Forum Discussion

Guy_Roan's avatar
Guy_Roan
Explorer
Apr 01, 2014

Atwood gas water heater water connection question

I am pretty sure the check valve on my hot water outlet has gone bad and want to replace it, but it appears that the pex pipe is connected to it with a banded pressure fitting.
I would like to change it out myself, but don't want to buy a special tool
Questions:
1. If I change it, would it be better to just install a shut off valve rather than the check valve, since I already have two shutoff valves for winterizing and that is all the check valve is used for?
2. Are there fittings available for the pex so I could just cut off the pressed fitting and replace it with wrench or hand tightened ones ?

Guy
  • aruba5er's avatar
    aruba5er
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2014
    I am not sure about what you want to do but there are fittings that push onto pex and hold like mad, so could you cut the pex away from the clamp maybe 2 inchs and install a coupling. They have them at Home Depot and menards I know. Kinda pricey (around $5) HD has the Sharkbite brand and there are others.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Apr 01, 2014
    Guy Roan wrote:
    I am pretty sure the check valve on my hot water outlet has gone bad and want to replace it, but it appears that the pex pipe is connected to it with a banded pressure fitting.
    I would like to change it out myself, but don't want to buy a special tool
    Questions:
    1. If I change it, would it be better to just install a shut off valve rather than the check valve, since I already have two shutoff valves for winterizing and that is all the check valve is used for?
    Yes you can do that and that's how RV's used to be plumbed in the past - with multiple valves.
    2. Are there fittings available for the pex so I could just cut off the pressed fitting and replace it with wrench or hand tightened ones ?
    Yes, you can remove the barbed fitting you have now and just install either a sharkbite that's threaded or a traditional fitting.


    Guy
  • NanciL's avatar
    NanciL
    Explorer II
    Apr 01, 2014
    ScottG wrote:
    Guy Roan wrote:
    I am pretty sure the check valve on my hot water outlet has gone bad and want to replace it, but it appears that the pex pipe is connected to it with a banded pressure fitting.
    I would like to change it out myself, but don't want to buy a special tool
    Questions:
    1. If I change it, would it be better to just install a shut off valve rather than the check valve, since I already have two shutoff valves for winterizing and that is all the check valve is used for?
    Yes you can do that and that's how RV's used to be plumbed in the past - with multiple valves.
    2. Are there fittings available for the pex so I could just cut off the pressed fitting and replace it with wrench or hand tightened ones ?
    Yes, you can remove the barbed fitting you have now and just install either a sharkbite that's threaded or a traditional fitting.


    Guy


    Thanks,
    Guy
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Apr 01, 2014
    The PEX line should have a fitting that screws onto the nipple on water heater tank........so that the line (both hot and cold) can be disconnected from tank.

    The check valve should be internal of the nipple screwed into tank.

    Installing another shutoff valve is best and just remove the check valve internals doing away with it.

    Turn a 2 valve WH system........




    Into a 3 valve WH system.......



    If cutting the PEX make sure cut is straight and no burrs.
    Then use a Sharkbite (Home Depot), Gatorbite (Lowes) or even a Flair-It (Most any hardware) valve/fittings that just snap on.

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