Water Heater Replacement PROBLEM!

[BobnSofi]

Hi All,

It's time to change out this 14 year old Suburban 12 gallon water heater.

As you can see in the photo below of the rear of the Suburban Water heater. It appears we are going to have to cut the cinch clamps and replace them with hose clamps. The specific area of concern is the fitting next to the "COLD" sticker (the cold water inlet).

What do you all with DIY experience in the area think?

[MDKMDK]

Looks simple enough to me....

[RLS7201]

I 3rd flair-it fittings. They are not expensive and you can tighten them by hand. It just doesn't get any simpler. Two couplers is all you need. About $6.00

Richard

[Artum_Snowbird]

Most tool rental places will lend you a pex crimper, or buy your own for about $25 with clamps. Ask a plumber to loan you his for an hour.

[DFord]

I second FlairIt Fittings. They're easy to use and reusable.

This is a link to Amazon's selection.

Many good RV supply stores carry a good stock of them. Slip the nut on the PEX tubing and slide the tubing over the fitting and tighten it up - done.

[S_Davis]

As has been said hose clamps will not work, they will strip out long before they are tight enough to seal.

[bdpreece]

Sharkbite fittings will work fine.

[dougrainer]

Use Flair It fittings. They do not leak and make it easy. Doug

https://flairit.com/product-category/flair-it-bulk-fittings/

[Old_Days]

Shark Bits or buy a pex crimping tool. I would buy the crimping tool.

[agesilaus]

You need to use PEX clamps which require the right tool to apply them, Not hose clamps. Lowes/Home Depot have the tools and the clamps along with many other PEX fittings and tubing.

[road-runner]

Others will have more experience that I do. I'll just say that I don't think you can successfully use generic hose clamps with PEX.