Great Plumbing thread by member tpcm5000

tpcm5000
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Great Plumbing thread by member tpcm5000 Apr 24, 2023 6:18:11 GMT -8

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Post by tpcm5000 on Apr 24, 2023 6:18:11 GMT -8

Hi All,

Question on pex to fixtures so adding to this thread.

I have my water tank and new pex pipes with crimp clamps installed, yippee!

Untitled by Tom Myers, on Flickr

I planned on using sharkbites to connect my 1/2" pex to 1/4" copper. I clipped the copper about 1' from the shower and sink fixtures. I was optimistic as the copper looked in good shape, but as has been shared, it has expanded and is no longer perfectly cylindrical so I cannot get the Sharkbites on the copper (they of course slip on the pex easily).

For the shower, I have a flare tool, so thinking I can go get 4' feet of brand new copper, flare, and pretty certain the sharkbites will slip on with ease.

Shower front:

Untitled by Tom Myers, on Flickr

Shower back:

Untitled by Tom Myers, on Flickr

Copper stem I will flare and replace with new copper:

Untitled by Tom Myers, on Flickr

For the sink, where I first tried to use the sharbite, it did not slip on all the way, so I tried to pull off and pulled the copper completely out of the fixture (to my surprise). I would have thought there was a fitting between the the copper and the fixture, to hold it in place, but it looks like the copper lines for the sink are simply inserted into the bottom of the hot/cold faucet handles (with some sealant at the opening).

Sink top:

Untitled by Tom Myers, on Flickr

Sink bottom:

Untitled by Tom Myers, on Flickr

So two questions, the big one, what is going on with the sink, is that all there is to the connection between the copper pipe and faucet handles? Can I take the same approach, simply insert the new copper pip
e I purchase and maybe add some sealant? Or is there a fitting somewhere in the handle I need to utilize?

And overall, I know sharbites get mixed reviews, but with new pex and copper pipes (the stems I create), and considering I will have access to the sharkbites to inspect and monitor, any thoughts on my plan or if I need to consider alternatives? Another advantage of the sharbites are I can use in tight spaces, no way I could operate a crimping tool under the sink, Vik is right, you need to be a pretzel, ha!

Thanks!

PS for others looking at pex and options, this is a really helpful discussion: vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/653/copper-plastic-flexible?page=1

Last Edit: May 8, 2023 11:15:25 GMT -8 by vikx

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Great Plumbing thread by member tpcm5000 Apr 24, 2023 11:47:04 GMT -8 tpcm5000 likes this

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Post by vikx on Apr 24, 2023 11:47:04 GMT -8

Your sink faucet has the nuts still ON the faucet. (the copper pipe you pulled was probably fitted inside the nut) Spray PB Blaster penetrating catalyst on the fittings, let sit for a while and try to unscrew them. The longer the Blaster catalyst has time to work, the better. You may need a helper to hold the faucet above while trying to loosen the nuts. You can also remove the faucet completely if repairs are needed.

Do not substitute the PB Blaster product.

Once they are off, the faucet threads should be 1/2" pipe. Clean them very well. I would use regular household faucet connector supply lines. You might not be able to use sharkbite fittings at the faucet unless you can find a female threaded end. I'm not familiar with what is available in sharkbites.

End your PEX with a male 1/2" fitting. The supply hose (1/2 IP x 1/2 IP) will easily screw onto the faucet and fitting. They have a rubber gasket that allows them to seal and also make repairs easy.

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tpcm5000
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Great Plumbing thread by member tpcm5000 May 7, 2023 6:05:07 GMT -8

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Post by tpcm5000 on May 7, 2023 6:05:07 GMT -8

Wanted to share a discovery and some words of wisdom (not from me, I’m a newbie, just echoing what others have posted).

So, the discovery:
The original copper was inserted into the faucet handle, through the nut, and into a rubber coupling, I think it may be called a grommet. I had no idea how the connection between the pipe and handle was made until I took the faucet apart.

Untitled by Tom Myers, on Flickr

After only one trip to the big box store (a first) I got my ½” supply lines, cleaned up the fixture, and installed easily. For the shower, I purchased some new copper, flared it, connected the copper to the fixture, and the pex to the copper with sharkbites. I tested and not only did the sink faucet handle leak, likely a crumbling gasket in the handle, the flare shower fitting leaked a trickle. I may have been able to tighten down the flare fitting, but after tightening some, gave up on the approach thinking it might fail down the road even if I stopped the trickle today.

Next step was to go online, order a new sink faucet (bar sink), a new shower faucet, wand, and supply lines for the shower. I love the new sink, very well made, brass constructed, looks much like the original sink, and I was able to buy a longer spout that reaches further into the sink. I think the shower faucet is popular in modern RVs, does not look vintage, but is also well constructed and is growing on me (I did not like the sleek design at first but could not find anything close to the original, and the wand will work better in a tiny shower stall).

Untitled by Tom Myers, on Flickr

Untitled by Tom Myers, on Flickr

And now to echo some words of wisdom:
- If you are needing to fix or upgrade any part of your plumbing, consider replacing everything with pex, crimps, and new fixtures. I wasted a ton of time trying to connect new parts to old parts, and in the end, kept having to replace the old as I went along (wasting time on failed attempts). As has been shared elsewhere, this is not a project you want to shortcut; and, compared to overall restoration costs, replacing all the plumbing is relatively, and surprisingly inexpensive (I believe from the high performing, reliable, and low cost of the new tech).

- Buy the fittings you need from the fixture manufacturer (e.g., water tank, pump, and faucets). Or at least, do not count on finding all the fittings you need at the big box store (save things like pex and supply lines). You’ll waste a lot of time finding these unique fittings, and even if you find a fitting that will ‘fit’, it may not perform. For example, Shurflo only guarantees the fittings it sells with its Shurflo pumps, and of course the generic ½” fittings I used leaked badly

- And has also been shared elsewhere, you will spend 70% of your time researching, planning, and buying supplies for this project, and only 30% implementing. I could not find the reference, but there is a thread somewhere on our board with similar guidance. There is a lot of thinking less of the doing with this project.

And thanks all again for all the great posts.

Untitled by Tom Myers, on Flickr

PS how in the heck did the plumbing industry come with so many different standards and measures, ugh!

Last Edit: May 7, 2023 6:09:54 GMT -8 by tpcm5000

vikx Administrator Posts: 12,714 Likes: 3,612 Currently Offline	Great Plumbing thread by member tpcm5000 May 7, 2023 11:54:26 GMT -8 nccamper and tpcm5000 like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by vikx on May 7, 2023 11:54:26 GMT -8 I made this a whole new thread. Great pictures and info! Thank you
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Great Plumbing thread by member tpcm5000

Post by tpcm5000 on Apr 24, 2023 6:18:11 GMT -8

Post by vikx on Apr 24, 2023 11:47:04 GMT -8

Post by tpcm5000 on May 7, 2023 6:05:07 GMT -8

Post by vikx on May 7, 2023 11:54:26 GMT -8