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Polybutylene plumbing

I am looking at a 1996 U296 and noticed grey lines in the plumbing. Looks like polybutylene and I have had horrible experiences with it in homes. Anyone have have any thoughts on this? Thank you!
Brian & Lisa Freeze
1996 U295 36FT Build #4914
Motorcade #18760

Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #1 –
That's what came in the coaches,had a couple leaks where the copper band just seeped thru,can replace with pex,never heard of
bursting on a coach yet.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #2 –
No worries.  Zero leaks and zero failures in our 27 year old coach.  Easily repaired and/or modified using SharkBite components.

SharkBite Plumbing Products: Pipe Fittings, Adapters, PEX & More
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #3 –

And SharkBite makes a conversion coupling I've bought below.  I also have bought the SharkBite fitings in bulk to save $$.
SharkBite U4008LFA Conversion Coupling, 1/2" x 1/2", Brass - Pipe Fittings -...

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97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
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"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #4 –
There is a whole polypropylene  issue that comes up all the time in residential systems, which are at much higher pressures than RV's ,I have never had a issue with RV systems in 27/28 years and 9 units.
You ate more likely to have issues with other components in RV's than poly!
Good luck
David
David & Emma Roche
Dino (Golden Doodle)
1999 U270 WTFE 36' Build # 5534
Xtreme "Lights, Stripes & Roof"
Motorcade# 18321
Dayton, Ohio
Towd: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Two Townie Electra Bikes

Life is made to enjoy, the Foretravel helps!

Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #5 –
No issues in my all original piping in my 95. I added some sections for a residential refrigerator and used the Sharkbite fittings to new PEX.
No problems.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
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Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #6 –
My 1996 U295 has had leaks at OEM fittings (e.g., the tank fill valve, the fresh water tank discharge line and one elbow behind the hose reel). The poly pipe seems solid and we here we have replaced/reconfigured we have used both Sharkbite and John Guest fittings with great success.
Alan & Gerri Ortiz
1996 U295 36 ft.
"Rocinante"
Hartwell, Georgia
1999 Subaru Forester
Build No. 4957 Motorcader 17399

Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #7 –
Quote from: brianefeeze –
I am looking at a 1996 U296 and noticed grey lines in the plumbing. Looks like polybutylene and I have had horrible experiences with it in homes. Anyone have have any thoughts on this? Thank you!

Grey polybutylene plumbing give trouble when used with chlorinated water.  No chlorine, no problem.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #8 –
The only issue I had was when I rebuilt the AH this spring. I shortened a couple of lines to reroute and had to be educated on the special sharkbite which went from Polybutylene to PEX. Just part of the education process.

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #9 –
No issues in my 1996 U295
1996 U295-36, Cummins 300hp, 8.3. Build number 4864. Vin number 1F97D536XTNO54271. Purchased October 31, 2019.

Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #10 –
In our '91 U300 I had several spots at some "T" and elbow joints that would drip right after winter storage, but seal up during the summer. This I think was the last year where Polybutylene "T"s and elbows were used before switching to copper.

Peter and Tammy Fleming
1991 U300 GV 40 - Sold, owned for 4 years
Downsized to Roadtrek Popular 210 class B

Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #11 –
Polybutylene Pipe Lawsuits in houses. In 1995, a class-action lawsuit was filed in Tennessee over faulty polybutylene plastic piping. Many people would notice a leak and have it repaired, only to find another leak shortly thereafter. So many people complained, that there were enough claims for the class-action to be filed. The lawsuit, Cox vs. Shell Oil Co., was won and settled for $950 million, allowing affected homeowners the chance to get their pipes replaced for free. There was also another lawsuit filed around the same time, Spencer vs. Shell Oil Co., where $120 million was provided for affected homeowners. In this lawsuit, any homeowner with Poly-B pipe and acetal fittings were eligible even if there was no leak. The lawsuit was settled with DuPont, who made the fittings and not the pipes. Most homeowners started to notice problems within 10-15 years of their polybutylene pipes being installed. However, some would take even longer, spurring a new class-action lawsuit to be filed in November 2017. There are several factors that can cause leaks or bursts in polybutylene pipes:
Age of the pipes
Improperly installed
Chlorine degradation from municipal water treatment (the most common cause)
Municipal water treatment is considered the main cause and the pipes typically fail closest to the water main where it's closest to the water source. The interior of the pipe shrinks, causing stress on the exterior and creating small leaks that get weaker over time.
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Larry and Becky Rountree

Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #12 –
We've had zero issues with the polybutylene in our 1995 U320. When I replaced our refrigerator I needed to reconfigure some of the lines. I used adapters to convert to Pex for the new lines. Sinple procedure with no problems.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186
 

Re: Polybutylene plumbing

Reply #13 –
Not that you need another endorsement for the sharkbite PB to PEX adapters, but I have done several in the last few weeks with good success. I didn't research it here first, so I'm glad to hear others have had longer term success with the same method!

It has also given me the opportunity to add shutoffs to make future service of sinks and toilet easier and less messy (without killing pressure to the rest of the coach). That's important to me with a family of 7.

I noted yesterday the short copper supply lines and copper PB adapters under the kitchen sink were very corroded, likely from being in contact with the metalized sprayer hose. That plumbing will all be replaced later this week!
1994 Grand Villa U300 40' Build: 4396
6V92TA Detroit 350HP
Allison 4 Speed w/jake