Archive - Aluminium Camper Forum

Camplite => Camplite General Q & A => Topic started by: mitch on May 21, 2016, 01:10:20 PM

Title: Low Point Drains
Post by: mitch on May 21, 2016, 01:10:20 PM
It appears that my cold water low point valve is not fully closing.  If I want to replace it am I going to have to invest in pex pipe tools?  Barring that can I disassemble the valve in place and replace an o-ring?  Which begs the question, is there an o-ring in those valves?

  
Title: Low Point Drains
Post by: charliem on May 21, 2016, 01:41:52 PM
[font size="3"]IMO, the best approach is to find and borrow a PEX copper crimp tool. I've become a believer in the crimp system, but the clamp system might also work. Problems are reworkability (you can't) and crimp tool access in close quarters (probably OK on LP drains). Otherwise, there are fittings and valves with compression type attachments available. Watts (Amazon) and Blue Hawk (Lowes) make some. I don't know about repairing the OEM valve, but let us know. I've seen some leaking on one of mine too.
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Title: Low Point Drains
Post by: mitch on May 21, 2016, 01:51:18 PM
Thanks Charlie, did a little research and it looks like the simple solution is to cut the pipe (I think it's pex?) and then attach a sharkbite push on ball valve. I've never seen them before but apparently they are great, no tools needed just push the valve onto the pipe and it's done.
Title: Low Point Drains
Post by: charliem on May 21, 2016, 01:56:42 PM
[quote timestamp="1463849478" author="@mitch" source="/post/21382/thread"]Thanks Charlie, did a little research and it looks like the simple solution is to cut the pipe (I think it's pex?) and then attach a sharkbite push on ball valve. I've never seen them before but apparently they are great, no tools needed just push the valve onto the pipe and it's done.[/quote][font size="3"]Yes, Sharkbite is an impressive, and expensive, product. I used some in my undersink hot water recirculator system where I couldn't get the crimp tool in physically. So far so good. The only reservation I have is will they maintain leak proof performance in the dynamic vibration environment of the TT. Time will tell.[/font]
Title: Low Point Drains
Post by: daplumbr on May 21, 2016, 08:49:01 PM
[quote timestamp="1463849478" author="@mitch" source="/post/21382/thread"]Thanks Charlie, did a little research and it looks like the simple solution is to cut the pipe (I think it's pex?) and then attach a sharkbite push on ball valve. I've never seen them before but apparently they are great, no tools needed just push the valve onto the pipe and it's done.[/quote]It is Pex (I see the spell check will change that to sex, so be careful how you refer to the piping) and the Shark-Bite connectors/valves will work fine. But, like Charlie, I wonder about longevity?