Plumbing my A/S

[blucloud]

We have a few water leaks, (plumbing), and rather that repair them we decided to replace the lines with PEX.(Yes the PO's or the PPO's let the system freeze. The pipes expanded until they burst) It appears that the supply to the water heater as well as the cold supply to the faucets is 1/2". The hot appears to be the 3/8". I am considering using 5/8 for the supply, with 3/8" taps for the faucets and 1/2 for the hot with 3/8 taps for the faucets.
The service manual is vague on this info.

Ideas greatly appreciated
Dave

[AYRSTRM2]

You should take a look at this thread on Plumbing, it has good pictures and descriptions on replacing lines with PEX. There you will find a couple of good links to PEX distributors, cause I know my Home Depot don't have em. But of course my local hardware store does!

I can't recommend specific sizes of tubes, but I have just replaced my kitchen faucet and am in the process of getting the water tank hooked back in the system that the PO had disconnected. And I have this to say: make sure that what you use is in common usage today, to avoid having to hunt all over town when you need a new part. Cut off any flare tubes you have and get compression fittings, maybe get rid of flexible copper whereever you can, it has been a thorn in my side. Make fixtures MORE removable than they are, avoiding sweat solder fittings.

John

[j54mark]

1/2" for water supplies and 3/8" for faucets should be plenty all around and will be an easier fit in tight corners. You aren't going to be filling washing machines inside.

Good luck,

Mark

[TroutStream]

Dave,

I don't mean to hijack the thread but I am up to my elbows in the same problems. I have been researching the PEX / copper relationship. I have a leak in a copper line that is absolutely impossible to get at. I have elected to try to cut out the section and am having a near impossible time accessing the one end with a pipe cutter. I may have to cut and replace far more pipe and fittings than I had intended.

Any advice would be welcome.

[bryanl]

Pex is not expensive, easy to work with, and, with Quest type connectors can be easily mated to copper. I would suggest sticking with one size/ the 3/8 OD pipe will use Quest or Flair it fittings that are a standard half inch pipe thread. (the half inch pipe ends up with 3/4 pipe thread fittings). Half inch fittings are what you will normally find on commonly available faucets and water heaters and so on. The 3/8 tubing will carry plenty of flow for typical RV uses and having only one size to worry about makes carrying or finding repair parts easier.

If you have some copper going through inaccessable areas, replace it with pex and try to re-route so it is more accessible.