water contamination

[Hoot887]

I have gas contamination in the water system of a 2000 Holiday Rambler. After much purging of the system I have started changing all the lines and tanks (water and hot water). I have about 8 feet on water line under the floor that I can't get to without taking up part of the floor. Does anyone know if everything is changed except that line am I wasting my time and money not doing 100% of the water lines.

[wny_pat1]

robsouth wrote:

wny_pat wrote:
I know a plumber who keeps sealed up samples, filled with water, samples in his freezer. He uses them to demonstrate how they don't freeze and bust when frozen.

I can testify first hand that pex will freeze and burst.

Nothing is Freeze Proof. However, PEX Pipe is Freeze resistant. PEX Pipe will actually expand with the ice and retract upon thawing. In situations where copper or CPVC would burst the PEX will not. And I know where 4 pieces of capped PEX filled with water are kept in a full size freezer set a 0 degrees f. The only time they are removed is when they are taken to a customer for demonstration purposes. They have been maintained that way for several years now.
Apollo PEX FAQs

[Roundtwo-40]

Yup, who remembers the old glass Pepsi bottle full of gas in the garage for "starting help" in the olden days.. 🙂

[stubblejumper]

Don't want to make little of your problem, but a lot of us old folk on here have probably swallowed more gas siphoning it, than you have in all your lines. Most of us are still alive,

and the rest have had a cheap cremation. :B

[crasster]

If it is under the floor and a MAIN pipe that can have a lot of water running through it then you should be fine. Just OPEN UP all the plumbing and let it flow flow flow. This is what I would do. I'd let it run on and on.

Stop the pressure on each device every now and then, then turn it back on. It will eventually wash.

Sure there are toxins, but honestly, there are toxins in our water anyway. I'd hesitate to drink until you've let the water 'rinse' for at least a couple hours at home, then a couple years of RV use/winterization. Then later, perhaps drinking would be fine (I would). But to each their own.

[robsouth]

wny_pat wrote:
I know a plumber who keeps sealed up samples, filled with water, samples in his freezer. He uses them to demonstrate how they don't freeze and bust when frozen.

I can testify first hand that pex will freeze and burst.

[wny_pat1]

gbopp wrote:
I agree with Wrong Lane. Abandon the inaccessible lines and run new ones.
I would use Pex for the new lines.

X-3. And Pex is great stuff and easy to work with!!! I know a plumber who keeps sealed up samples, filled with water, samples in his freezer. He uses them to demonstrate how they don't freeze and bust when frozen. He even shows them how you can try to break the Pex pipes.

[GENECOP]

How did that happen neighbor?

[gbopp]

I agree with Wrong Lane. Abandon the inaccessible lines and run new ones.
I would use Pex for the new lines.

[Wrong_Lane]

Gasoline in your fresh water system. That is one big OH OH!! Care to share??

Change 100% of the lines and tanks. Gas is very toxic with nasty long term health problems if consumed. It can not be 100% cleaned from plastic tanks or lines as the surface is not smooth when examined under a microscope and they absorb the gas to some extent.

The acceptable levels of gasoline in potable water are measured in parts per billion. Two table-spoons of gasoline is enough to contaminate a 20 ft X 40 Ft pool to unsafe levels. Don't take chances with your families health. (for those that say "prove my numbers" there is an old post where the calculations were shown, go ahead and look it up)

As for the unaccessable portions of the existing water lines, abandon them in place and re-route the new lines around obstacles.

Good Luck