Leaking at elbows

[SRP09]

I have a 2021 Coachmen Apex 256BHS that has a water leak at the outdoor shower. Both the hot and cold elbows are leaking where it transitions from pex to flexible hose. I think the hose side is leaking, and I’m going to try redo the connections at that end of the elbow. If that doesn’t fix it, I’m thinking of coating the entire fitting with something to permanently contain the leak. My thought was JB Weld, but its rigidity may not handle the thermal expansion and contraction, especially on the hot side. Has anyone done something similar, and if so, what did you use? There isn’t enough room or enough line to redo the entire fitting. I have no clue where the other end of the lines are or how accessible they are to pull new pex to this location. I contacted Coachmen and they don’t have a plumbing schematic. Any input is appreciated.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

So what is the transition material from PEX to flexible hose? Some of the white plastic junk? Is the clamp on the PEX correctly installed?
I replaced all of the fittings and used SharkBite fittings on all of my PEX transitions. Zero issues. I suggest you fix the issue and not apply a Band-Aid.

Bob

 

[SRP09]

So what is the transition material from PEX to flexible hose? Some of the white plastic junk? Is the clamp on the PEX correctly installed?
I replaced all of the fittings and used SharkBite fittings on all of my PEX transitions. Zero issues. I suggest you fix the issue and not apply a Band-Aid.

Bob

Yup, it’s the white plastic junk. I MAY have enough pex tubing exposed to be able to trim the part that is damaged from the clamp and get a shark bite elbow on. Do they make a shark bite elbow that transitions to a flexible hose connector?

Edit: I see your photo now with a similar fitting. That would work.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

Yes, check with plumbing supply or one of the big box hardware stores. Don't let them sell you "something just as good".

I replaced ALL of the junk white plastic fittings with SharkBite fittings and added braided SS flex lines as needed. Any of the white nylon reinforced lines were either replaced or re-clamped with proper clamps thus eliminating the PEX clamps.

Just do it right and it will be done forever.

Bob

 

[tomkatb]

Do not spread junk on fittings.

Proper replacements will not be a big deal. Get a pex cutter.

Bad news. All plumbing repair jobs require multiple trips to the store.

 

[SRP09]

Multiple trips to the store are fine with me. The challenge with this project is the limited space in which I’m working.

 

[tomkatb]

Lovely workspace! Will demonstrate the difference between us and a real plumber. They are cleaver and strong.

Hope there is some slack in the pex.

Maybe replacing some pipe might help.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

Wrong clamps used for the flex hose. If it is leaking between the PEX and the plastic elbow, then the PEX was not properly prepared or the clamp was not correctly applied.

That is why I went to SharkBite PEX fittings with the correct barbed fitting for the flex hose and proper clamp. Or just replaced the flex hose as shown. Problem solved.

Bob

 

[Mokurt]

My trailer had some leaks with the same plastic elbows, braided line and sharkbite clamps.
What I found was the braided line ID is bigger than the OD of the fittings.
Worm gear clamps worked for me.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

My trailer had some leaks with the same plastic elbows, braided line and sharkbite clamps.
What I found was the braided line ID is bigger than the OD of the fittings.
Worm gear clamps worked for me.

Normally one finds PEX clamps are being used on the braided lines. These are NOT the correct clamp for the application.

SharkBite fittings do not use any clamps. See the pixs I posted. Just trim the PEX line clean and square. I use a tubing cutter. Then remove the inside burr with a pin knife. Just push on the SharkBite fitting. Just hope you never have to remove it. Although there is a special removal too available, just in case.

Bob

 

[Mokurt]

I stand corrected....PEX clamps not SharkBite.

 

[SRP09]

Thanks everyone for your replies and advice. Thankfully, replacing the flexible hose and using hose clamps worked.