no way to repair it with a crimp because you can't get the tool on it.
The reason they are used is because they are cheap. Always the least costly option. Upgrade to a better system. There is another system that uses special fittings and an expansion tool but it is the best. Made by Uponor I believe.
I carry both the fittings and blue and red pipe to repair any problem I have.

Careful, the system that expands made by Uponor is called Wirsbo. Regular pex cannot be expanded only wirsbo pex can bc it has a memory to shrink back down.

Ive been a plumber for 20yrs and have seen many a homeowner screw that one up.

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.s...000104895.html

This is a great kit and much more forgiving in tight spaces. Bonus is the stainless rings are good on just about anything including garden hoses

[barmcd]

I had a PEX connection leak and it took about ten seconds to decide to attempt the repair with a Sharkbite connector after I was directed to them by people on this forum. I'll admit I was skeptical at first, but it was a simple process and has never leaked again.

[barmcd]

Originally Posted by AbdRahim

Is 1/2 inch the most common size?

I think so, but for some reason my Monaco has 3/8 to some of the faucets.

[dmurdock]

FYI the fitting that leaked on mine was a 3/4" flair-it...the threads stripped off (my entire coach is plumbed with flair-it minus my sharkbite repair). My assumption is that it was over-tightened when originally installed at the factory.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by 09 harley

The chances of the Flair-It fitting leaking are very small compared to the crimp style. Invariably the fitting that goes bad is a crimp and there is no way to repair it with a crimp because you can't get the tool on it.
The reason they are used is because they are cheap. Always the least costly option. Upgrade to a better system. There is another system that uses special fittings and an expansion tool but it is the best. Made by Uponor I believe.
I carry both the fittings and blue and red pipe to repair any problem I have.

Well,
Normally, I'd say you're pretty much right on. But, in the pics below, you'll see an "oops" that, I'm not exactly sure on how it came about. Really long story short, we had setup camp in Williams AZ at the Grand Canyon RR RV Park when I notice some "flooding-leaking" eminating from the wheel-well of the left rear duals, NOT GOOD!! So, after some 007 investigation, I found a leaking fitting BEHIND the plastic panel that houses both the cold and hot water spigots for the washer/dryer in our '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD.
Well, I pulled the four screws for that panel and tipped it forward so I could feel what I could in and around that area. Well, it felt wet around the fitting that entered the back side of the cold spigot.

I removed it, taped it all up with teflon tape and re-installed it. Turned the water on and, it leaked even worse, WHAAAAAAAAATTTTT?????

So, the next time I did what was needed to be done and removed the fitting in question. Upon really close examination, you see what I saw, WOW! A hole in the threads. Now, what are the chances of that happening???

So, off to the local ACE hardware and, vuallllaaaaa, Houston, we've got our problem FIXED!
Scott

[CoastieChief]

Fire Up, That looks like it rubbed on something. Does a bracket that holds the panel you mention hit there? You might want to check.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by CoastieChief

Fire Up, That looks like it rubbed on something. Does a bracket that holds the panel you mention hit there? You might want to check.

Hey CoastieChief,
Well Sir, nope, no bracket anywhere near the area. The section that is what I would estimate/call "deteriorated", is actually the part that screws into the backside of the brass, cold water spigot. There is absolutely nothing in the immediate area that would have any chaffing effects at all. Both spigots, hot and cold, are flat backed. That is, if you were to look at the back side of either one, all you'd see is, a machined circle, about 2" in diameter with two small holes near the edge (for securing it to what ever surface it's intended for) and, a 1/2" female pipe thread, leading inside the spigot.
You simply put some teflon tape on the threads of that "damaged" piece and, screw it into the backside of the spigot.

Personally, I think this was a defective casting in the fitting, right from the factory. During assembly at Winnebagos plant, teflon tape was applied and, it's possible that, the deterioration was not as noticeable 'cause it was maybe miniscule at the time and, the assembler held it in such a position that, it (whatever amount that could have been visible) was held down and therefore would not be visible while the teflon tape was being applied.

This is sort of my theory on it. We got really lucky though. First, we were in an RV Park in Williams AZ. It's a fairly small town, known for good eats, tourist spots, good access to the south rim of the Grand Canyon and more. But, I figured this was a specific "RV Only" type plumbing part and, I might have a fairly hard time locating one here. There is no shut off to either of those spigots. So, that meant we could not turn on the water pump or, turn on city water pressure. We spent only one night like that.

We ventured to the towns only hardware store, when it opened the next morning. As it happened, they had plenty of "Flair-it" components and fittings. YEAH!!!! So, I bought TWO, just in case I'd need another one at a later date, and camping in the wild. About $3.20 each. Problem fixed.
Scott