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Topic: Qest and other pumbling issues (Read 6337 times) previous topic - next topic - Topic derived from any experiences with ...

Qest and other pumbling issues

Thanks Toyman, I'll probably buy the Seaflo next time... whenever that is.

The gray tubing is Qest,, yeah that's the correct spelling, I know it looks weird. It was made by Zurn and there was a class action lawsuit years ago about it leaking. The Sharkbite fittings will work on Qest tubing based on what I've been told and on a little bit of personal experience. The 5/8" OD tubing is actually 1/2" tubing because it's measured by ID. (inside diameter) Apparently the Qest fittings with metal clamps around the outside of them are the fittings that leaked and caused the class action lawsuit. I think the fittings Foretravel used with metal clamps around them are those same fittings from the lawsuit. I haven't had any of them leak so I'm not gonna freak about it. I do turn my pump off when I'm not home just in case. There are other types of Qest fittings that don't have metal clamps around them and apparently don't leak, or at least not often enough to cause a class action lawsuit. Just thought you'd like to know that in case you see Qest fittings for sale. I think Lowe's may still sell them to this day... I'm probably gonna use a Sharkbite fitting because I used one when I replaced my toilet a couple of years ago and it's been doing fine on Qest tubing.

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #1 –
Scott, very interesting. I have one joint visible in the battery bay that drips a few drops every spring after winter storage, and then stops for the rest of the season. I hope there aren't hidden leaks I can't see...ha ha...  :)

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #2 –
I'd probably replace that one fitting and leave the rest of them alone. It's possible that fitting froze. I haven't had any of mine leak yet.

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #3 –
Peter,

Adding to what Scott said...if you buy any "push-to-fit" plumbing stuff, just get the 1/2" size...it will work fine on all the gray water pipes in your coach.  I have used a bunch of these on our coach, made by various manufacturers, and they all are perfectly dry.  The push type fittings are SO easy to use, I can't imagine why anyone would mess with the metal clamps.  I will say, though, that we haven't had any leaks from the old OEM factory installed metal clamp fittings (knock on wood).

To answer your question, I got the 1/4 turn valves at Home Depot.  They usually carry a small selection of SharkBite brand stuff.  The ones I have on hand (see photos) are brass full-opening valves.  They are also available in a plastic version, which I have also used successfully.  One of the photos shows a plastic valve I installed on my water fill line, to stop it from leaking.  You can see the valve directly above the hose reel.

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #4 –
Once the Sharkbite "bites", can you remove/reuse the fitting?

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #6 –
Sharkbite fittings are built with a collar that when pushed releases the locking spring steel tabs holding the tube/pipe.  Then the fitting can be pulled off.  Sharkbite has an inexpensive small U-shaped plastic tool that slips over pipe and allows the collar to be evenly pressed, but anything that can move the collar will work.

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #7 –
I really like the hose and cable reels in Chuck's utility bay. I wish I could convert my coach to something like that but I don't think I have enough room. That's one of the few things I like about the newer coaches... that and the cargo doors that slide up the side of the coach instead of swinging up... sooo annoying! hahaha

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #8 –
Polybutylene Pipe Fittings & Conversion Couplings

Polybutylene Adapters with PB Crimp Ring: 3/8", 1/2" & 3/4" Couplings

Most of the issues with Polybutylene tubing wasn't so much with the tube itself but with the fittings breaking. The first poly fittings were poly''plastic'' they broke or cracked developing water leaks. They then went to copper fittings and they held up good.

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #9 –
Hmm... These PB to PEX conversion couplings imply that you really shouldn't use a Sharkbite valve directly on PB...

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #10 –
Quote from: stump –
Most of the issues with Polybutylene tubing wasn't so much with the tube itself but with the fittings breaking. The first poly fittings were poly''plastic'' they broke or cracked developing water leaks. They then went to copper fittings and they held up good.
Here is a pretty good read on the background of Qest plumbing that a lot of us have in our coaches:

Take-Another-Look-at-Polybutylene-Plumbing

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #11 –
Quote from: prfleming –
Hmm... These PB to PEX conversion couplings imply that you really shouldn't use a Sharkbite valve directly on PB...
OR, it could just be a way for them to sell more product.  The inside of the PB end of the coupling might be exactly the same as the PEX end - just a different color plastic insert.  I don't know this to be true - just theorizing...  What I do know is the fittings I have used have all worked fine - no leaks, no sign of movement, no problems.  I used SharkBite valves when I installed our new kitchen faucet - no problems there.  The white plastic valve in the photo I posted (above) is from a different manufacturer - not a SharkBite fitting.  I got it at a local hardware store - don't recall the brand.  It also works fine.  These fittings use a simple O-ring inside to seal the joint.  As long as the O-ring is the correct size to fit the tubing OD, I don't see where the tubing composition would make that much difference.  Perhaps the relatively low pressure in our RV water systems is not very challenging to this type fitting?

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #12 –
Quote from: prfleming –
Here is a pretty good read on the background of Qest plumbing that a lot of us have in our coaches:
Wish you hadn't shown me that - kinda scary.  However, knowing about the problems associated with this product can be valuable.  I read on this Forum (right after we bought our coach) the advice to avoid keeping shore water connected to coach and using it for water pressure.  Instead, it was recommended to fill our tank, turn off shore water, and use our water pump for pressure.  This way, when you leave the coach for the day or go to sleep at night, you can minimize the chance of a "flood" by making sure your water pump is turned off.  If a water pipe is going to blow up, you want it to happen when you are present (and conscious)!

Thanks to you posting that link, we will redouble our efforts to follow this excellent advice!  ^.^d

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #13 –
Yikes! I just walked over to where we park the coach, and my Qest fittings are the original plastic elbows and T's and aluminum clamps, before the upgrade to copper elbows, T's and clamps. Fingers and toes crossed!

 

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #14 –
Peter my build number 3811 is after your 3772 mine has poly with copper fittings. I wonder which build number in 91 they completely switched to all copper fittings?

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #15 –
I meet a lot of people in new RVs who don't connect to city water. They fill their tanks and run off their pumps. This isn't anything to do with the age of the coach or plumbing, it's just something experience has taught people. The ranger girl camped next to me has a fairly new rig and she runs off her water tank. I keep my water tank and fuel tanks full all the time now. It's a lot of extra weight so I resisted at first. Water is life, especially in the desert, and it's something I want to have plenty of. We had a huge water scare here at Grand Canyon just the other day. It turned out to be a bunch of baloney though. At Big Bend we had repeated power failures for up to five days. People with electric residential refrigerators lost all their food at least two times. Nobody had enough fuel for their gensets to run that many days. Most people didn't have enough fuel in their tanks to drive the hundred plus miles to the nearest gas station that had electricity. A few people didn't even have enough propane in their tanks. The only thing I ever run out of is groceries... which is where I gotta go today :)

Re: Quest and other pumbling issues

Reply #16 –
All Poly B is outlawed in homes etc in Canada as far as I know and when I sold Real Estate (up to 4 yrs ago) and inspection of a home finding it would not be allowed to be mortgaged unless it was all removed and done in Pex or Copper. Poly B has been banned since the finding came out. It was made by Shell and became popular due to the cost of copper at the time. Breaks at fittings was the main problem as mentioned, and the pipe became brittle in certain cases.
JohnH
 

Re: Qest and other pumbling issues

Reply #17 –
I'm currently working on re-doing my water pump bay, and installing our new 4008 water pump.  I wanted to pass on something I have noticed about the original Qest tubing in our coach.  It seems to still be in good physical condition - no signs of cracking or deterioration.  BUT, the walls of the tubing have very little rigidity.  You will notice this when you try to cut the tubing.  The tubing does not hold its round shape, making it hard to cut cleanly.  You end up with a "oval" shaped tubing end, and must squeeze it to get it back in proper shape.

Because of this fact, it is VERY important when using any "push type" fittings, to be SURE that they include a "inner tube support liner".  This liner will provide the required rigidity to the Qest tubing, so that it seats and seals properly in the fitting.  All of the SharkBite brand fittings I have purchased have included these liners.  I bought some (cheaper) plastic push-on ball valves at Lowe's to use on my water drain lines.  They also included the liners.  However, I got some straight and 90 degree "coupling" fittings that did not include the liners (and which will be returned to Lowe's for refund).

Just wanted to warn those who have not used these handy connectors, so you don't waste your money on the wrong ones.  The "weak-wall" Qest water tubing in our '93 model coach is all the same dark gray color.  The red and blue PEX tubing used in the newer coaches is stiffer, and may not have this same problem.

Also, if you ever want to use these fittings on more rigid tubing (like CPVC or copper) that does not require the liners, they are easily removable.

How the SharkBite Plumbing System Works SharkBitePlumbing.com