Starcraft Antigua 2005, Water manifold made of PEX and those one-time crimp hose clamps leak. See pics below. the black plastic PEX "T" somehow cracked on a diagonal across the intersection and streams water. I go to Home Depot and match the same size PEX "T" with a PEX brass "T". I decide to use "real" hose clamps, you know the worm type adjustable screw so that I can re-use, relocate adjust, etc. Now all three locations where the PEX is clamped over the pipe onto the fitting leak. I have them cranked down beyond tight. WTH? I imagine I should replace the whole manifold due to age but what works best here? Any help?

I don't think you're supposed to re-use pex that's been crimped and then un-crimped. I never have, but luckily my location is very easy to get at.My vote is replace all the short pieces that are involved with leaks. Also the crimp connectors are going to be tighter than a hose clamp, which are designed to clamp softer rubber-like material hoses. JMHO

Friend of mine just went through this. Had him go to HD or the local RV Store and pick up the white plastic ones that have the twist on clamps. Worked great and only cost him $20. A plumber wanted to charge him over $250 to repair it. You can use SharkBite(expensive).

I would have new pex with sharkbite/gatorbite fittings, Ts and valves.Worm drive is for low pressure rubber hose... not pex.

I don't believe those radiate style clamps will work with PEX. 1.) You can either rent/buy the pex banding tool. Tool is expensive, bands are cheap. But, you can't reposition/reuse connections.2.) Buy the Sharkbite style connectors and the proper PEX cut off tool. If you do, you might as well buy all new PEX pipe, too. It's cheap. Plus, for the Sharkbite style to work, the OUTSIDE surface of the pipe must be free of scratches, the pipe cut perpendicular and no rough edges. The cut-off tool works very well.You can reposition the pipes after they're connected, so you can rotate parts AFTER they're in place. It can make assembly MUCH EASIER in hard to reach areas. JUST MAKE SURE THE PEX PIPE IS FULLY SEATED BEFORE SUPPLYING WATER PRESSURE. I didn't trust them at first, but now I swear by them. I've had several installed on my rig for about 13 years now. No issues.I keep several of the connectors and shut-off valves with me in my RV spare parts kit. If a pipe/faucet leaks or the potty starts leaking or whatever, I can quickly cut the PEX pipe feeding it, put in a shut-off valve and re-pressurize the water to the rest of the rig. Good Luck,~Rick

My vote goes to Sharkbites as well (using new PEX pipe); If you make a mistake, then the "C" tool can remove them and you can fix your mistake;I did not trust them initially - but now after 10? years they are still working 100%. Never had a leak

PEX pipe and fittings | Good Sam Community

51 Replies

hybrid_dw
Explorer
Mar 12, 2019
rhagfo wrote:
time2roll wrote:
Could have about done all that in threaded brass fittings.
Looks bullet proof. Need to flip that middle valve when in use.

X2

Got it! dont mix the hot cold!
DW
magicbus
Explorer II
Mar 07, 2019
Thanks. I just remembered that the system on my boat where work was done on the Pex had Shark fittings. I guess I’ll use them for this project.

Dave
rhagfo
Explorer III
Mar 07, 2019
time2roll wrote:
Could have about done all that in threaded brass fittings.
Looks bullet proof. Need to flip that middle valve when in use.

X2
drsteve
Explorer
Mar 07, 2019
myredracer wrote:
"Pexlock" is from Flair-it. The clamps are made from plastic, the same type of plastic as the fitting the OP had split on him. Very little info. that I can find on them. I can't find anything that says the clamps are permitted by code.

Not something I would use. As far as I'm concerned, you can't beat copper PEX rings. A proper PEX crimper can be had for as low as $30 and the rings are dirt cheap.

The plastic rings may or may not be OK, but the plastic tees and elbows are definitely not. The OP is not alone in having issues because of them.
myredracer
Explorer II
Mar 07, 2019
"Pexlock" is from Flair-it. The clamps are made from plastic, the same type of plastic as the fitting the OP had split on him. Very little info. that I can find on them. I can't find anything that says the clamps are permitted by code.

Not something I would use. As far as I'm concerned, you can't beat copper PEX rings. A proper PEX crimper can be had for as low as $30 and the rings are dirt cheap.
magicbus
Explorer II
Mar 07, 2019
Does anyone know what size Pexlock would be for the hoses in an RV? Do they measure by ID which I guess is a 1/2 “ or OD?

** On Edit ** I see these are combo fitting/clamps available in pretty much any size so they come in matched sets.

Dave
hotpepperkid
Explorer
Mar 06, 2019
in5r wrote:
There are new fittings (clamps) out there for pex now. No special tool required, only a pair of pliers. The clamps are rated for 180 degrees and 100psi if I'm not mistaken. Look up plastic pex clamps. Relatively new I believe. I myself have not tried them, just throwing the info out there. Called pexlock.

I think that is what they used when they the houses in my area
time2roll
Nomad
Mar 05, 2019
Could have about done all that in threaded brass fittings.
Looks bullet proof. Need to flip that middle valve when in use.
maillemaker
Explorer
Mar 05, 2019
Looks bullet-proof. That's one repair that will never have to be done again.

Steve
hybrid_dw
Explorer
Mar 05, 2019
yeah....but no thanks, that uses the same black plastic inserts that leaked which I replaced here!

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PEX pipe and fittings

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