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Old 02-07-2015, 12:06 AM   #1
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PEX Connection Repair

Went to get something out of the basement today only to find a tad bit of water in the plastic tray below the elbow fittings. I notice some water dripping from the elbow. How do you repair these? My initial thoughts are to just cut the band, remove the fitting, and install an Alligator fitting. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Cale

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Old 02-07-2015, 12:42 AM   #2
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Sharkbite fittings are pricey but they will be your best friend!
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Old 02-07-2015, 12:44 AM   #3
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Sharkbite fittings are pricey but they will be your best friend!
Yeah, Sharkbite...that's what I meant. I knew it was some kind of animal. I may spring for them.

Cale
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Old 02-07-2015, 12:46 AM   #4
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Cale - Home Depot. They give 10% military discount. When you see what they can cost, you'll want to use it
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Old 02-07-2015, 01:03 AM   #5
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Cale.....We use pex on our homes and I have the crimp tools and use them all the time. I have had customers that use the sharkbite to do alterations and they work very well. The cost might be expensive but it is cheaper then buying the tools. Never had a problem with them. If..........you use the white fittings that have the sleeve that tightens around the pipe(cheaper) make sure you tighten it tight. My personal opinion such as it is...if I didn't have the crimpers I would just get the sharkbite.
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Old 02-07-2015, 01:06 AM   #6
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A big question I have....why did it decide to start leaking. We have been living in the Voltage for nearly four months. Makes me want to do a fly-by of all connections...

Cale
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Old 02-07-2015, 01:07 AM   #7
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Get the disconnect tool while there as well. I have used them in my house on 1" copper as a quick repair - they are still place after 2 years!
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Old 02-07-2015, 01:36 AM   #8
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I bought the PEX crimper before I took delivery on my hauler. I experienced a waterless night in a friends fifth wheel because of a leaking PEX fitting. The crimper and a handful of crimps are a must in the tool box in my opinion. If I have a repair or a modification I use PEX and brass, the plastic fittings scare me.
Shark Bites are great and pricey but if one encounters lots of leaks PEX comes in way cheaper in the long run.
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Old 02-07-2015, 01:44 AM   #9
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A big question I have....why did it decide to start leaking. We have been living in the Voltage for nearly four months. Makes me want to do a fly-by of all connections...

Cale
It happens, I had a sink supply line start leaking for no apparent reason. I saw the water on the floor but couldn't see a drip or spray anywhere near the supply lines. After enough poking and prodding of the lines I finally milked a drop of water and found the source. A quick PEX job and all is well.

If I leave for more than a day now I disconnect from the yard hydrant. Sure don't want to return home and have water running out of this thing.
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Old 02-07-2015, 03:03 AM   #10
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Well after working with it for over 20 years. And going through all the class action suits on the gray quest. The thing I have learned is brass, pex and plastic all have different heat shrink temps. You get just the right temp and some things shrink and others don't. I always try and use the same material to secure as the fitting. Its just my opinion but it has always seemed to work. Like in your picture you have brass and 2 kinds of plastic. I personally wouldn't worry about all the other fittings but as you did I would keep an eye on them. Just an FYI how you can take sharkbite or brass fittings with brass rings and be able to turn the fitting after it is installed and not have them leak is beyond me but they don't. Never have been able to figure that one out.
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Old 02-07-2015, 04:13 PM   #11
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To remove the brass bands with buggering up the hose, can I use a pair of dykes, or is there some special tool needed to remove them? I am going to pick up a couple SharkBite fittings this morning.

Cale
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Old 02-07-2015, 05:11 PM   #12
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Well if you have enough pipe I would just cut the fitting out. I have cut the bands off before but.....they are really on there. You can cut them with dikes but will probably end up with pinched fingers. If I had to I used a hacksaw blade cut it almost all the way through and then started to work on it with dikes. If you are carful you can cut it far enough to pry on it with a flat head screwdriver and bust it the rest of the way. Again just cutting the fitting out is the easiest way if you have the extra pipe
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Old 02-08-2015, 12:41 AM   #13
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Like Sundancer, I keep a bag of pex crimps along with assorted fittings (plastic and brass). I have the crimping tool and cutting knife for pex tubing. I keep these in my tool box.
I've also, added shut off valves running to my washing machine area.
I'm not a fan of the pex band that was supplied with the trailer. IMHO I prefer the crimpable bands for the pex fittings.
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Old 02-08-2015, 01:13 AM   #14
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I fixed the leak with a SharkBite fitting. Those are awesome....30 second fix. I am going to get a few more to fix up the PEX lines going to the shower. They are bent and under constant pressure, which makes me uneasy with everything being plastic.



Did some looking at other PEX connections....sure enough, found a few others near the water heater that are dealing wetness. I think I am going to bite the bullet next Friday and redo the whole area with new PEX and SharkBite connectors.

The hot water bypass connections.


Cale
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Old 02-08-2015, 01:23 AM   #15
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Just so you know, the copper rings are compressed on the PEX and a 'go no go' gauge is supposed to be used to indicate the proper compression. Apparently some of us have the crimp style crimp that is similar to a hose clamp. No gauge needed because the crimp tool works on a rachet principle so it's pretty much Dutchman proof.

Another 'just so you know', use a hair dryer to heat the PEX for easy removal from fittings.
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Old 02-08-2015, 01:49 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
Just so you know, the copper rings are compressed on the PEX and a 'go no go' gauge is supposed to be used to indicate the proper compression. Apparently some of us have the crimp style crimp that is similar to a hose clamp. No gauge needed because the crimp tool works on a rachet principle so it's pretty much Dutchman proof.

Another 'just so you know', use a hair dryer to heat the PEX for easy removal from fittings.
Yeah, I opted for a straight up cut of the tube just after the ring. None of mine are the hose clamp style, which I think would be better....the ones I have show zero indication to the end user that it is installed properly...

Cale
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Old 02-08-2015, 04:26 PM   #17
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Ya usually on the brass rings you will see a couple little bumps were the crimp tool was used and made the crimp. Its hard to tell from the pictures but I don't see any indication of that. As sundancers said there is a gage. Usually once you get the crimpers set up (because they are adjustable) then all the crimps should be the same. But........if you don't close the crimpers all the way or somebody "plays" with the adjuster then you end up with basically a half crimp. It might help you to find the ones that need the most attention by feeling for the crimp bumps and seeing if some are more then others.
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Old 02-18-2015, 02:43 AM   #18
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This past weekend I bought a PEX crimping tool. It crimps three sizes, but requires pliers to crimp tight. Got behind the wet bay and started crimping, found 4 of the 15 or so that needed crimping. The last picture above shows two fittings, both off bypasses and go to the low point drain tubes. The red one started spraying water when I moved it...which also got me to thinking about another problem I have been chasing down....I can accumulate 10-15 gallons of water in the belly, the most forward section...well, that one fitting, though it was just a drip, allows for water to build up over time. After sitting for 1-2 months with a persistent drip, REALLY adds up. Unscrewed the belly and water poured out, lots... Let it dry out, now after the lines crimped, I have no water so far, I just hope it stays that way.

Cale
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