Well- having recently completed some projects-primarily rebuilding our drivers side rear skirt-decided I was done for awhile-take a break (use it instead of working on it). The passenger side skirt could wait a while.
Then I broke the diverter faucet in our wet bath...
Always wanted to change the simple plastic faucet but it worked-
Our sink is tiny and the faucet protruding into it was not easy to use. I always thought Id add a bar type faucet when the factory one quit.
However now that I have a reason to change I was unable to locate one with a diverter for hand held shower. Which caused me to look at adding a separate valve for the shower. I found some nice extended height faucets but prices kinda set me back. Also on shower valves.
As not enough room on our sink cabinet on side, added valve would need to go on back wall where access would be a problem. Plus unsure with the depth of our sink a fixed higher spout might be more problematic.
Went round and around nixed the whole idea & decided to fix ours, reinstall temporarily and order a simple replacement. Sat the faucet on the sink, pulled the pex lines out enough to change the cone washers. Went to shop to get some sealant for faucet base, reentering the camper, I noted the faucet setting there as shown...
Umm-wow. Played with it for awhile and came to the conclusion if I moved the faucet over, whether extended height or simple replacement, this would be way easier to use. Id have to redo the pex lines because they wouldn't reach. Just cut off, add adapter and run flex lines. The left hole either plug or...add a soap dispenser. But now since considering reworking the plumbing any way-adding a separate shower valve wouldn't be that much more work..allow getting any faucet I want-get rid of the diverter faucet, the silly hose & head off the wall, better egress to sink..so got on line looking at faucets again.
After pricing valves plumbing pieces decided to get simple cheap plastic faucets for now, concentrate on replumbing. I can always drop in a nice faucet later. Found matching faucet, shower valve and a soap dispenser for under $40. Off to the hardware.
Pricing Sharkbite fittings this project almost went back to a simple faucet replacement. But I found and picked up Flair-It tees to adapt to the pex. About 1/3-1/4 the cost. If I were plumbing an inaccessible area or expedient repair I might use the sharkbites-but just couldn't justify for this.
Local store only had straight pex tees. So I re-manufactured into pex by IPS tees. They do make them. The caps on Flair-It tees are 1/2" IPS so loping off the barb allows direct connection of flex line after facing. Using shallow washers verse cone washers.
Second rework is I'm using a standard 4" 2handle shower valve. Space behind wall requires lines to turn 90ยฐ. Don't know why but I couldn't find simple water lines with a 90ยฐ end..too simple. Which leads to the tapered verse straight 1/2 IPS thread issue. Cant run a tapered pipe fitting onto faucet straight thread stems, wont seal. Simple fix, run a pipe die onto faucet threads & recut to a taper thread. Allow use of pvc street ell. I tried on old faucet, works.
Faced, beveled & polished ID of ells for cone washer of flex lines. Could have used a flat washer, but wanted to ensure they would reseal These may be made, don't know.
With plumbing solved & ready all I need are the faucets.
went ahead and cut holes for faucets. Ive done a few things to the camper over the years, but boring 1" holes into our shower stall honestly was the scariest thing Ive ever done to it.
Awaiting parts to arrive decided since camper down to 'knock out' the passenger side skirt. That was a mistake as I quickly ran into some issues once apart. Fortunately the faucets arrived, since I was at a stall on the skirt I returned inside camper to button up bath.
Installed the shower valve. Used Rectorseal #5 on plastic threads and thread on elbows. Getting the hot water flex line connected proved the most difficult, aligning, getting thread to start took almost an hour. Simply could not see or 'feel' alignment to engage the thread-was ready to pull elbow and install the flex to it, reinstall ell-then it finally caught-4 turns finger tight so I knew wasn't cross threaded. Cold went on like butter. Sometimes the simplest things...
Installed the sink faucet with out issues though again its the short metal caps of the flex lines I picked up made starting threads difficult. On the bench reassembly was a breeze- twisted up like a pretzel, guesstimating blindly alignment under sink was a task. Using lines with the larger deeper plastic caps are a lot easier to start where you cant see. Need to get a longer line for faucet cold side, its pushing the pex over trying to straighten out, added the zip tie till I get back to the hardware. But installed.
Nice. Installed the soap dispenser, Margaret filled with soap while I turned on water & bled out the system. After washing my hands checked all 10 connections for leaks-. Success whoo whoo
Moved the shower head holder and hose hoop. Found the towel ring we had picked up a few years ago but couldn't use because of the wall hung hose. Nice but using the sink with faucet off to side is sooo much nicer, actually put my face in the sink :). Should have broke the old faucet long time ago.
Only problem is now I have to finish the passenger side skirt this cause me to think I might as well start...
Then I broke the diverter faucet in our wet bath...
Always wanted to change the simple plastic faucet but it worked-
Our sink is tiny and the faucet protruding into it was not easy to use. I always thought Id add a bar type faucet when the factory one quit.
However now that I have a reason to change I was unable to locate one with a diverter for hand held shower. Which caused me to look at adding a separate valve for the shower. I found some nice extended height faucets but prices kinda set me back. Also on shower valves.
As not enough room on our sink cabinet on side, added valve would need to go on back wall where access would be a problem. Plus unsure with the depth of our sink a fixed higher spout might be more problematic.
Went round and around nixed the whole idea & decided to fix ours, reinstall temporarily and order a simple replacement. Sat the faucet on the sink, pulled the pex lines out enough to change the cone washers. Went to shop to get some sealant for faucet base, reentering the camper, I noted the faucet setting there as shown...
Umm-wow. Played with it for awhile and came to the conclusion if I moved the faucet over, whether extended height or simple replacement, this would be way easier to use. Id have to redo the pex lines because they wouldn't reach. Just cut off, add adapter and run flex lines. The left hole either plug or...add a soap dispenser. But now since considering reworking the plumbing any way-adding a separate shower valve wouldn't be that much more work..allow getting any faucet I want-get rid of the diverter faucet, the silly hose & head off the wall, better egress to sink..so got on line looking at faucets again.
After pricing valves plumbing pieces decided to get simple cheap plastic faucets for now, concentrate on replumbing. I can always drop in a nice faucet later. Found matching faucet, shower valve and a soap dispenser for under $40. Off to the hardware.
Pricing Sharkbite fittings this project almost went back to a simple faucet replacement. But I found and picked up Flair-It tees to adapt to the pex. About 1/3-1/4 the cost. If I were plumbing an inaccessible area or expedient repair I might use the sharkbites-but just couldn't justify for this.
Local store only had straight pex tees. So I re-manufactured into pex by IPS tees. They do make them. The caps on Flair-It tees are 1/2" IPS so loping off the barb allows direct connection of flex line after facing. Using shallow washers verse cone washers.
Second rework is I'm using a standard 4" 2handle shower valve. Space behind wall requires lines to turn 90ยฐ. Don't know why but I couldn't find simple water lines with a 90ยฐ end..too simple. Which leads to the tapered verse straight 1/2 IPS thread issue. Cant run a tapered pipe fitting onto faucet straight thread stems, wont seal. Simple fix, run a pipe die onto faucet threads & recut to a taper thread. Allow use of pvc street ell. I tried on old faucet, works.
Faced, beveled & polished ID of ells for cone washer of flex lines. Could have used a flat washer, but wanted to ensure they would reseal These may be made, don't know.
With plumbing solved & ready all I need are the faucets.
went ahead and cut holes for faucets. Ive done a few things to the camper over the years, but boring 1" holes into our shower stall honestly was the scariest thing Ive ever done to it.
Awaiting parts to arrive decided since camper down to 'knock out' the passenger side skirt. That was a mistake as I quickly ran into some issues once apart. Fortunately the faucets arrived, since I was at a stall on the skirt I returned inside camper to button up bath.
Installed the shower valve. Used Rectorseal #5 on plastic threads and thread on elbows. Getting the hot water flex line connected proved the most difficult, aligning, getting thread to start took almost an hour. Simply could not see or 'feel' alignment to engage the thread-was ready to pull elbow and install the flex to it, reinstall ell-then it finally caught-4 turns finger tight so I knew wasn't cross threaded. Cold went on like butter. Sometimes the simplest things...
Installed the sink faucet with out issues though again its the short metal caps of the flex lines I picked up made starting threads difficult. On the bench reassembly was a breeze- twisted up like a pretzel, guesstimating blindly alignment under sink was a task. Using lines with the larger deeper plastic caps are a lot easier to start where you cant see. Need to get a longer line for faucet cold side, its pushing the pex over trying to straighten out, added the zip tie till I get back to the hardware. But installed.
Nice. Installed the soap dispenser, Margaret filled with soap while I turned on water & bled out the system. After washing my hands checked all 10 connections for leaks-. Success whoo whoo
Moved the shower head holder and hose hoop. Found the towel ring we had picked up a few years ago but couldn't use because of the wall hung hose. Nice but using the sink with faucet off to side is sooo much nicer, actually put my face in the sink :). Should have broke the old faucet long time ago.
Only problem is now I have to finish the passenger side skirt this cause me to think I might as well start...
Ok, it's done! I actually finished it a few weeks ago, but it's such a pain to sit at the computer and fix photos, etc. The plastic backing goes up under the lip of the countertop and is caulked, so it should be fairly water tight. The cabinet is plywood, so not much concern anyway.
I also made a neat swinging towel rack, that I'll be posting about if you're interested.
Thank you so much for the info on the Flair It Fittings!!!! If you're interested in installing a faucet like this, you might want to check out my blog, I've solved a couple issues with the faucet fittings (not the flair it fittings, they're wonderful!).
Liz
I also made a neat swinging towel rack, that I'll be posting about if you're interested.
Thank you so much for the info on the Flair It Fittings!!!! If you're interested in installing a faucet like this, you might want to check out my blog, I've solved a couple issues with the faucet fittings (not the flair it fittings, they're wonderful!).
Liz
Kayteg1 wrote:
Took less space than factory faucet, so I gained space for soap pump.
I have a really cheezy plastic sink. Do you think it can support a single hole faucet installation?
Thanks,
Liz
2008 189FBR & 2014 FORD F150 Camp Days This Year: 58 ~ 2016: 153
Tons of Creative, Unique and Inexpensive Mods WackyPup.Blogspot.com
AnEv942 wrote:
Ha Ya when I broke ours it was one those dang-it now what to whoopie I can finally replace moments.
I picked up our fittings at local ACE hardware, limited selection though. Many RV/mobile home suppliers do carry. If you cant find anything local, Flair-It has Amazon store front.
amazon/flair-it
Wow! Can you be my researcher?? I spent hours last night looking at fittings, and all I could find was the normal flair "T" fitting, expecting to modify one branch to fit a normal flex line.
Well, on your link, there is a fitting with top and bottom PEX connections, and middle is a normal thread for flex line!!!!! Ack! And to top it off, they're cheaper!!
I had already ordered two of the regular ones from Amazon, because they are not carried in ACE around here (2 hours away, also) but I managed to cancel it and order two of these fittings:
Thanks so MUCH!!!
Liz
Kayteg1 wrote:
Took less space than factory faucet, so I gained space for soap pump.
I also did this mod and it is one of the best mods one can do besides adding solar.
Kayteg1 wrote:
Took less space than factory faucet, so I gained space for soap pump.
It's more the height. We keep our electric toothbrushes behind the faucet. Plus, I REALLY want a separate shower control. Glad it works for you ๐ Plus mine was only $35, which is good for me ๐
Liz
Kayteg1 wrote:Wackypup wrote:
... I'm having a hard time figuring exactly how to mount it, but I think I've got it.
This is Chinese, thermostatic valve build to European codes.
When I love thermostatic feature, this valve is design to hang on pipe fittings inside shower stall.
Meaning not only pex tubing will not give it much support, but you will loose shower space as well.
Nah! I've got it fixed ๐ I put it through a plastic cutting board for support, then the side of the sink cabinet next to the shower. If it needs more support, I'll put some thin nuts on it ๐ I am not using the metal trim rings, so it will be a little closer to the wall. I won't lose enough shower space to worry about, it's on the side of the sink cabinet, under the countertop overhang.
It's gonna be GREAT!
Liz
