Repair 7

How to Repair Pipes in a Travel Trailer

Plumbing in a travel trailer is similar to that of a home or office building in that youre removing the old parts and replacing them with new ones. The hot and cold water pipes in your travel trailer can be replaced with standard PEX plumbing pipe, while drain pipes can be standard PVC piping. Repairs in travel trailers are common due to movement while traveling as well as seasonal damage and wear and tear over time.

Instructions

1

Turn off the water supply to your travel trailer and completely drain the fresh water tank, the black water tank and the grey water tank. Measure the size of the pipes youre replacing and purchase the materials at your local home improvement store. Bring along the old parts if you want to be 100 percent sure of purchasing the correct sizes. Purchase a little extra material to allow for mistakes or areas you may not have previously noticed.

2

Disconnect any fittings with the adjustable wrench and the pipe wrench. Attach the pipe wrench to the section of pipe going into any fittings, and adjust the adjustable wrench to fit the size of the nut on the fitting. Apply pressure on the wrenches in opposite directions to disconnect. Cut away any sections of pipe that need to be replaced with the reciprocating saw.

3

Measure the replacement piece of pipe and cut it with the reciprocating saw. Clean the inside and outside of the replacement pipe and the old section of pipe you will be connecting to with the pipe primer/cleaner. Remove excess burrs from cutting the pipe with the saw. Apply pipe glue to both the male and female ends of any pipe fittings or areas where the pipe will be joined together and slide the new pipe into place. Hold it in place for several minutes until the glue begins to set. With fittings, simply tighten them in place after the glue has been applied.