A plumbing question

[DWalt]

I won't go into the details, but I have an issue needing a plumbing opinion from someone who knows more than I. I needed to join two sections of 1/2" PVC cold water line end-to-end in my home, but due to the piping geometry, the only way to do it without extensive re-piping was to use flexible reinforced clear vinyl tubing I bought from Home Depot. It is rated for 175 psi (about triple my line pressure). The section of vinyl tubing I put in is only about 6" long and is attached to correctly sized brass fittings at each end with stainless hose clamps. Just how safe is it to do this, considering the likely service life of vinyl tubing? It has been about two weeks since I did this, and have experienced no problems of any kind so far.

As an analogy, the water line to my refrigerator ice maker is also similarly reinforced vinyl tubing (but of a smaller diameter) and no one seems to worry about those failing.

 

[BigBoy99]

What kind of environment is the vinyl tubing located? Is it inside of the house or is it outside? Being in TX, freezing shouldn't be much of a worry. Will sunlight be shining on the tubing for a potential UV deterioration of the tubing? If there is a concern, perhaps used braided stainless steel tubing for the 6" joint.

 

[DWalt]

Outside, buried about 3" deep, so no solar UV degradation.

 

[billwill]

My business card doesn't have Plumber on it so I'll just wish you good luck

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I had a non-regulation connection like that inside my house for 30+ years without a failure! (in my case 3/4 galvanized to 3/4" copper)
My thought was, if it ever fails I'll worry about it then!!! The next owners gutted the place and reran all the mechanicals!

Technically, a series of street 45 degree ells (or 22.5 degree ells) would match up any angle you could possibly have, so if there is a need to pass code, that is how to do it. Also a splice using PEX would pass code too.

Older CPVC, you don't want to stress with just bending it!


Ivan

 

[arjay]

I’d be worried about the clamps corroding and eventually failing

 

[rbrbrb6]

I would go to one of the big box stores and get a section of flexible white pvc that has unions already attached to you can solid glue with purple primer and blue glue. I used it all the time on water lines to and from tanks and never had a problem. I've used it at my house for in ground connections so I don't have to dig huge trenches to allow for pipe flex and it has always worked well. They sell them in various lengths.

 

[DWalt]

Technically, a series of street 45 degree ells (or 22.5 degree ells) would match up any angle you could possibly have, so if there is a need to pass code, that is how to do it. Also a splice using PEX would pass code too.

Ivan

No code issues. I have done the multiple elbows routine before to get two mis-aligned PVC pipe ends to match up but I didn't have much room to to work with in this case without going above ground. Using the reinforced vinyl tubing was much quicker and easier.

This wasn't the first time I have used vinyl tubing for a water line repair under similar circumstances, but in another house and some years ago. But I didn't have a lot of confidence in its longevity back then either. I thought about using PEX, but had no experience working with it.

 

[len917]

They got the railroad tracks to meet--you should be able to get the 2 pipes to meet

 

[DWalt]

I would go to one of the big box stores and get a section of flexible white pvc that has unions already attached to you can solid glue with purple primer and blue glue. I used it all the time on water lines to and from tanks and never had a problem. I've used it at my house for in ground connections so I don't have to dig huge trenches to allow for pipe flex and it has always worked well. They sell them in various lengths.

Not sure what the white PVC with unions is, but I'll look. No hurry, as the vinyl tubing will be OK for awhile. I had to do something in a hurry at the time so I could turn my water back on and that was the fastest thing to do.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I thought about using PEX, but had no experience working with it.

PEX is amazing! It takes a specialized tool to use the connectors (and there are two completely different types.) I like the bronze ferrules as opposed to the stainless-steel clips. They both use the same fittings! One thing that is nice, is you can pull it through old holes just like electric wire. Most sizes come in 4 colors so you can keep each application straight. Allow room for turns and don't kink it!

A NOTE FROM A FRIEND'S BAD EXPERIANCE: He ran short 1 (one) stainless PEX clip and tried using a radiator hose clip, 5 times it failed! Be sure to have extra fittings and clips before driving an hour and a half from the nearest supplier! (I buy 10-20% extra and return the leftovers on big jobs and have a "stash" to cover small jobs/repairs.)

I replumbed a farmhouse in one day and that included making a custom manifold for the hot side and a larger one for the cold side. To run it in any form of ridged pipe would have taken two or more days!

Ivan

 

[mtgianni]

I would wonder if the vinyl tubing was rated for direct bury. Many substances will degrade in the soil. If an offset required not going back in with the original materiel, I would use Plex. Good news is that being outside it probably will not damage the house if it fails.