Leaky Water Pipe

[JulieB888]

Hello kindly folks,
I have an urgent issue with a leaky water pipe. It appears that the seams in between the two pipes that meet in my cupboard are wearing thin and need to be reinforced. My first question is: what is the best material to use to seal it? I am thinking liquid silicone but I know that it's highly toxic and I wonder if its safe for a drinking water pipe.

My other problem is that I am living in the RV so I am not sure how I can use it because I am pretty sure that the area needs to be perfectly dry first. Any suggestions would be highly appreciated!

Thank you!

[PeteCo]

If it is a drain then it is possibly a trap that froze and cracked. Or the joint nut has loosened. If you can get to it just change it out.

[garyhaupt]

The one thing about having your mechanic do the job, Julie, is that you will have a sense of not having to worry about it after. I know that feeling only too well. And winter time is a hard time to be messing with stuff.


Gary Haupt

[loving_retireme]

I believe it is safe to state that Roadtrek used PEX in the plumbing.
In my limited experience working with PEX, I just love using "Sharkbite" fittings. If I had a leak in a PEX line I would just purchase a 1/2" Sharkbite coupling, cost about $8 and cut the existing PEX water line at the leak and snap the Sharkbite coupling on since the only tool you would need is a small saw. It is that easy - I have never had a leak using 1/2" PEX tubing. The PEX water line doesn't even need to be dry, but you must cut the existing line smooth and straight before applying the coupling.

[JulieB888]

Yep it is the large knobby thing. I may just take it over to my mechanic and see how he would charge me to fix it. It may not cost much more than all these tools I need to try and probably fail to fix it myself.

[garyhaupt]

If nothing else, put a pan or something under the joint...capture the drips..plus, leave the cabinet door open...get the interior drying out.

The reason silicone and other methods of goo or tape won't provide a permanent fix is that the water is 'pushing out'. That will just go right past the stop gap stuff.

The place where you tighten...don't reef on it. A gentle touch is needed. It might be that something has been pushed against that black piping and now the alignment is out..allowing water to seep out. If it is the large black knobby thing...you need a fairly wide mouth tool...often called a Plumbers Helper. Home Depot, Ace or Lowes will have those in a package of three..about 20 bux for them. Tell a sales rep what it is you want to do...don't be buying a pipe wrench. You don't need that.

If you can't get a wrench till tomorrow...use a dish rag or small towel in your hands..that black piping in your hands slips really easily.

Gary Haupt

[JulieB888]

Thank you guys fir all your help. I am going to try and make it out to an RV shop and get that eternabond tape, hopefully it'll work.

[ScottG]

Avoid silicone for that kind of repair. It probably wont work and if it does, it wont last long.
If you use Eternabond, read the directions very carefully. It's not enough to just stick it down, it has to be pressed hard enough that the glue inside it is activated.
But it's good stuff!

Best of luck to you.

[omjones]

You should be able toget eternabond at Camping World.
john 'I am Canadian'

[ernie1]

It's an abs drain line and has no seams but is probably leaking at the joint where the two pipes come together. It's probably either a 1 1/2" or 1 1/4" pipe that drains your sink. Not much pressure there and sounds like it's leaked in the past and someone used silicone on it. The best thing to do is to remove as much of the silicone as you can and clean the area well. You should see a nut where the two pipes come together. Try tightening it. If it works great! If not, in an emergency, try "Rescue Tape" which you should be able to find locally at hardware stores. I've never personally used "Eterna Bond " but have heard good things about it. You might try that. If you are in the middle of a blizzard and can't get out of the rv, try any kind of tape you have and wrap it tight. Whatever you do, forget about using the silicone. It will take too long to explain why. In the end, get it fixed permanently and professionally,

[JulieB888]

The pipe is black and yes about two inches in diameter at some points and one inch at others. I don't have hot water. It's clearly either the pipe that brings cold water to the sink or drains it. It sounds like it's the drain pipe.

No RV stores close by, is there anything else that works well?

[ernie1]

Eternabond is usually found at rv stores.

[ernie1]

What color is the plastic? Black, gray,red or blue? If it's black and about 2" in diameter,it's a drain line and maybe a bit a sealant might help. If the pipes are about 3/4" in diameter and red, it's the hot water line. If it's blue it's the cold water line . If it's gray it's a cold water supply line.I don't think any sealant would work on the red, gray nor blue lines. Which one is it?

[JulieB888]

I just called five different hardware stores looking for eternabond, they don't seem to carry it here, and I can't order onine easily because I live in my RV. Can anyone recommend a different brand?

[JulieB888]

Ernie,
The pipes are plastic. The RV is a 1992 Roadtrek.