Can I fix this leak?

RChampagne · January 10

This is behind my Nautilus panel, under the bed, in the 2023 Tab 400.

It’s leaking at the place where the hose is clamped on. You can see the calcium buildup around the fitting.

I use a pressure regulator at my city source. This leaks on city water, or using my pump from my fresh water tank.

I’m handy with little projects, but have no experience with those metal clamps. Can I tighten that one on there now? Is it hard to replace?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

vhollow · January 10

If you buy a Pex A crimping tool like this https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pex+crimping+tool the tool also will cut the clamp. Simply do that, cut the compromised end (with the pipe cutting tool provided) and re-clamp, with the clamp also included.

vhollow · January 10

Of course, you may have to replace a section, or splice a bit in with a double-barbed connector, to get the desired length.

Pintoplumber · January 10

To me, it looks like it’s not leaking at the crimp, but at the fitting screwed on to the tee. There should be a thin rubber washer or cone shaped washer inside that fitting. Unscrew that fitting from the tee and see what you have got.
Edit: maybe that fitting just needs to be turned a little bit tighter.

RChampagne · January 10

Pintoplumber said:

To me, it looks like it’s not leaking at the crimp, but at the fitting screwed on to the tee. There should be a thin rubber washer or cone shaped washer inside that fitting. Unscrew that fitting from the tee and see what you have got.
Edit: maybe that fitting just needs to be turned a little bit tighter.

Thanks for your reply. . I did take it off at the first sign of a leak. I cleaned that fitting with vinegar and hooked it back up. Every time I check, I can feel the leak where the fitting meets the hose.

RChampagne · January 10

vhollow said:

If you buy a Pex A crimping tool like this https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pex+crimping+tool the tool also will cut the clamp. Simply do that, cut the compromised end (with the pipe cutting tool provided) and re-clamp, with the clamp also included.

This is exactly what I don’t want to hear! 😂 I think that’s above my ability, and I’m going to call a mobile RV mechanic. Thanks for confirming my suspicions. 😉

rfuss928 · January 10

It is possible to cut the old band off and replace it with a small worm drive clamp. A large pair of wire cutters at the band pinch has worked for me removing the bands.

Pintoplumber · January 11

RChampagne said:

Pintoplumber said:

To me, it looks like it’s not leaking at the crimp, but at the fitting screwed on to the tee. There should be a thin rubber washer or cone shaped washer inside that fitting. Unscrew that fitting from the tee and see what you have got.
Edit: maybe that fitting just needs to be turned a little bit tighter.

Thanks for your reply. . I did take it off at the first sign of a leak. I cleaned that fitting with vinegar and hooked it back up. Every time I check, I can feel the leak where the fitting meets the hose.

When I look at your photo I see white residue at the nut. That is before and above the crimp depending on direction of flow. What sort of washer is inside that nut? Flat or cone shaped? A good hardware store carries even the cone shaped washers.

elbolillo · January 11

As @rfuss928 mentioned, cutting off the pex crimps and replacing with a worm drive clamp is a great solution. The pex crimps aren’t really made for crimping over the flexible tubing. I had to remove and replace about 5 of these crimps and the worm drive clamp is much more reliable.

ScottG · January 13

+1 for the worm drive clamp. At list give it a try first. I may be wrong, but I'm not sure those crimp clamps (typically used on PEX) are even designed for that type of softer tubing.

Pintoplumber · January 14

When I was working at the local Burger King, all the soda lines were that material and used those clamps.

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