Near as I can tell, SeaFlex fittings are brass, and UniFlex fittings are plastic... and one of our plastic fittings failed recently. The failure happened to manifest itself during replacement of a VacuFlush freshwater inlet valve. I know there are some other threads about replacing hose fittings, so thought useful to add to the library.
Watts tells me they have no replacement fittings that are compatible with our 1/2" ID blue and red freshwater hose. (Their push-to-connect fittings seem to just be PEX-compatible stuff.) Anyway, some of the work-around is about hose compatibility... and in this case, some of the work-around is also about thread types.... in a replacement for the failed SeaFlex/UniFlex ½” NPT (tapered) Female fitting. Relevant parts follow.
VacuFlush Freshwater Inlet Valve Kit:
Sealand Dometic Water Valve Kit, 385314349 (marinesan.com)
Note NPS (straight) Male threads
Conversion fitting for NPS (straight) Male-to-1/2” ID hose:
Brass Barbed Hose Fitting for Air and Water, Adapter with Swivel, 1/2" Hose ID, 1/2 NPSM Female End | McMaster-Carr
The fitting also incorporates a mechanical seal, appropriate for straight threads, pretty much like a hose washer as seen in typical garden hose applications.
Scandvik/ABA stainless size 6 hose clamps:
Amazon.com: Scandvik 13620 Stainless Steel Hose Clamp (SAE Size 6, 13-20 mm, 1/2" - 13/16", 9mm Band, 13620),10 Pack : Industrial & Scientific
Note these are 316 stainless, including the screw, and the bands are not actually perforated.
The conversion fitting has such a long "nose" on the hose barb end that I was able to use 3 hose clamps. A bit much, but easy enough to do.
-Chris
Watts tells me they have no replacement fittings that are compatible with our 1/2" ID blue and red freshwater hose. (Their push-to-connect fittings seem to just be PEX-compatible stuff.) Anyway, some of the work-around is about hose compatibility... and in this case, some of the work-around is also about thread types.... in a replacement for the failed SeaFlex/UniFlex ½” NPT (tapered) Female fitting. Relevant parts follow.
VacuFlush Freshwater Inlet Valve Kit:
Sealand Dometic Water Valve Kit, 385314349 (marinesan.com)
Note NPS (straight) Male threads
Conversion fitting for NPS (straight) Male-to-1/2” ID hose:
Brass Barbed Hose Fitting for Air and Water, Adapter with Swivel, 1/2" Hose ID, 1/2 NPSM Female End | McMaster-Carr
The fitting also incorporates a mechanical seal, appropriate for straight threads, pretty much like a hose washer as seen in typical garden hose applications.
Scandvik/ABA stainless size 6 hose clamps:
Amazon.com: Scandvik 13620 Stainless Steel Hose Clamp (SAE Size 6, 13-20 mm, 1/2" - 13/16", 9mm Band, 13620),10 Pack : Industrial & Scientific
Note these are 316 stainless, including the screw, and the bands are not actually perforated.
The conversion fitting has such a long "nose" on the hose barb end that I was able to use 3 hose clamps. A bit much, but easy enough to do.
-Chris
