Forum Discussion

shutdown's avatar
shutdown
Explorer
Apr 16, 2015

Leaking plumbing...Ideas?

finally got the rig unwinterized last weekend...its great to be back in the camper.

one minor problem...i had a little drip form my fresh water plumbing.

this is an odd set up. the plumbing system is, of course PEX. But under the sink...where everything kinda comes together, there is some nylon reenforced hose...like what is pictured below. the trouble is that when that stuff leaks periodically. it is crimped on with regular PEX crimps. when i discover a leak i cut the old crimp off and put on a new one. i have done this 3 or four times so far.

I assume they did this because this stuff is more flexible than PEX in thght areas. is there a better way to attach this stuff?


  • dbbls's avatar
    dbbls
    Explorer
    Apr 16, 2015
    Try a hose clamp. Also, how are you crimping the pex. Are you using the proper tool?
  • shutdown's avatar
    shutdown
    Explorer
    Apr 16, 2015
    yes. i am using a pex crimp tool. each time it has leaked the hose has been cold. it has never started to leak when its warm. my assumption is that the hose gets less pliable in the cold, causing the leak. once it starts the only way to fix it is to recrimp, warming up won't help once it is leaking.
  • Toddupton's avatar
    Toddupton
    Explorer
    Apr 16, 2015
    That is high pressure braided hose and you can not use pex connectors on it. The OD is different than pex. If you do not have the correct crimp connectors they will leak. Use a worm clamp and it should work. I would use 2 clamps next to each other just to be safe.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Apr 16, 2015
    I would replace the barb attachment point with a Sharkbite or Gatorbite threaded fitting and likewise replace that tubing with a threaded faucet hose connector.

    No hose clamps.
  • shutdown's avatar
    shutdown
    Explorer
    Apr 16, 2015
    Toddupton wrote:
    That is high pressure braided hose and you can not use pex connectors on it. The OD is different than pex. If you do not have the correct crimp connectors they will leak. Use a worm clamp and it should work. I would use 2 clamps next to each other just to be safe.


    Ah. i was afraid of that answer. That is how it came from the factory. I am going to try putting hose clamps on it next time.

    to re work the entire system, to get rid of it the braided hose or tie it in with barbed fittings would me a major undertaking.

    that said, the crimp rings fit over the hose exactly like it did over PEX. i certainly wouldn't' think that the 2 would be interchangeable like that....just one more example of a factory's hurry up and get it done mentality.
  • Dr_Quick's avatar
    Dr_Quick
    Explorer II
    Apr 16, 2015
    I have replaced the entire plumbing system on an older trailer that had the "Grey Plastic" that was leaking, with this kinds of flexible plastic. Used small screw clamps and it worked fine. Some times in the future if I saw a leak, I just tightened the screw clamp. In the entire system I only remember two leaks that happened like months after it was installed. I can theorize that either the plastic compressed, or I did not get clamp tight enough. So I used a small "socked wrench" and that solved problem.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Apr 16, 2015
    If the braided nylon is a supply line, I'd suggest to replace it with a premade braided supply line with two threaded ends. While you're doing that, you can also install a valve. The combination will remove the leaking problem and offer some help if you need to work on the faucet set in the future (you won't need to shut off the whole water supply for the RV).
  • stickdog's avatar
    stickdog
    Explorer
    Apr 17, 2015
    When I replaced the kitchen faucet which was directed to the plex I replaced the connection with flexible hose with normal fittings just used sharktooth with 3/8 mail connectors on the plex

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