update: plumbing/pump change in '95 BB

[Pete Masterson]

Just to update folks on my project to replace my water pumps with a
Shurflo variable speed 'demand' pump. I found the "Flare-It"
connectors at Pex Connection <http://www.pexconnection.com>. It seems
that California is the one state where PEX isn't in the building
code, so no local hardware stores normally carry it nor the Flare-It
connectors. The original plumbing in a '95 is made from polybutylene
("PB") pipe that was discontinued 1998 after a series of class-action
lawsuits.

I successfully installed PB to Pex connectors, some Pex tubing and
the variable speed pump. Started up the pump, and after clearing the
air out of the lines, everything seemed pretty good ... except, the
fresh water drain valve had some pre-existing cracks that 'let go'
under the slightly higher pressure of the new pump. I had the
foresight to order an extra PB to normal pipe thread connector, so
I'm on my way to the hardware store to try to replace the leaky
valve. Once that's fixed, I'm going to pressure up and look at _all_
the visible connectors under the sinks, etc. to check for leaks. The
variable speed pump indicates that its operating pressure is 65 lbs.
-- somewhat more than the 40 lbs. nominal pressure with the old
pumps. I suggest that others that might be contemplating this upgrade
take that into consideration.

(I can add, that I'm not thrilled with the idea of replumbing the
coach, if it comes to that!)

Pete Masterson
aeonix1@...
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
El Sobrante, CA






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[Don Bradner]

Google "California Plastic Plumbing" (on the news pages) and you will find that
CPVC was approved a couple of days ago. Don't know if this will include Pex or
not, but the state is finally joining the rest of the nation on plastic vs
copper.

On 2/2/2007 at 4:23 PM Pete Masterson wrote:

>Just to update folks on my project to replace my water pumps with a
>Shurflo variable speed 'demand' pump. I found the "Flare-It"
>connectors at Pex Connection <http://www.pexconnection.com>. It seems
>that California is the one state where PEX isn't in the building
>code, so no local hardware stores normally carry it nor the Flare-It
>connectors. The original plumbing in a '95 is made from polybutylene
>("PB") pipe that was discontinued 1998 after a series of class-action
>lawsuits.
>
>I successfully installed PB to Pex connectors, some Pex tubing and
>the variable speed pump. Started up the pump, and after clearing the
>air out of the lines, everything seemed pretty good ... except, the
>fresh water drain valve had some pre-existing cracks that 'let go'
>under the slightly higher pressure of the new pump. I had the
>foresight to order an extra PB to normal pipe thread connector, so
>I'm on my way to the hardware store to try to replace the leaky
>valve. Once that's fixed, I'm going to pressure up and look at _all_
>the visible connectors under the sinks, etc. to check for leaks. The
>variable speed pump indicates that its operating pressure is 65 lbs.
>-- somewhat more than the 40 lbs. nominal pressure with the old
>pumps. I suggest that others that might be contemplating this upgrade
>take that into consideration.
>
>(I can add, that I'm not thrilled with the idea of replumbing the
>coach, if it comes to that!)
>
>Pete Masterson
>aeonix1@...
>'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
>El Sobrante, CA
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Don Bradner
http://www.arcatapet.net

[Pete Masterson]

It's interesting that when I Googled the "california plastic
plumbing" I got (part of) an article entitled "PEX [plastic plumbing
pipe] makers sue California" It goes on to state that the California
Plumbing Code left _out_ PEX when it approved an updated code ... (it
breaks off there...)

Another 'hit' brings up the Plastic Pipe CPVC approval (which I saw
in a local paper). The hardware store had a few CPVC fittings on the
shelf, but they're not (directly) compatible with the PEX.

The article on the CPVC goes into some detail about how a combination
of plumbers unions and environmental groups (including the Sierra
Club) have joined to attack plastic pipe of various types based on
"safety." The environmental groups claim there are health risks while
the unions object to the "loss of work" that the more efficient to
install plastic pipes represent.

Actually, I did recall seeing a CPVC article in the paper a couple of
days ago... but CPVC isn't PEX ... CPVC is chlorinated polyvinyl
chloride while Pex is "cross linked polyethylene". Frankly, the CPVC
is still more labor intensive than PEX as it requires glued fittings
while the Pex can be bent around corners, eliminating all joints and
fittings between the source and the destination of a run... The
unions certainly will do all they can to keep it out of the state ...
and there's always an environmental group or two that will complain
about any technology lurking around this state...

Pete Masterson
aeonix1@...
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
El Sobrante, CA




On Feb 2, 2007, at 5:41 PM, Don Bradner wrote:

> Google "California Plastic Plumbing" (on the news pages) and you
> will find that CPVC was approved a couple of days ago. Don't know
> if this will include Pex or not, but the state is finally joining
> the rest of the nation on plastic vs copper.
>
> On 2/2/2007 at 4:23 PM Pete Masterson wrote:



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