How to Fix a Water Leak in an RV?
Leaks in an RV can cause a lot of inconveniences on your adventure. Even worse, they can cause significant damage to other vital parts of your vehicle that could eventually lead to expensive repairs. However, with basic plumbing knowledge, skills, and proper tools, you can easily fix such issues and get your RV in shape.
This article is a comprehensive guide on identifying and fixing water leaks in your RV’s plumbing system, especially when using PEX lines. It also outlines the necessary things needed to repair water leaks.
Step-by-Step Process of Fixing a Water Leak in an RV
1. Visual inspection to locate leaks
The first step entails looking out where the leaks are, and it is best done through a visual inspection. You should often look for loose or cracked fittings, holes in the pipes, and signs of water drips/moisture. It’s important you undertake this process when the main water supply is on, as it helps identify leaky sections or joints.
2. Turn off the water supply
Once you’ve identified the leaks, turn off the water supply, open the faucets to relieve pressure, and drain the remaining water from the PEX plumbing line. It helps you avoid some mess during the repair.
3. Gather the necessary tools and fittings for the repair
Here are the most essential tools you’ll need to fix a water leak in an RV:
- PEX pipe cutter
- PEX crimping tool (and PEX crimp rings and fittings)
- PEX clamp tool (and PEX clamp rings and fittings)
- PEX tubing (of the appropriate size)
- Rags
- Bucket (to catch the draining water)
- Marker
- Tape measure
- Removal tool (it will depend on the type of fittings you’re working with)
- Deburring tool
4. Fix the leaks
Use your PEX pipe cutter to cut the damaged section of your pipeline if you’re dealing with a cracked pipe. For loose connections, you may consider removing the fittings for replacement, but the pipe's end has to be in shape.
The next step is to measure a new piece of PEX tubing to replace the cut section. Debur the end of the pipe to get rid of debris that could hinder the insertion of fittings. Get your preferred PEX fittings and insert them on both ends of the tubing. For crimp-style fittings, consider the iCrimp IWS Combo Angle Head PEX Crimping Tool; for clamp-style fittings, consider the iCrimp ICP-BJ02 PEX Clamp Tool. Finalize everything by creating a secure and tight water connection.
5. Turn on the water supply to check for leaks
Once you’ve repaired the water leak, you should turn on the water valves slowly to check whether the leaking has stopped on the repaired section. If you see signs of leaks, you should redo the repair or tighten the fittings.
6. Do a cleanup
If everything works fine, you may proceed and use a rag to wipe out some of the spilled water and clean dirt.
Read more: Can I Fix a Leaky Pipe Myself?
Final Thought
As you can tell from the above explanation, fixing water leaks in an RV is not complicated, especially if you have the right tools and basic plumbing knowledge. However, if you experience major leaks that require more intense plumbing work, it’s advisable to work with qualified RV plumbers.
iCrimp is the best platform for buying quality and modern PEX tools and fittings for fixing water leaks. Our tools are enhanced with operational mechanisms that help users achieve efficiency in their work.
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