Dear Dave,
How do these fittings [underneath sink] disconnect? The new faucet has 1/2” male connections. —Kim, 2018 Jayco Eagle
Dear Kim,
You have two different connections here. The blue and red PEX lines are from the freshwater system and are the hot and cold supply lines. These are 1/2” lines and have a plastic elbow connected to the water supply lines of the faucet. The PEX is pinch-clamped to the elbow using a ratcheting pinch tool. The black knobs most likely are part of the faucet supply lines and are reducers going from 1/2” to what looks like the standard 3/8” that most single handle faucets come with.
How the kitchen sink is set up
From what I can find online, your Jayco has a single handle, goose neck-type faucet with a pull-down sprayer. In the photo, I see the braided lines coming off the main supply line going up to the faucet. Then there is the larger braided line with the white quick-disconnect, which is the flexible line attached to the sprayer supply line. This typically has a heavy weight clamped on the line, which helps keep the sprayer head tight into the faucet.
When I enlarge the photo, I see the elbow is a common AccuCrimp™ plastic elbow that comes in a variety of configurations. The barb going into the PEX is a 1/2 B, which stands for barb. However, the other side of the elbow could be a couple of different connections. Since the elbow is white and the connector is black, I believe the Accu-crimp has a 1/2” MPT threaded fitting similar to the photo below without the tabs on the threaded side.
This would mean the black connection is a reducer or part of the actual faucet supply line. You should be able to unfasten the black knobs on the elbows by hand. However, looking at it closer, there is a good buildup of calcium and lime, so you might need a Channellock pliers. If you blow the photo up, you will see ribs going vertically, which give you some “bite.” You will also see someone already used some type of pliers to install or tighten, as the sides are marred up quite a bit.
AccuCrimp elbow
AccuCrimp makes an elbow that has a 1/2” B (barb) and a 1/2” swivel that looks very similar to yours. But everything I see on the Sioux Chief site is the same color. Sioux Chief is the parent company that supplies the AccuCrimp product. It is also intriguing that the black fitting on the hot supply line looks to be crooked where the black connector attaches. This could also indicate it is a quick connect rather than a screw-on type.
I would start by using a wrench on the upper supply line above the black connection and a Channellock on the black connection to loosen them. There should be enough play in the upper supply line to twist it loose. That will then tell you if the black connection is a swivel or solid connection as well as part of the elbow or not. It looks like the 1/2” – 3/8” reducer is part of the upper supply connection, so if you can get this off, you have your 1/2” connection for the new faucet.
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Why is there good water pressure in RV bathroom but only a dribble in the kitchen?
Dear Dave,
I have hot and cold running water in my bathroom but only drops coming out in the kitchen sink. When I checked the strainer at the faucet there were no contaminants present. I experienced the same symptoms 3-4 months ago. The dealer’s solution was to replace the faucet. The problem went away until yesterday. Now it’s back again. By the way, we closed the valve, went to bed and this morning we opened it. We had pressure for only a second, then it stopped again. Any advice? —Don, Salem Cruise Lite 24RLXL
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It looks to me like the black adapter/reducer on the hot (red) line has been cross-threaded and hence the tool marks, as it probably had to be forced to screw on with pliers or vice grips (surprised it doesn’t leak). Best solution is to cut off the elbow and have a new one installed, then install the new faucet. If you don’t happen to have a Pex crimper, you could go with the Watts/AquaLock fittings, which are push-on, not crimped. You just need the right adapter(s) to mate with the new faucet couplings.
Lawrence Talbot
Thank you, Dave! 🙂
I think if you HAVE to ask, maybe you shouldn’t do it . water and electricity are 2 things if you don’t know you should leave to professionals
Leaks ruin stuff and electricity bites, sometimes it’s fatal.
When I replaced mine, I cut the elbows off and installed a shark bite valve. This will then have the right thread size for your new faucet and will provide the added ability to cut off the water supply to the faucet if ever needed.