Water Heater Bypass Valves

[Kingfish]

When I de-winterized yesterday on my way to warmer climes both bypass valves on my 19' began leaking. Anyone have experience replacing these? If so what source. Also tempted to simply eliminate them all together and splice in pex until I get home in a month or so. Replacing them with shark bite valves has also crossed my mind but there is zero slack in the lines. Any suggestions from someone with experience dealing with this issue would be most appreciated.

[Ron in BC]

They make a PEX slip on connector specifically made for a "no slack" situation.

Ron

[MVA]

Ours are also started leaking. We were able to make do on the road by turning the valve multiple times to stop the leak. I plan to replace then with the following:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B42YQF8Y

[Great Eggstrications]

I noticed that mine started leaking - a slow drip from both valves. I cycled them slowly open-shut-open-shut..., maybe 30 or so times, and they both stopped leaking. I now open-shut-open-shut... them maybe 10 times each as part of my monthly trailer exercise routine. But if it's really cold I skip doing it - I assume that it's just a rubber o-ring bearing on a smooth surface, and don't want to beat up the o-rings or whatever. No leaking for 3 or 4 years now.

Maybe try that - free and easy to do...

[Kingfish]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

They make a PEX slip on connector specifically made for a "no slack" situation.

Ron

Thanks! I found those eventually searching under "pex slip coupling".

[Kingfish]

Originally Posted by Great Eggstrications

I noticed that mine started leaking - a slow drip from both valves. I cycled them slowly open-shut-open-shut..., maybe 30 or so times, and they both stopped leaking. I now open-shut-open-shut... them maybe 10 times each as part of my monthly trailer exercise routine. But if it's really cold I skip doing it - I assume that it's just a rubber o-ring bearing on a smooth surface, and don't want to beat up the o-rings or whatever. No leaking for 3 or 4 years now.

Maybe try that - free and easy to do...

Thank you!!!! Mine was more of a trickle than a slow drip, but exercising the valves helped considerably. That, plus warming up the under bed storage area which was probably still in the teens when I de-winterized, in addition to running the hot water, seems to have cured the leaks. Interestingly....the valves only leaked when in the bypass position.