SharkBite plumbing fittings are ridiculous

[bluepumpkin]

It's a bit unnecessarily slanted and reads somewhat like sales copy.

Both PEX and CPVC are very good, and CPVC may be better for novices because crimp joints are easier to get wrong than glue joints, but a common mistake with CPVC is using the wrong glue on CPVC - it needs its own glue and must not be put together with PVC glue.

Agree with you CPVC pipe + glue (about $6) is much cheaper than PEX tubing + PEX tools (cheapest manual crimp tool what I found is $28 for for all pipe sizes). But for me PEX is looks more reliable, especially for potable water supply, and more environment friendly http://www.livestrong.com/article/125022-health-risks-plastic-water-pipes/

 

[herm0016]

after replacing nearly all the sink/dishwasher/washing machine/etc valves in my house because of leaks, the sharkbite stuff has been so easy. and at least for the 1/4 turn valves, they are not that much more than the good solder or compression ones.

 

[calahan]

after replacing nearly all the sink/dishwasher/washing machine/etc valves in my house because of leaks, the sharkbite stuff has been so easy. and at least for the 1/4 turn valves, they are not that much more than the good solder or compression ones.

I am not recommend this stuff as permanent solution. Search on internet for many sharkbite fails.

 

[Phoenix86]

I am not recommend this stuff as permanent solution. Search on internet for many sharkbite fails.

Search on the internet for copper pipe fails.

Search on the internet for pvc pipe fails.

Holy shit, everything fails!?!?!?

 

[calahan]

Search on the internet for copper pipe fails.

Search on the internet for pvc pipe fails.

Holy shit, everything fails!?!?!?

I understand your irony everything eventually falters ... what im saying is recently sharkbite fittings have been failing more and more often. its seems like the more they are being used the more problems that are being reported

 

[herm0016]

I understand your irony everything eventually falters ... what im saying is recently sharkbite fittings have been failing more and more often. its seems like the more they are being used the more problems that are being reported

also always true.

anyway, none of them are in walls. I have been using push fittings for small air lines for years and have not had any trouble. also, as a DIY product, i bet most people do not property clean and prepare the pipe stub to accept an O ring connection.

 

[Phoenix86]

I understand your irony everything eventually falters ... what im saying is recently sharkbite fittings have been failing more and more often. its seems like the more they are being used the more problems that are being reported

You're saying it, but your proof is to "search the internet".

Lots of people used them with good results in this thread.

Maybe you're wrong.

 

[calahan]

You're saying it, but your proof is to "search the internet".

Lots of people used them with good results in this thread.

Maybe you're wrong.

You are misunderstanding what I'm saying. I'm not saying they are completely pointless, I'm just insisting they are more for temporary use as opposed to a finished product. Push-fit connections are for people who need to fix up a jam quickly, until they can either afford or manage to thoroughly fix the problem.

 

[MongGrel]

I'd not call them a temporary solution, but if I were building a house myself I would not use them in wall either.

If you prep the pipes right when attaching, they hold up very long term.

 

[Phoenix86]

You are misunderstanding what I'm saying. I'm not saying they are completely pointless, I'm just insisting they are more for temporary use as opposed to a finished product. Push-fit connections are for people who need to fix up a jam quickly, until they can either afford or manage to thoroughly fix the problem.

No I understand, but you're ignoring proper use (crimp) and years of successful installations. You're "insisting" w/o evidence.

Bad sweating will cause copper installs to be temporary.

 

[edro]

Sharkbites use a silicone o-ring. Yes, silicone can last "forever", but it is much more delicate than a soldered or cemented connection.
I have used Sharbites a handful of times. I am willing to bet most Sharkbite failures are due to improper installation.
If you don't deburr the end, the burr will slice right through the o-ring, making it more likely to fail early.

The same goes for copper and PVC failures. Most likely due to bad installation or improper prep.

I have only used Sharkbites in my basement, where a leak is much less costly.

 

[Phaeton]

Quintuple Necro…

I just had the main supply to the house separate at a copper-to-zinc-to-Qest joint. Pulled the zinc and the Qest, went with a Sharkbite 3/4" MIP-PEX, a 3/4" PEX-PEX elbow and a 3/4" PEX-Poly-B adapter. I kept checking it every few hours for the first couple of days, and I'm still checking it every couple of days. It looks good so far. I can't say that I would trust a whole house held together with Sharkbites, but living in a house full of Qest piping will do that to a guy.

My brother is building his second house next year, and we plan to use PEX throughout. If it's good enough for the guys on TV, it's good enough for us. We won't be installing it though. We're not idiots. I'm a hardwood flooring guy, not a plumbing guy.

 

[Aikouka]

My brother is building his second house next year, and we plan to use PEX throughout. If it's good enough for the guys on TV, it's good enough for us. We won't be installing it though. We're not idiots. I'm a hardwood flooring guy, not a plumbing guy.

It's really not hard to install. I did a bit of pex work to replace some worn-out stubs in the kitchen along with adding a line to go to an ice maker box (for the fridge). It was rather easy overall. I just cut the pipe, cleaned the outside with a pipe cleaner (this was the hard part because I bought a dual 1/2 + 3/4 cleaner, which was rather large), deburred the top with the Sharkbite sizing tool, marked the depth with the tool, and inserted the fitting. Running the lines isn't much different either. Just make sure your cuts are straight, and you'll be fine.

I think the only thing that I'd do differently would be to also take a Dremel to the cuts (at a low speed with a polish wheel) to give them an even better polish.

 

[Phaeton]

We're going to go with a dual manifold and barbed fittings and rings. Let the plumber deal with it. They're going to be out for the gas lines and the water heaters anyway…

My brother isn't convinced that he would ever feel "right" if we did a Sharkbite install behind the plaster. It's his house after all.

 

[jsalpha2]

Slightly off topic. "and at least for the 1/4 turn valves"......If the toilet is overflowing and you twist to hard, not knowing that it is a 1/4 turn valve, these can break causing a geyser of water to blast up from the floor. Don't ask me how I know.