Posted 2008-03-30 8:19 AM (#80664) Subject: LQ water pipe woes
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
I have an LQ, only going on 3yrs., that has been plagued with water pipe joint connection leaks since almost the beginning. I had a major flood under the bathroom vanity the first time because of a bad pipe connector. The LQ company fixed the connector but it leaked again, or should I say blew out!, so the whole connection was replaced. It worked for 1 season, we winterized the trailer in fall and just dewinterized it yesterday. Now we have 2 major leaks, one in a different connector under the vanity and the other under the kitchen sink at the connector. All times, the hot water ine was the one affected. What can we do to solve this problem once and for all? I have had LQs before and never had this happen. Once, ok. But 3 major leaks?? Do you think we could use brass fittings and flexible washer tubing?
Posted 2008-03-30 9:55 AM (#80671 - in reply to #80670) Subject: RE: LQ water pipe woes
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
A google Search on Sharkbite Plumbing will find several pages of information and people selling the product.
The sharkbit connectors are more expensive than the standard PEX crimp rings. But they don't require you to go buy an $80 crimping tool.
If you only need to replace 3-5 connectors, use the sharkbite products. If you need to do 20 or so connections. It's cheaper to buy the crimp tool and use the standard rings.
If you have ongoing problems with the connections in your trailer, I suspect the person who did the plumbing didn't get a good crimp on the original fittings..
Posted 2008-03-30 9:57 AM (#80674 - in reply to #80664) Subject: RE: LQ water pipe woes
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 406 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Couple of questions.1) When the trailer is winterized, is the fresh water side filled with RV antifreeze, or blown out with compressed air?2) Does the city water connection have a pressure regulator installed? High water pressure can by a cause of some of this.
Posted 2008-03-30 10:08 AM (#80677 - in reply to #80674) Subject: RE: LQ water pipe woes
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
I winterize with RV antifreeze. Pink flowed thru all pipes so it did not have plain water in the connections. I don't have a pressure regulator on the city water but I am careful not to run lines that can be run over by trucks and cars and I use a shut off valve on my hose at the trailer city water connection to slow down the pressure if needed. Plus, It worked fine before it was winterized. I am wondering if the RV antifreeze is not damaging the connections. THe SeaTech connections work by pressure snapping them on, not crimping. I am wondering if the oil in the antifreeze is doing something to the seal.
Posted 2008-03-30 3:19 PM (#80705 - in reply to #80677) Subject: RE: LQ water pipe woes
Expert
Posts: 2614
We bought a pressure reducerconnector in the RV section at WalMart,and we always use it just in case,unless we are at a camp with really low water pressure.
Posted 2008-03-31 3:43 PM (#80820 - in reply to #80666) Subject: RE: LQ water pipe woes
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
Well, we replaced the sea tech with some shark bite and they worked. However, it seems to have become a domino effect. Now many of the other elbows, and connectors are failing, including a shut off valve!
LQ water pipe woes
