Hi,
You came with really good pic's so we can see exactly what you are up against.
The gray piping you have is 1/2" polybutylene which has been discontinued. It is an older version of the newer PEX piping.
There are a few ways to replace the broken fitting, first off, a heads up to not get tricked by accident. The older polybutylene or PB and the new PEX piping have slightly different OD's and the fittings that go on each of those pipes, they look close, but are not. So you have to adapt between the PB and the PEX piping if you cannot find a direct PB fitting that will attach to the old PB pipe and then directly screw onto the 90 deg elbow on the back of the water heater.
There a a few ways to replace the cracked fitting. This depends on if you happen to have the correct crimping tools or not. In my case I have the crimping tools as I deal with PEX often, here is how I would make the fix, but again I have the tools so the fitting cost is lower.
I buy a 1/2" PB to PEX union with crimp rings. Cut the old PB pipe back a about 4 to 6 inches, put the union in place. This PB to PEX union.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/SharkBite-1...ing/1000182965
Then I get a short piece of 1/2" PEX tubing, clamp onto the union and then crimp on a 1/2" PEX swivel fitting that will crimp onto the PEX pipe and screw directly onto the 90 degree elbow on the back of the water heater
https://www.lowes.com/pd/SharkBite-1...ing/1000182933
If you have a friend with the PEX crimping tools, that is a good way to go.
If you do not have the tools, here is another option. Sharkbite makes push to connect fittings to do what I called out above that does not require the crimping tools. These fittings cost more, but may be cheaper then buying the crimp tools and only use them once.
1/2" PB to 1/2" PEX union
https://www.lowes.com/pd/SharkBite-1...ing/1000182553
Then get a short piece of 1/2" PEX pipe.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/SharkBite-1...ipe/1000386513
Then get a 1/2" PEX Swivel push to connect fitting that will screw onto the 90 degree below on the end of the water heater. I cannot find this in the Sharkbite brand. But I have found it in the Flair-IT brand, you do not need a special tool for this.
https://www.flairit.com/flair-it/ada...el-flairit.php Sunline used the Flair-It brand on the newer campers.
Amazon calls it out here.
https://www.amazon.com/Flair-16873-P...00BOBZCW&psc=1
Something I just noticed on the Amazon description is, they call out the Flair it fitting to fit on PEX or PB which I can't seem to find that info on the Flair it site. If that Amazon description is correct, you can just use the Flair-It fitting Flair-It 16873 Plastic Faucet Term, 0.5" Size,White, will be the easiest. Cut off the old PB cracked fitting and screw on the Flair and that's it. Just make sure the pipe cut is square and clean up the ends to be smooth and true. Water pump pliers work OK on these fittings to tighten the nut. It you need help on the fitting, ask.
Heads up, if you go with the Sharkbite push to connect fittings, the pipe has to be prepped correct or can will tear the O ring inside and it will leak. Here are some good videos on working with the push to connect fittings
Also, the gray elbow fitting on the back of the water heater requires the swivel fitting to have a tapered cone washer in it to create the water seal. Do not get a standard 1/2" NPT fitting thinking it will seal off. The gray fitting has straight running threads, not tapered.
Sharkbite I thought use to make a 1/2" PB to 1/2" Swivel PEX fitting but I cannot find it, they may have discontinued it. Maybe someone else knows of it and where to buy it.
Hope this helps and let us know how you make out. This topic comes up every now and then on the older gray PB piping.
John
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Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
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