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02-10-2016, 08:02 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 127
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pipes are made of plastic ?
I notice all RV internal pipes are always made of plastic including the heads/screws.
Is there a reason why they are all plastic , not brass/ stainless steel screws ?
My winterizer kit has stainless steel head screw.
If I install that metal head screw against a plastic pump thread, would that be OK ?
I wonder if there is a concern that different material expand/contract at different rate at heat/cold, and thus the plastic will break ?
Is that a reason why all RV pipes are made of plastic ?
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02-10-2016, 08:06 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Waterloo
Posts: 263
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I think there are two reasons:
1) Plastic is cheaper.
2) The PEX (plastic) piping is more tolerant to freezing.
I have done some work on my piping and used brass fittings with PEX, but I think the plastic fittings are fine. One thing I am concerned with are the plastic shutoff valves, I will replace those with brass ball valves eventually.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pawntan
I notice all RV internal pipes are always made of plastic including the heads/screws.
Is there a reason why they are all plastic , not brass/ stainless steel screws ?
My winterizer kit has stainless steel head screw.
If I install that metal head screw against a plastic pump thread, would that be OK ?
I wonder if there is a concern that different material expand/contract at different rate at heat/cold, and thus the plastic will break ?
Is that a reason why all RV pipes are made of plastic ?
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02-10-2016, 08:09 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Some place
Posts: 190
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The reason boils down to ease of installation and more than anything cost of materials and labor to install.
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02-10-2016, 09:15 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,645
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I like copper pipes in my house and PEX in my trailer. Pex is easy to install, lightweight and somewhat flexible. If you've ever looked at how piping is installed in trailers, being flexible is important as you go bouncing down the road.
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There's lots of advice and information in forums... sometimes it is correct. For example, all of my posts are made by a political appointee who got the job as a reward for contributions to my diesel bill.
2011 Jayco 28.5RLS; 2021 Chevy Duramax; Pullrite Superglide Hitch
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02-10-2016, 09:38 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Florien, LA
Posts: 1,872
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I always have shared my harsh thoughts with manf. about using junk plastic fittings (90's, T's etc) with pex tubing. What good is having pex tubing if your fittings are junk. The pex won't break / crack easy with a freeze, but you can guarantee the small plastic fittings will. Any time I redo something with the pex in any RV, it doesn't go back together with a plastic fitting.
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John and Rebecca Dickson
Emma-13 / Little John-10 / Iva-7
2013 Ford F-350 Lariat FX4, CC LB PSD, DRW
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 28BHBE (#8)
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02-11-2016, 07:24 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Where ever the boss says we're going.
Posts: 16,103
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigJohnD
I always have shared my harsh thoughts with manf. about using junk plastic fittings (90's, T's etc) with pex tubing.
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Those plastic fittings are also made by Nibco who make the PEX system
http://www.nibco.com/PEX/PEX-Fittings
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02-11-2016, 07:38 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Greater Grand Rapids
Posts: 1,393
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[QUOTE=motorbreath;376275]I think there are two reasons:
1) Plastic is cheaper.
2) The PEX (plastic) piping is more tolerant to freezing.
QUOTE]
Two more reasons PEX is used:
3) PEX is a lot lighter in weight;
4) PEX is a lot more flexible. Copper works great in your home, but you don't pull your house down the road at 65 (+) m.p.h.! Soldered joints would surely crack & break from all the vibrations, etc.
The crimped-on fittings (connections) certainly are the weak points of the system. But band-crimping is fast and (once you pay $60+ for the crimping tool) inexpensive. That's why they're used in the assembly line manufacturing process. I use to do quite a bit of plumbing work in mobile homes, which also use PEX tubing. Whenever I have to replace a valve or fitting, I always use a "Shark-bite" fitting. They have brass bodies, are even faster to install than PEX fittings, are considerably ore reliable, and you can remove & reinstall them easily if needed. They are a bit more expensive, but worth the $ IMHO.
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2013 Eagle 266RKS
2011 Ford F-150 w/3.5L Ecoboost & H.D. Tow Package
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02-11-2016, 08:38 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Bellingham,Wa.
Posts: 6,680
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[QUOTE=Brownie;376365]
Quote:
Originally Posted by motorbreath
I think there are two reasons:
Whenever I have to replace a valve or fitting, I always use a "Shark-bite" fitting. They have brass bodies, are even faster to install than PEX fittings, are considerably ore reliable, and you can remove & reinstall them easily if needed. They are a bit more expensive, but worth the $ IMHO.
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X2
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2010 Jayco Hybrid EXP21M
2013 Toureg TDI
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02-11-2016, 10:41 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Nashville
Posts: 470
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I love PEX tubing but always use metal fittings and crimp rings (no clamps). I've had and heard of folks having a lot of trouble with the plastic fittings. Why take the chance? Metal fittings are cheap. I can't do anything about what the manufacturer did but any mods or repairs are done with metal fittings.
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02-11-2016, 10:57 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Waconia, MN
Posts: 447
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PEX is the 21st Century normal. All new homes in my area are all plumbed with PEX.
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2015 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CC Duramax
2016 Eagle 323LKTS Java
Pull Rite SuperGlide #4100 Hitch w/Mor-Ryde Pin Box
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02-11-2016, 04:10 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 769
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If you want brass fittings without the metal clamps, Home Depot carries "shark bite" fittings that work with PEX tubing. Push the tubing into the fitting and it locks in place. I had to replace a bypass valve in the fall for the water heater. Worked great!
Shark bite fitting $2.29
Plastic replacement valve $.89
I'll stick to the shark bite valve for piece of mind.
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2019 Jayco 26BHX Eagle HTX Fifth Wheel
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Reese 16K Round Tube Slider Hitch
HD Trailering Package with Integrated Brake Controller
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02-11-2016, 04:26 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Florien, LA
Posts: 1,872
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I realize the plastic fittings are made by Nibco, but that is still the weak point regardless. The 90's will crack or break long before the tubing. The tubing I know will expand quite a bit.
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John and Rebecca Dickson
Emma-13 / Little John-10 / Iva-7
2013 Ford F-350 Lariat FX4, CC LB PSD, DRW
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 28BHBE (#8)
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02-11-2016, 07:58 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 127
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When installing the winterizing kit, due to tight corner I have to connect using hose that has metal screw head (from home depot) into the black plastic intake of the pump.
See the picture attached.
Would it be a problem to thread in a metal screw head to a pump thread that is made of plastic.
Would it cause problem during freezing temperature since metal and plastic expand and contract at different rate ?
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02-11-2016, 08:01 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 127
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more picture zoomed in
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02-11-2016, 08:13 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Where ever the boss says we're going.
Posts: 16,103
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Won't be any issues. Many of the kitchen faucets are metalic connected to the plastic pipe.
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DISNEY LOVERS
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02-11-2016, 08:51 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Nashville
Posts: 470
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Camping Couple
If you want brass fittings without the metal clamps, Home Depot carries "shark bite" fittings that work with PEX tubing. Push the tubing into the fitting and it locks in place. I had to replace a bypass valve in the fall for the water heater. Worked great!
Shark bite fitting $2.29
Plastic replacement valve $.89
I'll stick to the shark bite valve for piece of mind.
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Sharkbites work well provided you are careful to get the tubing fully seated in the fitting. A lot of folks stop at the first "click" and end up blowing the tubing out of the fitting. Additionally, some Sharkbites can get pretty costly. Sharkbite is a brand name and there are many others that work on the same principle. They do have a neoprene "O" ring seal on the inside that can be damaged during installation. I don't know if the "O" rings can deteriorate over time.
I don't think anything beats a good crimp ring on a metal fitting if you have the proper tools.
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