We haven't been camping in a while, but I feel obligated to put something up here every so often even if we aren't camping. This post does deal with some issues leading up to camping next weekend, though.
As with many old things, they require much upkeep. An old Airstream is no exception; perhaps the leader on the repair list, actually. Airstreams were (and still are) made good in comparison to others, but they still need repair. In my case today, it is my motorhome. I de-winterized it finally the other day. I detected both front low-point drain valves leaking around the stem of the valve. No biggy I thought, remove the valve body, get new, screw in, done! Not so. Apparently no one "repairs" valves any more. They just replace. I even called the local plumbing store that has ANYTHING you need and the guy said, "Ah, no, we don't carry that. We'd just replace the valve." So I wasn't about to try to set a torch to remove 35 year old solder from valves that are sitting right on the (wood) floor. So I decided to cut out the valves and fashion all new out of CPVC and then splice back in with Shark-Bite fittings. Very easy to do IF your old copper pipes have not expanded due to being frozen with water in them at some point. When that happens, life sucks. That's where I'm at. I fixed an issue with some 1/2" copper that had expanded, but the 3/8" line feeding the hot side...nope. So I've opted to cut yet again but further back into the system. I will have to deal now with 1/4" line that T's off of the 1/2 and 3/8 lines and goes to the kitchen faucet. But, hopefully now I'm far enough up-stream that nothing has expanded.
On a similar note. I would have also been dead in the water tonight since my CPVC epoxy was unusable when I opened the can. Things you should check before beginning the project...
You and Shawn should have much to talk about. He hates plumbing too....
ReplyDeleteFWIW, while my copper-plumbed Airstream has the low-point drain valves you mentioned, I stopped opening them for winterizing a couple of years ago. The use of compressed air to blow out both water, and the follow-up, RV anti-freeze made their use unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteBeen there, done that with swollen pipe in an Airstream. Good luck with your repair.
Tom
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ReplyDeleteI’m sorry to hear that you had such difficulties with plumbing issues, Jason. So how is it now? I hope everything is fixed and operating nicely for you. I am a plumber myself, and I know it is actually quite difficult to repair valves these days. Many think that winterizing their pipes makes them impervious to damage. They soon find out the bitter truth when it’s too late. Anyway, I hope that you have managed to get through this ordeal.
ReplyDeleteDarryl Iorio
Yup, in the end all worked out. There's quite a nice CPVC setup of valves in there. We camped two times after that in the Argosy last year and no issues.
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