PEX and toilet supply line question

[adwriter73]

I replaced my copper with PEX, but I haven't figured out what I need (connectors and tubing) for the water supply line to the toilet. One thing to note, I am using the Shark Bite brand of connectors on all the PEX. I thought I could use one of these with a braided, flexible tube for the water line, but they don't fit together. I guess then my question is, how do I connect the PEX to the braided line? Or, is there another solution?

[ddstech]

You need to get yourself some clear plastic hose and white barbed fittings from a plumbing supply. I ran into the same thing myself. I think home depot may carry all the stuff you need. Also grab some metal screw down hose clamps.

[garry]

You can buy a Shark Bite with a built in shutoff. Connect a standard braided metal line for the toilet to one side and slide the PEX to the other.

Works great I used one last week I bought it at a local hardware store.

[ddstech]

That sounds like a better setup then mine. Those fancy shark bite connectors werent available when I did mine. I think they are worth every penny.

[lewster]

Originally Posted by adwriter73

I replaced my copper with PEX, but I haven't figured out what I need (connectors and tubing) for the water supply line to the toilet. One thing to note, I am using the Shark Bite brand of connectors on all the PEX. I thought I could use one of these with a braided, flexible tube for the water line, but they don't fit together. I guess then my question is, how do I connect the PEX to the braided line? Or, is there another solution?

Almost every common RV toilet uses a 1/2" FPT or MPT fitting at the water entry (generally MPT). If you are using 1/2" PEX and the associated Shark Bite fittings, then they have one that terminates with a 1/2" MPT thread. The big box stores and ACE Hardware carry braided steel hose with both ends terminating in 1/2" FPT, which will match perfectly. The suggestion of using the Shark Bite shut-off valve is a sound one. Terminate the PEX with this valve, add another short piece with the 1/2" MPT fitting, then the braided SS hose up to the toilet water inlet and you're done!

BTW, FPT = female pipe thread and MPT = male pipe thread.

[adwriter73]

Originally Posted by lewster

Almost every common RV toilet uses a 1/2" FPT or MPT fitting at the water entry (generally MPT). If you are using 1/2" PEX and the associated Shark Bite fittings, then they have one that terminates with a 1/2" MPT thread. The big box stores and ACE Hardware carry braided steel hose with both ends terminating in 1/2" FPT, which will match perfectly. The suggestion of using the Shark Bite shut-off valve is a sound one. Terminate the PEX with this valve, add another short piece with the 1/2" MPT fitting, then the braided SS hose up to the toilet water inlet and you're done!

BTW, FPT = female pipe thread and MPT = male pipe thread.

OK, I will try this. What is the reason for the "shut off valve" though versus a similar valve that doesn't have a shut off feature?

[garry]

The shut off valve I used eliminates one SB connection.

The steel braided line has 1/2 NPT on one end to toilet and 1/4 that screws onto the SB. "

So you have;

PEX water line......SB shut off......steel braided line......toilet.

Garry

[68 TWind]

Make sure you check the size of the fitting on your toilet. The fitting on the new one I installed was bigger than standard home toilets. Cause me an extra trip to ACE. I added a shut off valve but I was using crimp fittings instead of Shark Bite.

[Chuck]

I haven't seen a shark bite ball valve with the pex on one end, and threaded on the other (?); only pex-pex...and they were very expensive, as ball-valves run.
I was going to ask about transitioning from the 1/2 lines to the faucets...Sharkbite has tees, but they're like 10 bucks a piece. so I'd want to keep the SB fittings to a minimum. My thought is to use them sparingly, in such a way that sections of plumbing that are difficult to reach can be easily removed when (notice I didn't say "if") something like a pressure regulator or check valve fails. (or, something springs a leak).
Most of my bathroom plumbing is damn-near impossible to access.

anyway, wondering if they make a crimp-style tee that is pex-1/2"mpt-pex.

[lewster]

Originally Posted by 68 TWind

Make sure you check the size of the fitting on your toilet. The fitting on the new one I installed was bigger than standard home toilets. Cause me an extra trip to ACE. I added a shut off valve but I was using crimp fittings instead of Shark Bite.

Like I said, 1/2" FPT on BOTH SIDES of the steel braided line.

[ncbambi]

Pictures please! To me, a picture says it all! A lot of what you are describing may as well be Greek

Thanks in advance. Have to correct leaky pex from toilet by either replacing with correct connections, or tightening copper compression fittings.

[adwriter73]

thanks for the tip, lewster. it worked. only problem: i must've cross-threaded when when i attached the braided line to the toilet. it's on crooked. i removed it and tried 5 more times. crooked. all times. it screwed all the way on. just crooked. i'm hoping this doesn't mean a leak. have to wait until i finish the the rest of the system to check it.

[fmr.capt.evi]

Those toilet connections can look crooked, because of your viewing angle......(I've experienced that phenomenon)......if it felt good when it went on you're probably OK.

[ALANSD]

Because I am a plumbing idiot tell me this- for 1/2" Pex to the trailer sinks ( 4" spread faucets) you need a 1/2" to ? connector.
To the shower and toilet 1/2" to ? same question.
AND coming in from the outside city water connection ? to 1/2". This will make my life a bit easier when I go the bog box to get pex Sharkbite or similar connectors.
Thanks guys

[Chuck]

I'm thinking that the easiest thing would be to use those braided flex-lines for the faucet risers as well as the toilet. They have female threaded ends, of various sizes and combinations. They come with compression threads, 1/2", and 3/8ths at least...perhaps even more combinations.

So, however your pex run terminates, the fitting on the end could be pex->1/2fpt. Then thread a flex line of the appropriate length that has 1/2" threaded on each end.

for the inlet: it depends on how your trailer is configured. Mine was set up to use a standard household drop-ear elbow, which is what is typically used for the shower riser pipe in your house. the shower pipe goes up from the tub/shower faucet inside the wall...on the top of it, there is this "elbow", which has "ears" on it for nailing to a cross piece between the studs, with the threaded hole facing into the shower. the chrome shower (male threaded on both ends) threads into that, and the shower head goes on the other end.
Anyway, the inlet uses that same elbow, only upside-down. Ears are screwed to the frame rail, just under the street side corner, and the pipe goes straight up into a hole in the banana wrap, and up into the trailer.
Instead of a chrome shower pipe, you thread a female garden hose fitting>1/2" mpt into the elbow.

[Chuck]

here is a pic of the original inlet:

http://www.airforums.com/photos/show...&imageuser=291

I've replaced this w/ a pex elbow and pex line running up into the trailer, but don't have a pic of it.

the garden hose fitting may only come with female 1/2" fitting on the other end. I seem to remember coupling it to the elbow with a 1/2" threaded nipple, which you wouldn't be able to see in the pic.

[ALANSD]

That helps, thanks..

[ALANSD]

working on this now..just got my crimper and rings..

[ALANSD]

Anyone tell me why the toilet has 3 water lines? Just wondering..

[ALANSD]

Nobody likes to talk about toilets