Broken water pipe(s) repair or replace

[GERALDEAN]

Our 1999 Pace Arrow Vision is showing aging signs. I probably contributed to it by leaving some water in a low spot of the water pipes when I "winterized" last season. Now leaks. And the piping is CPVC and has gotten brittle over 20 years and hard to repair. One leak was repaired and on testing another leak appeared further down the pipe. Leaks are in an almost impenetrable location under furnace and refrigerator. Also near electrical panel and many wiring junctions, circuit boards etc. I will need a plumbing diagram from Fleetwood and hopefully they will comply. Has anyone had experience with this type of problem? I am considering replacing as much piping as possible with PEX or something similar. A huge problem is the crossover of piping from the left to right side of coach. This originates in a tightly confined space under the floor and ends above the floor at the refrigerator area. My body won't it in there. I would love to hear others' similar experiences.

[Dave_H_M]

all right, good news.

bet that will give you quite the feeling of accomplishment. :C

[wa8yxm]

pianotuna wrote:
Replace with Pex.

I will go with that suggestion as well. When you replace a line some of them are. as you noted, nearly impossible to get to. but you can oftren pull those out and use them to pull a new PEX line in. THen put ends on and hook it up.

[GERALDEAN]

time2roll wrote:
Wow. What a great accomplishment. Did you make a map of where all the pipes are?

You bet I did make a map and labels everywhere! With the trusty cell phones we have these days, took many pictures too.

[ksg5000]

Sounds like you did a great job! Don't forget the drain valves which you will need when winter comes.

[time2roll]

Wow. What a great accomplishment. Did you make a map of where all the pipes are?

[GERALDEAN]

GERALDEAN wrote:
Our 1999 Pace Arrow Vision is showing aging signs. I probably contributed to it by leaving some water in a low spot of the water pipes when I "winterized" last season. Now leaks. And the piping is CPVC and has gotten brittle over 20 years and hard to repair. One leak was repaired and on testing another leak appeared further down the pipe. Leaks are in an almost impenetrable location under furnace and refrigerator. Also near electrical panel and many wiring junctions, circuit boards etc. I will need a plumbing diagram from Fleetwood and hopefully they will comply. Has anyone had experience with this type of problem? I am considering replacing as much piping as possible with PEX or something similar. A huge problem is the crossover of piping from the left to right side of coach. This originates in a tightly confined space under the floor and ends above the floor at the refrigerator area. My body won't it in there. I would love to hear others' similar experiences.

After a 7 week trip without running water and toting large jugs for drinking and toilet flushing, we decided it was time to bite the bullet and get this problem fixed. I got 2 estimates from professional RV repair shops to replace the piping with PEX. The shops required estimates made as the project was considered "major" repair. A third shop declined the project as "too difficult and time consuming". The 2 estimates were $2600 and $3800. I decided to take it on myself. 2 100' rolls of red and blue Pex and a couple hands full of clamps and fittings and I was ready to go. OH,,,,what a job! The coach was only designed to be new and never repaired. The CPVC piping couldn't be concealed better if you worked at it. But I'm done. Tested it this morning. No leaks. Good pressure. Substantially better routing of plumbing and ease for any further repairs or mods. Cost was my time and frustration plus $60 for tubing and fittings.

[ksg5000]

time2roll wrote:
I would just pull new PEX pipe for what is broken and update connections as needed or accessible.
If it holds pressure I would leave it for now.

x2

The area under some fridge and ovens is pretty open in some rigs and you may find fishing new pipe easy. Use of sharkbite fitting should make install easier. Talk to the plumbing guys down at the hardware store - bring a sample of the old pipe with you.

[time2roll]

I would just pull new PEX pipe for what is broken and update connections as needed or accessible.
If it holds pressure I would leave it for now.

[nickthehunter]

Can you attach the new pipe to the end of the old pipe and pull the new in as you pull the old out? If the new pipe is slightly smaller then the old pipe it just might work. Attach the new pipe securely, you don't want it to become disconnected half way through. Otherwise you may have to use a fish tape.

[bdpreece]

Shark Bite fittings are your best friend. Used to be afraid of them but now after a few years of using them I would never be without a few in my tool box. Always carry a couple and a few feet of Pex pipe.

[pianotuna]

Replace with Pex.