Plastic water pipe fittings

[BobnBev]

Has anyone had a problem with the plastic pipe coming lose from the plug in fittings??. I rearanged the plumbing in the van some time back, and all tested fine at the time,(All new bits). yesterday I did some other work and the pump didnt stop !! ok that said air in the line or water going some place its not serposed to . Right ... one pipe had come out in the little cupboard and (gotten all wet).... ( it was my fault I was told) After resetting it ,it stayed there, but now im not likeing the thought as it may do it again....HELP !! All them plumbers out there, what do I do....
Bob....

[T1 Terry]

Are we talking the John Guest push in fittings? An absolute nightmare, if it's them, you will progressively replace all of them with proper one. I don't know if it's the vibration from travelling or the pulsing of the pump, but they just let go and wreck cupboards, walls, floors..... don't ever use them on hot water pipes or anywhere near heat either, they don't work well together there either. in the tower cranes they were used for some low pressure hydraulic and air lines, even with the ferral tang inside the pipe, they would still let go at the most inappropriete time, max stress test and site comissioning was a specialty with these things.

[TigerMK1]

I had JG in our previous rig. No problem except as T1 said, hot water not good. I also had to use the locking rings at all joints. This rig, used food grade 12mm hose with stainless clamps and garden type plastic T and bends. No problems after 4 years and a lot cheaper.

[Newcastle George]

I have JG fittings on both hot and cold, using the red and black tubing, and have not had one leak in approx 9 years. Most of the time when in use mains pressure has been connected.

George

[BruceS]

My bus has "Quicktite" fittings on all hot and cold pressure pipes. It came like it & I find it handy when I want to disconnect a pipe for some reason.
http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/inde ... 33_347_351

[norman]

Done two buses and never had a problem with John Guest fittings......Never. Gotta make sure you hear the two clicks when pushed in if you dont you gotta leak...

[Craig]

I went down that track some years ago. I found that the RV manufacturer had not used the tube insert in any of the JG fittings (and I'll bet they haven't done in yours either). So after time they started leaking. Another issue was they did not use any pipe clamps throughout, so if the pipes were disturbed they started leaking. The "O" ring inside the fitting will harden over time and they will leak although they tend to last longer if in constant use. The problem with a lot of RV's is you park them up after your trip for long periods without use.
I have never liked these fittings and decided way back then to start changing them out with a compression fitting. I used the DUX/Qicktite fittings and have never had a failure. There are several types of compression fittings available and I believe any of them are better than the push together type fittings. I would suggest carrying a handful in the RV and change them out as your JG fittings start failing.

http://www.philmac.com.au/Product/Produ ... aspx?g=123

EDIT: I see Admin posted ahead of me

[Craig]

Bob when the fitting was apart was there a tube insert pushed up inside the pipe? If not you could try putting one in, it may stop your leak for now.

[mikeg]

Thirteen years with JG fittings and never a leak.

As Norman said you must push the tube into the fitting until you feel it go "home" the second time. The first push gets the tube as far as the O ring and the second push takes it past the O ring for a seal.

Just to make sure you have done it properly try and pull the tube out of the fitting, if it does come out then you did not push far enough past the O ring. If it is seated properly it will never pull apart.

Mike

[BobnBev]

MMM, Thanks people for the replys, puts a new light on what could be wrong. I do have the inserts in all the pipe I fitted, and since Ive redone them it hasnt dripped. Ive left pressure on the pipe this time and the pump hasnt made a repressure when turned on after a 24 hour sitting .
I use the same type on the air springs on the disco,smaller pipe, and havent had any problems there , but thats under pressure all the time.
Thanks again ,will look further into it and carry some replacements just in case .Just when you think that all is good !!! it strickes....
Smile....
Bob n Bev...
Yes they are are the JG type.....