How to Fix RV Water Leaks

Рет қаралды 36,786

5 жыл бұрын

The plumbing in a newer RV uses the same technology that is available in most modern homes and the materials are readily available at your local hardware store as well as Lowes and The Home Depot. The semi-rigid plastic pipe is called PEX and there is a system of couplings, fittings different clamping devices and tools to go along with it. PEX is the red, white or blue pipe that is somewhat flexible and eliminates the old copper solder joints. I'm not a huge fan of it but it is what it is. The problem comes when an RV manufacturer tries to use a non-PEX pipe on a PEX fitting. Leaks are going to happen. I finally found a way to marry the two different types of pipe and hose together and stop the leaks. I used a 5/8" barbed fitting to adapt the 1/2" reinforced water hose to the 1/2" PEX fitting. The 1/2" reinforced water hose is too big and too flexible to be used on a PEX fitting; it just doesn't work for long.

Пікірлер: 63

@redb5640 2 ай бұрын

Great video! Too many videos have long introductions where people just like to hear themselves talk. You on the other hand get to the point. Great job!. Thanks for this easy fix.

@JustPlainCommonSense Ай бұрын

Thanks for taking the time to make that wonderful comment!!!!

@hedbangcentral5334 8 ай бұрын

I know this is an old video but I'm really glad you made it. Who knows how many people out that have these mismatched connections and don't know it. I was one of them until I just happened to see this situation mentioned in an RV forum.

@JustPlainCommonSense 8 ай бұрын

Glad it helped. Thank you for that wonderful comment!

@gilschmidt3285 6 ай бұрын

Same here…looking for the fittings now

@caseyhoke2362 Жыл бұрын

Seems like a good solution to a problem that many of us are having. I was thinking of just swapping out removing the braided hose that seems to cause the issues, but I worry that pex isn't flexible enough where I need it. Thanks for the video

@JustPlainCommonSense Жыл бұрын

I think the braided hose is there for a reason but it isn’t very good at being a transition between two types of fittings

@ZR117 Жыл бұрын

@@JustPlainCommonSense I have a classic komfort trailer but the sink a guy gave a old fusit and he sayed to go git a screw and after he's saying he wants to turn it into a house sink but I believe it could just be the part that screw's into the FUSIT that is the problem is there away to fix only that and not the hole thang good greef I mean I don't mind just grumiting and clamps

@jimcichowski2137 2 жыл бұрын

I wish I had seen this 2 weeks ago. Just went through a similar leak that almost cost us our trip. Managed to do a quick work around to save the trip but cost us no hot water to the bathroom. After buying PEX tools and fittings did final repair at home. PEX is PIA. The location of the leak couldn't have been in a tighter spot. Thank you sir.

@JustPlainCommonSense 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped!

@MrScottman01 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!! This answers so many questions for me. We just had a weekend trip plagued by leaks, and they were ALL at those junctions from pex to reinforced hose. Now I know how to make future weekends more enjoyable.

@JustPlainCommonSense 2 жыл бұрын

Keep your fresh water regulator set at about 35 psi and you will have few problems.

@mattforeman4508 2 жыл бұрын

I've had leaks in my PEX system at 2 locations, both where a reinforced hose attaches to a PEX Tee. It seems the only real solution is to keep repair tools in the trailer, and watch it. For what it's worth, I've installed a couple of battery operated leak alarms in the vicinity of the hoses. I'm hoping that if a leak happens over night it'll alarm before it's too far gone.

@darrellblacquiere5149 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video, had the exact same situation in my rv and was looking for the solution. Now its fixed like it should have been from the factory.

@JustPlainCommonSense 5 жыл бұрын

Darrell Blacquiere in addition to changing the fittings invest in an adjustable water pressure regulator. I now have my pressure regulated down to 25 psi and foresee no way how that pressure could cause problems in the future

@RustyGlovebox 5 жыл бұрын

That is a first class repair and the end to your water leak worries. 👍

@JustPlainCommonSense 5 жыл бұрын

I sure hope so! I retrofitted three of the fittings this week and will do the rest soon. It seems like there isn't a way this system can leak 🤞

@lindasuttner5781 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for this helpful video! We suspect that we have several leaks in our trailer under the kitchen sink area. This is a great start to solving the problem(s). 😊

@JustPlainCommonSense 3 жыл бұрын

Don't forget to put on a pressure regulator! I only run about 35 psi of pressure in my water lines. That stopped my leaks

@tomclose6643 Жыл бұрын

@@JustPlainCommonSense very good point i have onbe but im on well on land had it set at 55-60 but did see it spike to 70psi when kicking on maybe just a little to much

@timmytool1231 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, what I have done with the worm gear side and that hose it heat it up with a hair dryer on the end, it will slide right on.

@JustPlainCommonSense 3 жыл бұрын

Good tip!

@daveburley7115 2 ай бұрын

Great information. Thanks for explaining.

@JustPlainCommonSense 2 ай бұрын

You’re welcome. Thanks for the comment.

@vestup100 Жыл бұрын

Awesome video, I have the same problem FR MiniLite 2020. I have enough access in some areas to just replace the flex hose with straight regular pex sections from the existing pex tees to the heater. I will definitely need to use the brass setup you did in other areas. Did you reuse the existing tees?

@JustPlainCommonSense Жыл бұрын

It’s been too long ago and I can’t recall.

@AnthonyMuniz-ji7qp 2 ай бұрын

How do you get the clamps off

@tammywineswines3369 3 жыл бұрын

This just happened to me. Omg water went gushing. My brother in law has it fixed for now. I still see a few drops though. We are hooked up too city water living in our 5th wheel. OMG what a dang mess. Thank god my brother in law works evenings ( hubby works day shift) i am still watching this praying it doesn't blow.

@JustPlainCommonSense 2 жыл бұрын

I would run a water pressure regulator if on city water. Mine is set to 35 PSI; here the city water is about 60 PSI!

@Thejohnnyoshow 2 жыл бұрын

what brand was your camper?

@rosesolis1868 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@JustPlainCommonSense 4 жыл бұрын

I hope it helped you. The main issue is water pressure. Get a regulator and turn it down to as low as you can stand it. Mine is set to around 35 psi.

@hardtruth2039 3 жыл бұрын

Have you tried to use the sharkbite push on t’s and elbows?

@JustPlainCommonSense 3 жыл бұрын

No I haven't I bought a good supply of crimp-on fittings and a tool so I don't have to run to find parts if I get another leak. So far So good.! Get a good regulator and set it to 35 psi.

@timothybuchanan1611 Жыл бұрын

I need to replace the braided hose in addition to the fittings. Exactly what do I ask for to get the right size braided hose that is also safe for drinking water?

@JustPlainCommonSense Жыл бұрын

I can’t answer that. I have no idea what you have in your RV

@antonyessett8289 Жыл бұрын

I have a question. When you assemble the barbed, and pex pieces, do you use Teflon tape?

@JustPlainCommonSense Жыл бұрын

I can’t recall. If there are threads, likely so

@JeffPotts2020 4 жыл бұрын

I have the same issue with a small run of reinforced flex tube going from the water pump to a T fitting. So only 1-1/2 ft of the non pex. Would it be better to just replace the flex tube with pex?

@JustPlainCommonSense 4 жыл бұрын

If I recall correctly, there was no way to connect the PEX to the water pump but I could be wrong.

@tomclose6643 Жыл бұрын

lower pressure put a radiator clamp on the non pex hose

@yankeesusa1 10 ай бұрын

This is exactly what needs to be done by manufacturers and they don't do it because they're cheap and don't care about the consumer. Do you have a list of all your supplies? I need to do this to mine.

@JustPlainCommonSense 10 ай бұрын

Besides the parts listed in the video description, I don't have any other list of materials. Thanks for the comment!

@user-qx6yk8lh2x 7 ай бұрын

How is this holding up? Is this the cure for vinyl to pex RV plumbing situations?

@JustPlainCommonSense 7 ай бұрын

It was fine when I sold the rv. The key is using a pressure regulator

@user-qx6yk8lh2x 7 ай бұрын

I have since day one but this Rockwood unit is plumbed with lots of flex vinyl to pex fittings. Once I get the retrofits done I will keep on with the good advice of using a pressure regulator. Thank you so much for posting this video. It's the best I have found on the topic of changing out the fittings. Blessings to you. @@JustPlainCommonSense

@Thejohnnyoshow 2 жыл бұрын

what brand is your camper, is it forest river/rockwood? the geo pro's are like this and i really can[t believe all camper companies do this, i think it has to be forest river/rockwood stupidy.

@JustPlainCommonSense 2 жыл бұрын

It’s made by Prime Time (Forest River)

@Thejohnnyoshow 2 жыл бұрын

@@JustPlainCommonSense ok thanks i was suspecting that, i really think that whole company is ran by idiots, unless you have seen other brands (not connected to forest river) do the same thing the rockwood geo pro and the forest river e-pro also have the wrong plumbing as well, so i'm just wondering if this is all only forest river stupidity or if its a wider spread problem with the industry as a whole

@Thejohnnyoshow 2 жыл бұрын

@@JustPlainCommonSense thanks again for the video by the way i'm having to deal with these leak issues at the moment myself :-(

@glendasue70 2 жыл бұрын

It’s a bad deal. They must know. I was thinking about down sizing my hoses. The Ts are 3/8 inch ID. How about 3/8 I’d hoses. Would be cheaper. But would it restrict the water? Shouldn’t. I wouldn’t think. I just put 15 worm gear clamps on there the other day works for now but your right those hoses are to big for those Ts.

@JustPlainCommonSense 2 жыл бұрын

@@glendasue70 give it a shot. I doubt you’d see the difference in pressure.

@Oldtech51 10 ай бұрын

Reinforced pvc tubing is never a good idea on the pressure side of an rv water system. Screw type clamps will leak over time.

@JustPlainCommonSense 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tip and comment!

@tammyhollingsworth465 5 жыл бұрын

🧐I can’t imagine anyone accidentally turning the pump on.

@JustPlainCommonSense 5 жыл бұрын

Me either, or turning the gas switch on for the water heater... 🙄

@tammyhollingsworth465 5 жыл бұрын

Just Plain Common Sense 🤣

@breebrendahowell366 2 жыл бұрын

@@JustPlainCommonSense 😂🤣😅

@breebrendahowell366 2 жыл бұрын

@@JustPlainCommonSense I just accidently turned on the microwave, while I had on my space heater, while using my blender. Maybe it was all the Frozen Margaritas.🍹 Damn it. Now I have to go outside in the dark to reset the breaker. It was an accident. (True story!)

@JustPlainCommonSense 2 жыл бұрын

@@breebrendahowell366 I and a 50 amp AND 15 amp plug to use. The 50 amp plugs into the RV and I have a heavy extension cord plugged into the 15 amp. The cord is run into the rv through a hole in the floor used for plumbing/ductwork. I use the extension cord on a power strip to run many of the things that used to trip the rv breaker. No problems throwing breakers since then.