Broken Water Line 2019 Vista 29VE

[fun camper-WO]

When extending the slide in my 2019 Vista 29VE I heard a loud popping noise. After investigating
I found (under the kitchen counter) the water line that feeds the kitchen sink and hot water heater had snapped off right before the T fitting,
Has anyone experienced this same problem or have any advice on the best way to fix it permanently? It appears the way it was constructed was not very well thought out. When I tried to bring the separated piece of pex pipe back up to the piece it broke off from I could barely make it reach and it took a large amount of force or tension to get it there. Seems like it was destine for failure from the beginning. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

 

[Lv2Roam2]

I'm a great fan of using Shark Bites to replace broken pipe and will use flexible water hose if needed to provide some 'give.' But first - see if you can figure out what broke the line - movement from the slide traversing, something hit it, constant movement / vibration, etc. That will affect your choice of repair....

 

[Morich]

Looking at the parts drawings here:

Parts Catalog

I only see three tee?

Were you able to locate the clamps that I've circled?
I would guess those were added before the faucet installed and that is likely to have been a tight fit to avoid tubing flop which can work things apart??
Possible to loosen that clamp and get a bit more slack pulled from under the floor and then retighten to keep the tubing weight from pulling down on the fitting too much? It "looks" like a fair amount of slack is there? Maybe the clamps are keeping it from coming up to you?

 

[fun camper-WO]

I'm a great fan of using Shark Bites to replace broken pipe and will use flexible water hose if needed to provide some 'give.' But first - see if you can figure out what broke the line - movement from the slide traversing, something hit it, constant movement / vibration, etc. That will affect your choice of repair....

Thanks for getting back to me,

The line broke just beyond where the male portion of the T enters the pipe. I tried to match the pipes back together after I found the break but it took so much tension I could hardly get them together. The temperature was 38 degrees, I am thinking it was a bit brittle from the cold, that along with too much stress broke it.

I have used Shark Bites on several home projects with great success but I am worried about how they would hold up in a Motorhome with all the vibrations and bouncing around. Have you used them in an RV successfully?

 

[fun camper-WO]

Looking at the parts drawings here:

Parts Catalog

I only see three tee?
View attachment 1105322
Were you able to locate the clamps that I've circled?
I would guess those were added before the faucet installed and that is likely to have been a tight fit to avoid tubing flop which can work things apart??
Possible to loosen that clamp and get a bit more slack pulled from under the floor and then retighten to keep the tubing weight from pulling down on the fitting too much? It "looks" like a fair amount of slack is there? Maybe the clamps are keeping it from coming up to you?
View attachment 1105323

Thanks for the drawings, very helpful.
The break was in the cold water line just below the T near your number 1, above the clamp you have shown.
I definitely do not have the clamps you have circled. Both the hot and cold pipes simply go down through the floor. The hot water side is still there and it simply pulls on and flexes in the area of your number 2

 

[Lv2Roam2]

Have used straight union shark bites; haven't used any of the valves. On longer runs I stabilize the line with hold-downs, zip ties, etc. Not too rigid so that it will give a little - but not flopping around like the OEM install.

 

[powercat_ras]

Sharkbites work great on 1/2" PEX. Just make sure to mark the tubing with a sharpie the required amount the PEX needs to push into the sharkbite fitting. You must get the tubing inserted the proper amount so the metal teeth inside the sharkbite can properly grab onto the tubing. The PEX will break before it pulls out of a Sharkbite if you do it right.

 

[AlKo]

I have a 2020 Adventurer 29B which has the same floorplan. I removed the drawers to the right of the sink and had a helper move the slide in an out while I watched the the electric cables and the two water lines move with the slide. The first two fittings where the water lines entered the slide were plastic 90 degree ones, they were under a lot of stress so I replaced them with Sharkbites, those swivel nicely when the slide moves.

 

[powercat_ras]

> swivel when slide moves.

Shark grab the pex with lots of metal teeth, it is not designed for the fitting rotate on the pex. Over time the fittings will fail if they are being regularly rotated, in particular if the rotation is with the fitting under pressure. The pex may slowly work out of the fitting as the pex is rotated over and over again.

 

[Morich]

Any chance this vanity is built with the floor just laid in so that it can be pulled up easily? Some are, some not!
But if it is the type which pulls up, there is a chance the clamps are located just below the floor. That might be worth a check and possibly get enough slack to put it back together with a new el instead of the hassle of adding another piece of tubing to extend it?