2001 Grand Banks Water lines size

[jimL]

Hi all,

We have a 2001 Europa 52 and one of the shower Growe faucets is leaking. I have a replacement cartridge but the cartridge vendor told me that the Growe faucet that we have was not made for sale in the USA. The boat was built in Singapore. So I want to be ready with options if the replacement cartridge does not work. Also, there is no water shut off to the shower - so if I mess this up, the entire boat's water system is not operational. As live aboard, that can be a problem. So the question, is does anyone know if the water lines are inside diameter of 1/2" or some other measurement. Please see the pic below - the hoses that make the Tee.

Thanks, JimL

 

[koliver]

Using calipers, give us the outside diameter of the tubing in your photo. It looks like standard PEX tubing, so a measurement would confirm or dispute this.
First thing to do is buy a shutoff valve to put in the line ahead of the failing Grohe fitting. One for hot, another for cold.

 

[jimL]

Thanks Keith, Usings an adjustable wrench and a tape measure, the outside diameter appears to be 5/8".

JimL

 

[sailormike]

that is standard 1/2 inch pex piping crimps and fittings can be found at any hardware, lowes ,home depot, store

 

[jimL]

Thanks all.

 

[twistedtree]

Just a few words of caution, understanding the trouble you will be in if you disable the system and can't get it back together....


Replacing a valve cartridge doesn't require cracking open any plumbing pipes, so you shouldn't need to do any pipe work - at least in theory. You will need to shut off and depressurized the water system, but that's all.



Adding shutoff valves sounds like a great addition, and I've always been surprised so many builders don't do that in the first place. But that WILL require cracking open the piping, so assess the risk carefully.


You might have 1/2" PEX, or it could also be metric. Whale fittings and pipes, for example, are metric and on first blush appear to be standard PEX, but are not. Perhaps someone with the same vintage GB can confirm what's used. Measuring with an adjustable wrench probably won't distinguish between standard PEX and metric sizes.



There are a bunch of different crimping systems for PEX, and you need to have both the crimp rings or bands plus the special tool to install them. Your picture looks like solid crimp bands, but you don't necessarily have to use the same. Other crimp systems will work with the same fittings. The only system where the fittings are different is for plastic expansion fittings. With that system a special tool is used to expand the pipe end and plastic band, then you slip it over the fitting and it shrinks back down for a tight fit. The fittings for that system are different from standard PEX fittings. It all means that if you are going to be cracking open the piping, you need to be absolutely sure what you have, and be ready with the right fittings and full crimping system.

 

[mvweebles]

As an FYI, some shower valves have integral shutoff valves. See attached picture.

There is a metric equivalent to 1/2" PEX - I don't know if it's 12mm or 13mm, or if it makes a difference for barbed fittings.

For years, my go-to for home plumbing advice has been www.TerryLove.com.

Good luck

Peter

 

[jimL]

Thanks all, I just checked the schematics and it indicates the sink and shower tubes are 1/2" with a "o" after the 1/2" with a slash through it. Does the "o" with a slash indicate inside diameter? Please see the pic.

Thanks - Jim

 

[cks]

Scan of Grohe manual. Hope this helps!

 

[jimL]

cks, Thanks! This is very useful!

 

[koliver]

That symbol is for "diameter".
What you now know is that the pipe is 1/2" ID from the factory, and measures out at 5/8" OD.
You can often borrow the PEX crimper from the store where you buy the bands and new shutoffs.