Water leak help

[BackcountryRenegade]

Hey all! I own a 2006 Baja 10Y. The cold water line to the hot water tank T’s at the bottom of the tank and goes up to the top, and continues off to the side to a petcock drain in the floor. Last trip where the petcock valve is inserted into the pipe started to leak anytime there was pressure in that line.

What purpose besides winterization does that petcock serve and how do you remove it from the pipe to replace it? Can the “T” be changed to an elbow? I can’t seem to remove it.

Excuse the black spray- I tried some flex seal as an emergency fix since we were in the backcountry and it quit day 1. Thanks!

[BackcountryRenegade]

Can anybody lend some advice here?

[JFlightRisk]

The valve looks like it's a pull to open, and push to close(?). If that's like the low point drain valves in out TT, there's a small o-ring inside, that's replaceable. It's difficult to see in the pictures, but if there's a small metal clip on the valve, just below the "T" handle, you can pull it out, and lift out the valve stem. The o-ring will be on the stem. If the valve is cracked, don't bother with it. Does it appear the black bands on the plumbing need to be forced back, or cut off to get the valve off? PEX plumbing takes special crimp bands, and tool to install them.

I take our 2 valves apart every fall,and lube the O-rings with plumbers grease, to keep them working properly. They will "click" when they're properly seated. Good luck.

[Nature Ist]

It sounds like your leak is the connection between the drain valve and the pipe, correct?
If it is, you could remove the pex clamp and install a new one. If the valve itself is leaking, you can remove the valve from the body and replace the O-rings and add a little valve lube when re-installing. You can also cut the valve and connector out and install a new valve, but that will also require some additional piping and clamps.

[BackcountryRenegade]

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

The valve looks like it's a pull to open, and push to close(?). If that's like the low point drain valves in out TT, there's a small o-ring inside, that's replaceable. It's difficult to see in the pictures, but if there's a small metal clip on the valve, just below the "T" handle, you can pull it out, and lift out the valve stem. The o-ring will be on the stem. If the valve is cracked, don't bother with it. Does it appear the black bands on the plumbing need to be forced back, or cut off to get the valve off? PEX plumbing takes special crimp bands, and tool to install them.

I take our 2 valves apart every fall,and lube the O-rings with plumbers grease, to keep them working properly. They will "click" when they're properly seated. Good luck.

The leak appears to be coming from the section of that petcock stuck into the PVC pipe. Assume that has to be cut out? How do you cut the crimp bands off?

[Nature Ist]

Originally Posted by BackcountryRenegade

The leak appears to be coming from the section of that petcock stuck into the PVC pipe. Assume that has to be cut out? How do you cut the crimp bands off?

I've done this several times with various crimp bands. Those used by Jayco can be removed by cutting the bulged crimp with a heavy duty pair of electricians pliers, make the attempt to cut through the band, and then twist it back and forth with the plier's grip to break it off. If the crimp was never that good, you may be able to pull the PEX tube off the fitting. If not, slice it with a utility knife deep enough to open the pex only where the fitting is, and then pull it off. This may require some slack in the PEX tubing to then cut that sliced part off and make the new connection. In your case, you could take the valve out and replace it with something a little better and do whatever you need to do to get the drain back down through the hole in the floor.
I would not eliminate the valve because you may need to drain the system regardless of whether you ever winterize the camper.
You will need to find new crimp bands and the tool to crimp them.