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Water pipe fitting

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by SplashFl, Sep 7, 2025.

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  1. SplashFl

    SplashFl Senior Member

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    Found another one like this also cracked. Who knows what type and who sells them ?

    Plastic Pipe End.jpg
  2. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Those are later Polybutylene (PB) fittings.
    I have a few if needed but safer to replace with the newer press in (shark-byte) fittings.
    SplashFl likes this.
  3. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Do yourself a favor and get rid of those every time you have to replace one. I’ve had a number of them crack at random. You can get PB to Pex Shark Bite Adapters so you can get rid of them. The PB tubing isn’t the problem, the fittings are what fail.
    SplashFl likes this.
  4. SplashFl

    SplashFl Senior Member

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    Picked up some Shark Bite T's. Thanks all.
  5. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Did you get the fittings specific to the PB tubing? Hopefully yes.
  6. SplashFl

    SplashFl Senior Member

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    Wasn't sure the size since the cracked plastic nut is in a horrible to reach location so I got 3/8 and 1/2 in.
  7. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Mine is pretty much all 1/2" tubing. Guessing yours is similar.

    I keep about 10 of the pex to PB fittings and a short piece of 1/2' pex aboard in case one of these fittings lets go when I'm out on the boat. I've had about 4-5 fittings let go. Seems like every year now I get one that just cracks and fails for no reason. I really need to go through and just start getting rid of them entirely.
  8. SplashFl

    SplashFl Senior Member

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    I used to replace them now and then on the previous boat. Maybe age or maybe someone initially made them too tight.
  9. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I used to think over tightening was the issue.
    Not.
    Ozone and other pollutants attack the stiffeners in the plastic. Throw in some heat, vibration and lack of support (like on a boat) and they fail faster than on a mobile home.

    Oh, by the way, you can not get insurance on a mobile home (in FL) with the old PB plumbing and fittings.
    Gee, I wonder why?
    d_meister likes this.