Nylon Tubing Connection to PEX Fittings

[RoadJunkie]

Just about all of us have heard about the no-no of using nylon tubing when connecting to PEX connectors, especially when using the PEX compression band to make the seal. Still, the RV industry gets away with using something that would never meet code in a stick and mortar home. Some have used hose clamps with success, but it's always a leak waiting to happen. I found a YouTube video of a guy that believes he's found a good solution and I thought I would share. There's a bunch of junk at the front, so maybe move to the 4:00 mark to get to the point.

 

[david-steph2018]

Good idea. I use the airplane clamp style of clamps like he had on the tubing. Mine has been on for 2 months now and only leaked once. I just retighten the clamp and it is good.

I'll have to look into the new stuff to see if I like it or not.

 

[taskswap]

Thanks for sharing!

This isn't a bad idea, but if you want another option, there IS a pex-to-"vinyl tubing" fitting, it's just called "pex-to-barb" (or sometimes "hose barb"). This is the one I use:

https://www.amazon.com/GRIDTECH-Connector-Lead-Free-Heavy-Duty-High-Pressure/dp/B0DRFFXXNK

I recommend two hose clamps, not just one. These fittings have plenty of room, and RVs are high-vibration environments.

Don't overtighten them. Even the mesh-reinforced vinyl tubing is very soft, and will "flow" as you tighten the clamp. You can get it so thin that it develops weak spots that crack and leak later. Hose-barb fittings take a lot to make them leak anyway, because the edge of each barb is sharp, not rounded as in PEX, so not only does it bite into the tubing well, they're angled such that water pressure forces the tubing "against" each edge. It's honestly a pretty smart design, and the main reason we don't use them more is the tubing itself is only suitable for certain purposes. (There are lots of reasons why soft tubing is a bad idea e.g. in most residential supply-side lines, hence PEX.)