Copper pipe from water heater - strange size? 69 safari

[69airstream]

Hello Airstreamers -
I cut the cooper water pipe about 12 inches out of the water heater in order to replace with PEX. Turns out the copper pipe at this point is not 1/2 inch but is larger - maybe 1/2 inch inside? Does anybody know what this size of copper pipe is and how I might get a fitting onto it to connect it to 1/2 inch copper or PEX?
My airstream is a 69 Safari - any thought or knowledge would be most welcome - thank you

Dave

[CBWELL]

It has been frozen and expanded, but not broken. Had the same problem when replacing copper lines in my 1976. Replace right from the closest point on the heater as possible. If it is the original HWT on the trailer, I would replace it at the same time. Easier to do all the work at the same time!! Good luck, Chris

[55AS]

Originally Posted by CBWELL

It has been frozen and expanded, but not broken. Had the same problem when replacing copper lines in my 1976. Replace right from the closest point on the heater as possible. If it is the original HWT on the trailer, I would replace it at the same time. Easier to do all the work at the same time!! Good luck, Chris

I had the same problem on my 64 Bambi. Started replacing pipes one at a time and ended up doing them all. Would have been smarter to rip out all the copper and replace all with PEX.

[ALUMINUMINUM]

" Would have been smarter to rip out all the copper and replace all with PEX."


Words of Wisdom...

[shineybullet]

I took out all the copper pipes front to back and replaced with pex no more worries for me about broken frozen pipes , very easy stuff to work with so do it right the first time

[Kevin245]

As others have indicated, most likely expanded copper line diameter due to freezing water. I suggest making the switch to pex too. The money from selling the scrape copper will go along way towards buying pex tools and materials.

[55AS]

Originally Posted by Kevin245

As others have indicated, most likely expanded copper line diameter due to freezing water. I suggest making the switch to pex too. The money from selling the scrape copper will go along way towards buying pex tools and materials.

I think I got $80 for my copper.

[69airstream]

Thanks to all the great posts - I will act on the above - maybe it is best to replace all with PEX - cannot believe how much copper is worth these days. If I pull out the water heater at the same time, what is there a standard replacement heater out there?
Thanks All -

Dave
69 Airstream

[55AS]

Atwood water heater should fit.

[kdickinson]

We have a 69 Safari also. All copper water supply is now gone and replaced with PEC. I looked at the copper after it was taken out (I did not do the work myself) and like CBWELL says it had clearly been deformed front to back by age and by freezing & thawing (even though my Dad had it winterized every year) over the past nearly 50 years. The early trailers that had copper seem to have been literally built by hand and the copper was shaped and brazed for each trailer. If you have an AC you likely also have copper installed for a portion of the condensate drain however mine is fine as it is now and would not be subject to freezing unless it was blocked. I would be surprised if your water heater is the original but we replaced the water heater at the same time we did the Pec. It wasn't cheap but well worth it.

[TomKirk]

It's probably 5/8" copper tubing (replace with type L). Copper tubing has different dimensions than copper pipe. Also, the size 5/8" doesn't exist in copper pipe.

Tom

[rvb]

Many older Airstream's including my '77 have copper refrigeration pipe not plumbing pipe for the water system. I believe it is 1/2" id where plumbing pipe is 1/2" od. You can get fittings and splices at a refrigeration supply company or from an air conditioning repairman. Check around, some wholesale suppliers will sell to the public.

[nrgtrakr]

The fresh water 1/2 copper on our 75 was a disaster - to include swollen from freezing and impossible to repair. $500 and a couple of days later all fresh water plumbing, pressure regulator and faucets were replaced with PEX, a new regulator and new faucets.
After years of working with other plumbing, PEX is scary simple.
Copper tubing size info here:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_tubing

[thesignlady]

Hey...Welcome to the 69' Safari club :-)

Yup exactly the same thing in mine, for exactly the same reason everyone says above. Freezing Expansion. Your life will be much easier to just make the break and convert over to pex.

If you have any Safari questions let me know
and here is a link to a printable 69 service manual

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f420...nk-143265.html

[mandolindave]

Originally Posted by shineybullet

I took out all the copper pipes front to back and replaced with pex no more worries for me about broken frozen pipes , very easy stuff to work with so do it right the first time

I don't see pex as totally worry free. First off, I think that there is a finite amount of times that it can freeze and thaw, before it loses it's elasticity or memory to return to normal shape. Secondly, a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. The weak link being the elbows and couplers, which I can say, are a pain to remove when replacing.

My point is, I still do the best winterizing job that I can

[nrgtrakr]

PEX does not negate the need to winterize.