water heater fittings

paulr · 05-12-2010, 05:35 AM

I am installing my water heater this weekend but I had to cut the fitting off the end of the pex tubing ( it was cracked ) and I am having a hard time finding a replacment, all my fitting are 1/2, also the bottom fitting was a 1/2 T with male threads on all three sides ( also in bad shape ) when I went to the plumbing store they looked at me like I have three heads and then tried to sell me 8 different fittings to make a T I really want less joints to leak not more. Does anyone have a breakdown of all the fittings I will need to install a G6A-7 and perhaps where to order them? I have checked my local rv store and they were worse than the pluming store.

wagonman76 · 05-12-2010, 10:06 AM

If you can not find things locally, a good place is McMaster-Carr. http://www.mcmaster.com . They have a great selection, 99% of things are in stock, and they will not rape you on shipping. I have ordered from them before. And unlike many industrial suppliers, the average joe can order from them just as easily as a business.

frank · 05-12-2010, 10:42 AM

Paul,

The best place I've found for those plastic NPT fittings is the local RV dealer who happens to have a well stocked parts department.

That type of stuff is not available at the big box stores, and plumbing supply houses give you a funny look and really don't want to be bothered.

Of course you pay a little more than you should at the dealer, but at least you can get the part.

- Frank

henryj · 05-12-2010, 12:42 PM

On my 2499, Sunline used Flair It connectors on the water heater and the water pump. I believe this is the brand Wagonman is referring to and this link should make it easy to find what you need--and you always look smarter when you know what to ask for

. I have also only found these at RV dealers. See p. 310-315 and 323 of the Coast catalog to see what RV dealers can get for you.

The advantage over standard readily available PEX connectors is that no special tools or skills are needed to apply bands. Just make sure you get good clean square cuts on the PEX tubing--there are tools for that.

Henry

EMD_Driver · 05-12-2010, 02:42 PM

Those flare-it fittings are what Sunline used. There were several in the T-299SR that we dismantled.

Gary

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paulr · 05-12-2010, 05:18 PM

Thanks for the help everybody, my wife says I need all the help I can get in the looking smarter department.
I wrote down all the part numbers and I will go up to the little rv place and get them to order what I need.

wagonman76 that is one useful web site, I like the way there products are in the categories, I will browsing this for a while, thanks for the link.

rich2500 · 05-14-2010, 04:18 AM

homedepot sells the shark bite fittings in many configurations ,maybe they woud have what you need
The SharkBite® Connection System | Cash Acme

Honda03842 · 05-14-2010, 06:43 AM

Thanks for the tip on Sharkbite. I saved all our water lines. This will come in handy.

Al in PA · 05-15-2010, 05:58 AM

Rich, thanks for that tip. I know it will be a life saver for me at some point down the road.

Honda03842 · 05-15-2010, 04:33 PM

Today I was told that Lowes also carries PEX connectors for 1/2 and 3/8ths PEX.

rich2500 · 05-16-2010, 07:44 PM

I know they sell a brand of connectors called (I think) gator bite,which is lowes brand of the shark bite, they are available up to 1",they also sell the crimp on type which are cheaper but the push connects are so easy and quick.
I have used the shark bites many times and never had one leak.