Leaking water line in difficult location

[Jayco Ro]

I am trying to get our RV back into working condition after it sat unused for two years. One of the problems is a break in a water line (PEX) near the base of the shower. After taking off the cover on the wall right behind the shower faucets, I used an inspection camera to find the leak. I could see water spewing from the area where a main line joins the lines coming up to the shower faucets. This junction is just beneath the floor and presents a major problem because of access. I considered cutting and removing a section of bathroom floor, but the shower drain may be right in the way of the hoses. Ideally, if the base of the shower were removed, I think there would be good access. Anyone know what is involved with removing the shower base? Suggestions for another way? Going in through the hall floor next to the bathroom wall is out because the furnace duct is in the way. This is a 2001 Jayco Eagle 28' Class C.

[Grumpy]

Is the shower over the rear axle? There is a access panel behind/above the tires that is held in by about 12 +/- screws that may give you access.

[Jayco Ro]

Yes! I will remove the panel and check it out. Thanks, Grumpy, for saving me a lot of unnecessary work. By the way, is there such thing as a factory service manual for this RV? I got the schematics from Jayco, but they are kind of sketchy.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Jayco Ro

By the way, is there such thing as a factory service manual for this RV?

Unfortunately not.

[BuddyRay]

There have been times with both wiring and plumbing that it was easier to abandon the existing plumbing and fish new pex - for example instead of having a connection that is hard to reach, run 2 lines from somewhere you can reach.



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[Rustysocket]

Originally Posted by BuddyRay

There have been times with both wiring and plumbing that it was easier to abandon the existing plumbing and fish new pex - for example instead of having a connection that is hard to reach, run 2 lines from somewhere you can reach.



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This is an important point to remember both with plumbing and wiring in RV's. Many times I get myself so focused on _fixing_ when I should be _replacing_ and I fail to see the simple solution....

[Jayco Ro]

Thanks, BuddyRay and Rustysocket. I'll keep that in mind. I haven't taken the panel off yet, but I can tell that it's going to be a tight squeeze to get to the leak. A bypass operation might be the best bet depending on what I find.

[mralex]

I agree with BuddyRay and Rustsocket. I am a pluming and electric contractor, all I do is mobile home service and repair and utility hook ups on them. Many many times we simply replace and a lot of times have to reroute water lines or electric that's been pinched or bent too tight of radius or a screw/nail driven through it.

[Jayco Ro]

The panel is now off, and I can see the area where the leak was, but it's still going to be a reach because of the rear tires. Those of you who have worked with PEX tubing, do I need a crimper or can I use hose clamps?

[Grumpy]

Get "shark bite" fittings at Home Depot, Lowes or Menards. They slip on and lock tight.

[Jayco Ro]

Update: Rolled inner right rear tire onto boards, used floor jack as safety stabilizer on axle, removed outer right rear tire to get better access to leak. By using garden hose as water source, the culprits were found to be PVC elbows on both hot and cold lines. Both had invisible cracks at the inner seam of the elbow which were spewing streams of water when under pressure. These were then replaced with stouter stuff. Testing showed only a small leak (noted before) in the shower faucet assembly which is easily accessed and will be fixed/replaced. This damage is undoubtedly due to freezing of water left in the low point of the lines.

[Marcm157]

Glad you got it all figured out!

[Grumpy]