| Author |
Message |
Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member
Username: Oonrahnjay
Post Number: 159
Registered: 8-2004
Posted From: 209.60.120.130
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 11:00 pm: | |
__. What's the thought on the relative merits of the different possible materials for water pipes? I think I'll go with the flex-plastic (what's the "trade-name"?) but I'd like to hear from others on the tradeoffs.
Thanks, BH |
Jerry Liebler (Jerry_liebler)
Registered Member
Username: Jerry_liebler
Post Number: 278
Registered: 3-2005
Posted From: 67.141.38.149
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 11:40 pm: | |
Bruce,
I used PEX, it is semi flexible cross linked polyethylene tubing. It has good freeze resistance but the fittings often do not. PEX should not be left exposed to sunlight or flourescent lights. It doesn't impart any taste or odor to drinking water. I used brass fittings and SS clamp rings very easy to use but definitely compromised the freeze resistance.
Copper is much more expensive and more trouble to install. PVC is about the same price but has no freeze resistance, is ridgid and adds a taste to drinking water.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120 |
John Jewett (Jayjay)
Registered Member
Username: Jayjay
Post Number: 374
Registered: 1-2001
Posted From: 75.14.14.146
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 12:19 am: | |
CPVCC (hot water type) has excellent freeze resistance ( better than copper), cheap, easy to install almost zero maintenance, and if flushed with a baking soda/water mixture after installation, will not impart any taste or smell to your water. Installed it for both hot and cold (both the same size) in my 4905, 7 years and 23k miles ago, with no issues whatsoever since then. Cheers...JJ |
Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member
Username: Kyle4501
Post Number: 375
Registered: 9-2004
Posted From: 65.23.106.193
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 8:13 am: | |
The CPVC that was used in a friends bus has become so brittle that it is unuseable.
I don't know when it was installed or how much sunlight it was exposed to.
The PEX seems to be the best as far as minimizing fittings. I'm planning on runing it inside plastic conduit & making each run a 'home run'. The reason for the conduit is to provide extra protection & allow easy replacement if ever needed. |
Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Registered Member
Username: Kristinsgrandpa
Post Number: 343
Registered: 2-2003
Posted From: 64.24.211.65
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 9:01 am: | |
My son bought a mobile home plumbed in PEX and has had two fitting failures in three years.
I'm not impressed.
My house is 30 years old and the cpvc and pvc has never had a failure.
I'm impressed
Ed |
John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member
Username: John_mc9
Post Number: 508
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 66.217.105.109
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 9:58 am: | |
Re:
"mobile homes with PEX"
There had been a major recall on the earlier PEX fittings, and
it involved thousands of mobile homes.. The fittings were the
clamp-on type. (PEX Recall)
The newer fittings, and replacement fittings solved the problem. |
George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member
Username: George_mc6
Post Number: 268
Registered: 8-2006
Posted From: 76.168.69.233
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 10:36 am: | |
John is right.
PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) is approved for residential use in the last two editions of the Universal Plumbing Code. PEX tubing also will stand being frozen without failure. Unfortunately the fittings are not PEX, so they will break when expanded in a freeze, just like copper or CPVC pipe and fittings.
It is also very possible that a fitting was blamed for a failure, when in fact it was frozen, and the pipe it was connected to wasn't hurt?
The only downside to it is that an installation tool is a couple of hundred bucks.
FWIW,
George |
david anderson (Davidanderson)
Registered Member
Username: Davidanderson
Post Number: 215
Registered: 2-2004
Posted From: 69.153.65.212
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 12:30 pm: | |
CPVC for me for seven years now and 40,000 miles. No problems. I don't thing I spent over $100 for all the pipe, fittings, and glue for the whole coach.
David Anderson |
Florida Cliff (Floridacracker)
Registered Member
Username: Floridacracker
Post Number: 340
Registered: 7-2004
Posted From: 68.204.214.17
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 1:22 pm: | |
I used CPVC also.
So far so good......
Regardless of what you use, make sure you plan for ease of access and replacemnet if needed.
Cliff |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Registered Member
Username: Niles500
Post Number: 781
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 72.91.168.92
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 1:26 pm: | |
The problem was with polybutyl qest fittings - NOT Pex |
Arthur J Griffith (Arthurseagle)
Registered Member
Username: Arthurseagle
Post Number: 43
Registered: 8-2006
Posted From: 72.236.102.192
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 4:15 pm: | |
A lot of the local Hardware stores such as Ace
Hardware has the crimping tool for the Pex to
loan out or rent at a very modest price if you are buying the fittings and tubing from them.
All you have to do ask. Pex is the best product
for me. Being in the rental and construction
business for 45 years I have used them all.
BUT - you must winterize or keep pipes from
freezing.
ARTHUR |
Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member
Username: Oonrahnjay
Post Number: 160
Registered: 8-2004
Posted From: 209.60.120.130
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 9:06 pm: | |
Arthur Griffith wrote "you must winterize or keep pipes from freezing."
__. I'm planning all runs of my pipes (and tanks) to have a "low point" that is contiguous with drains so that all the water can be easily drained during cold weather. (Oh, and "RV-type" antifreeze in traps, etc.) |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member
Username: Gusc
Post Number: 496
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 63.97.117.17
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 9:55 pm: | |
Jayjay,
Is CPVC a blue-gray color? Is this the same as polybutyl? I used polybutyl in parts of my house plumbing in '81 with never a problem either with pipe or fittings. Most of the pipe is underground except for the supply pipes to sinks.
Never had a problem with the fittings. I read that some of them leaked but non of mine ever have.
I like them because no tools are required for the fittings and the system can be used for hot water also.
I wanted it under my house but the plumbers refused because at that time all that code allowed was copper. |
Len Silva (Lsilva)
Registered Member
Username: Lsilva
Post Number: 140
Registered: 12-2000
Posted From: 75.91.103.253
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 10:31 pm: | |
I have a '94 Vogue motoerhome. It's not a bus but this is a very well built unit, I'm more impressed everytime I a little deeper into the construction.
Anyway, this unit is done in copper pipe with soldered fittings just like at home. It has functioned well for 14 years with no apparent problems.
I'm somewhat surprised at this, always heard that plastic was better.
FWIW,
Len |
Bob Shafer (Michigander_bob)
Registered Member
Username: Michigander_bob
Post Number: 41
Registered: 2-2005
Posted From: 68.61.134.126
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 11:00 pm: | |
I used pex and fittings called Sharkbite. It's a Connection System for Copper, CPVC or PEX Pipe. I got them at a local plumbing supply house. I had my fresh water system together in a couple of hours. Very nice heavy duty brass fittings. Not the cheap plastic ones like home depot sells. Here's a link so you can see what they look like. http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Cat/Sharkbite-Fittings-for-Copper-CPVC-PEX-Pipe-Accessories/ 1200/List?gclid=CMHh1rfE044CFRUHWAoduBgABQ
Bob 4104-2346
Flint, Mi |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Registered Member
Username: Niles500
Post Number: 782
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 72.91.168.92
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 11:56 pm: | |
CPVC is white/orange - problems with PolyB fittings were mainly Shell crimp fittings (there are more than one manuf.)- HTH |
David Dulmage (Daved)
Registered Member
Username: Daved
Post Number: 182
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 142.46.199.30
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 - 11:25 am: | |
A nice thing about using CPVC is if you have a problem while on the road, you can get everything you need to fix it from just about any building supply store or hardware and you don't need any special tools to work on it.
FWIW
DaveD |
James Smith (Tomcat)
Registered Member
Username: Tomcat
Post Number: 64
Registered: 8-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.13
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 - 11:42 am: | |
PEX and Sharkbites for me. Zero problems.
Jay
87 SaftLiner |
Gerald Norman (Gnorman46)
Registered Member
Username: Gnorman46
Post Number: 79
Registered: 12-2006
Posted From: 68.241.100.230
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 10:05 pm: | |
CPVC is the way to go, this is very easy to work with and customize and cheap. If you do it right you have no issues for years. |