- Joined
- Jul 23, 2014
- Posts
- 8,880
GDRV uses two types of water pipe/hose (Pex and a softer hose) but only one type of fittings (Pex - usually plastic). Several of us have encountered leaks from the soft hose to Pex fitting combination. There is a reason for this. The soft hose has too large an ID to stay sealed to a Pex fitting. With vibration and temperature cycling these connections will work loose.
This came up at the Elkhart Rally Kantleak Tech Session, but I was recently asked by another forum member about how to best solve this. At first, I though maybe a Sharkbite fitting would work, but as has been mentioned previously on this forum, Sharkbite fittings are not designed to work with soft hose.
The soft hose has a 1/2" ID and barbed hose fittings are available in 1/2" OD. Once you realize that you are working with hose, not pipe, the solution becomes straight forward . . . but rather a PITA to have to do. If the proper fittings had been used in the first place, we wouldn't be doing this.
Proper fittings are available at Home Depot or similar. Pictures and comments on what should go with what are in the attached.
Rob
This came up at the Elkhart Rally Kantleak Tech Session, but I was recently asked by another forum member about how to best solve this. At first, I though maybe a Sharkbite fitting would work, but as has been mentioned previously on this forum, Sharkbite fittings are not designed to work with soft hose.
The soft hose has a 1/2" ID and barbed hose fittings are available in 1/2" OD. Once you realize that you are working with hose, not pipe, the solution becomes straight forward . . . but rather a PITA to have to do. If the proper fittings had been used in the first place, we wouldn't be doing this.
Proper fittings are available at Home Depot or similar. Pictures and comments on what should go with what are in the attached.
Rob
