Water line break/repair.

[jbird68]

I have to fix a broken water line because I forgot to drain the lines a few winters ago. Pretty sure the water heater tank is cracked too. But my issue is that the water line from the inlet to the water heater are routed on the floor beneath the cabinets and under the slide-out dinette. How do I gain access to the leaking line? Why couldn't Jayco routed the lines under the floor like the gas lines? I'm sure I can fix this myself but need a little assistance. Any help is appreciated.

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[hoppers4]

Route a new line under the floor like you thought Jayco should have done in the first place? Couple more holes through the floor won't hurt anything. Just be sure you know where the drill is going to come out on the other end before you start.

 

[Grumpy]

Why couldn't Jayco routed the lines under the floor like the gas lines?

Because if you went out in cold weather they would freeze.

 

[jbird68]

Because if you went out in cold weather they would freeze.

We don't camp in freezing weather. Most of the places we camp don't have dedicated water hook ups. But on occasion we will get winter on site

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[norty1]

They didn't know you would not camp in freezing weather?

The unit is plumbed to prevent a freezing pipe. Access, maybe not!

 

[jbird68]

I understand that. But there needs to be access for repair. Don't want to take it to dealer if I can fix it myself.

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[Grumpy]

Most of the cabinets have false bottoms that are just stapled down. You should be able to remove them to access the lines. Usually a straight blade screwdriver or wood chisel will do the trick.

 

[jbird68]

Well, i hooked up the water and found 2 leaks. One was the hose connection under the sink was broken( see photo). The local hardware store didn't have exactly what I needed. I had to buy a hose and an adapter fitting/reducer. The other was a crack in an elbow to one of the outdoor shower fittings (see photo). Now the problem is that I don't know how to get the elbow off to replace it.

I didn't find a leak under the slide out like I originally thought.

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[Grumpy]

I think Shark Bite makes an elbow that would work. You would just cut the pex tubing right below the clamp and slip the new fitting on.

 

[jbird68]

Wow! To fix a broken elbow I need to get new fittings, crimp rings and tools to put new crimps in place. The tools are not cheap. I only need to fix 1 fitting. I really don't want to spend $80 for a tool I'm only going to use once or twice. Either that or take to a camper dealer and probably pay the same price or more for parts and labor. Ugh!

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[Explorer03]

Shark Bite fittings do not require any of the special tools. They just slip over the pex tubing and lock in place.

 

[jbird68]

Those popped up while searching YouTube. But I still need to buy a 5ft length if tubing to replace a 6inch section. Unless they have some remnants at the store. I didn't see the shark bite crimps at the local store.

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[Grumpy]

Home Depot and Lowes also carry WATTS Water Pex fittings that work the same way. So does Menards if you have those near you, possibly ACE Hardware too.

 

[RVhiker]

This is what Shark Bite push fittings look like: Lowes push fittings. The pipe is cheap. If the break is in the short piece that connects to the faucet, you'll need some way to get to a swivel adapter.

 

[jbird68]

Got a Watts 1/2" CTS to 1/2" FIP female swivel elbow at Menards today. Got the old fitting off with a hack saw and screw driver without damaging the PEX tubing. Pressed on the Watts fitting and been under pressure for 20 minutes so far and no leaks. No water from under the slide out either. Whew.

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[Murff]

Sweet!

Murff

 

[Witt74]

Good Deal!!

 

[Marcm157]

Glad it worked out for you. You were sounding kind of frustrated there for a bit...

 

[jbird68]

Yeah. But having the right tools was tickling me off. And I want about to drop $75 on a tool I was probably only going to use this one time. The Watts press-to-fit fitting was a good fit and only about $6. Next thing to have checked out is the hot water tank. I'm pretty sure that needs to be replaced. And not sure it is something I want to tackle. We've never even used the water heater. But we used a campsite hookup a couple summers ago and I didn't think to use the hot water heater bypass hose. When I put the camper away for winter I didn't even think to drain it. I guess it's another lesson learned.

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[sundancer330]

If you don't use the HWT just keep the bypass on so it won't leak and don't worry about it for now, or you can buy a replacement tank for just over $100 on Amazon, very simple to replace, many Youtube videos on the process.