| How to fix a leaking end on the plastic water line [message #365172] |
Fri, 02 July 2021 08:09  |
lw8000
Messages: 201
Registered: July 2012
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Hello all. A (hopefully simple) question regarding the half inch plastic water lines. We have a very tiny leak at the connection behind our toilet (OEM). I'm pretty sure it is the flanged end of the plastic line that comes out of the wall just behind the toilet. The flange is badly gouged from somebody overtightening from the PO I believe. I've tried adding a washer and other things, but cannot seem to get it to stop.
I see that they make a compression fitting that looks like it will work with the gray plastic line, but before I cut off the old flanged end I wanted to verify that I'm doing the right thing. The fitting like these looks like it will take the raw gray tubing.
https://keithspecialty.com/k/qest-compression-x-compression-couplings.htm
https://www.ebay.com/itm/402500817980?hash=item5db6eb143c:g:4zMAAOSw~sZfjJ2v
Just wanted to make sure, am I correct in assuming that if I cut off the factory flanged end that I can use a compression fitting like above (just the nut piece) to re-connect it?
Thank you!!
Chris
Chris S. -
77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM -
S.E. Michigan
[Updated on: Fri, 02 July 2021 08:10] Report message to a moderator |
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| [GMCnet] Re: How to fix a leaking end on the plastic water line [message #365202 is a reply to message #365172] |
Fri, 02 July 2021 14:20  |
powwerjon
Messages: 849
Registered: March 2013
Karma: -2
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Senior Member |
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Chris,
The polybutylene gray piping that was used in most of the GMC finished coaches was fairly good material 44+ years old and is becoming very brittle. I know that you do not want to hear what you need to do. It should be replaced with PEX tubing. We have a Park Model home in tucson and it too was finished with polybutylene tubing and fittings and a number of near by homes had failure of the tubing and flooding. We come to have it changed to PEX before it was an issue. Our Stretch is all PEX tubing and most of the gray piping was replaced with PEX in our 77. Some coach have copper tubing and fittings installed in them and they were mostly thrones that were finished by coachmen and others. I have seen copper tubing in our coaches that have burst because of improper draining for winter. The PEX will not burst when frozen if some water is still left in the lines.
J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMCGL Tech Editor
GMC Eastern States Charter Member
GMCMI
78 GMC Buskirk 29.5’ Stretch
75 GMC Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan
> On Jul 2, 2021, at 9:09 AM, Chris S. wrote:
>
> Hello all. A (hopefully simple) question regarding the half inch plastic water lines. We have a very tiny leak at the connection behind our toilet
> (OEM). I'm pretty sure it is the flanged end of the plastic line that comes out of the wall just behind the toilet. The flange is badly gouged from
> somebody overtightening from the PO I believe. I've tried adding a washer and other things, but cannot seem to get it to stop.
>
> I see that they make a compression fitting that looks like it will work with the gray plastic line, but before I cut off the old flanged end I wanted
> to verify that I'm doing the right thing. The fitting like these looks like it will take the raw gray tubing.
>
> https://keithspecialty.com/k/qest-compression-x-compression-couplings.htm
>
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/402500817980?hash=item5db6eb143c:g:4zMAAOSw~sZfjJ2v
>
> Just wanted to make sure, am I correct in assuming that if I cut off the factory flanged end that I can use a compression fitting like above to
> re-connect it?
>
> Thank you!!
>
> Chris
> --
> Chris S. -
> 77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM -
> S.E. Michigan
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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| Re: How to fix a leaking end on the plastic water line [message #365204 is a reply to message #365172] |
Fri, 02 July 2021 16:23 |
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Richard RV
Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...
Karma: -17
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Senior Member |
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Chris,
Sharkbite makes fittings that are simply pressed on to a clean, square pipe/tube end. An O-ring does the sealing. They're removable, fast and allow transitions from pretty much any copper or plastic pipe, including PVC, PEX and polybutylene.
The billion dollar polybutylene class action lawsuit set back plastic water distribution plumbing in the USA about 15 or 20 years. That's why it took so long for people to trust PEX, which has been used in Europe for decades. Now no one uses anything else. Some background from an article at the time:
https://www.jlconline.com/business/legal/q-a-polybutylene-piping-time-bomb_o
The Sharkbite will allow you to fix it now and reuse the fitting if and when you decide to changeover to PEX.
Richard
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
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| Re: How to fix a leaking end on the plastic water line [message #365220 is a reply to message #365172] |
Sat, 03 July 2021 08:58 |
lw8000
Messages: 201
Registered: July 2012
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Thank you all. Good to know. Yes, I agree the original water lines are getting brittle, however we just don't have the resources to take on such a project to replace with Pex, at least not at the moment. It's good to know the Shark bite fittings will also do the trick. Thank you all for the replies, we sincerely appreciate the help as always!
Chris
Chris S. -
77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM -
S.E. Michigan
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