Has anyone ever used these, have a tight spot where I am installing a new shower faucet (small access panel in a linen cabinet) and was wondering if these might work, not really wanting to use a torch in such a tight space!
Sharkbite Connectors?
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They work great. Cut the pipe clean & sqaure on the end, clean off any burrs, and slip the fitting on. It is that easy.deck2 said:
Can't say enough good things about them. Super easy, super fast, good quality. They are expensive, yes. But they allow me to do simple plumbing jobs without paying a plumber and that is worth a lot to me...
Great for a lot of reasons - repairing a fitting without drainig the pipes, connecting two different kinds of pipe (copper-cpvc-pex), any place you don't want to use a torch. I have used them on radiant floor, domestic water, and my RV trailer. Yes, they cost but can be worth it.
They are the easiest way to fix a copper pipe. We had a soldered cap fly off because it froze. All I did was cut it a little way down (to get rid of the bits of solder) and slide the sharkbite cap on... much easier than trying to get it drained out enough to solder (not to mention it was up on a ladder right next to a beam.)
I used them in a new bathroom just this fall. They worked great. I threaded the fitting right into the shower valve and then shoved pex right into that. No leaks anywhere except my test pipe joints where the spouts were threaded into the sharkbites. All of the sharkbites worked the first time.
Don't forget another benefit. You can easily remove the fitting without cutting anything.
Don't forget another benefit. You can easily remove the fitting without cutting anything.
Gotta' say that shark bites are the way to go in a lot of situations. My brother and I just finished a remodel where we converted a laundry room into a LR/bathroom. New shower surround, toilet, and vanity.
Pexed most of it, and used shark bite fittings everywhere.
We had to cut into a supply line where the main wouldn't shut off completely and just shoved a bite on there. BAM! Never would have been able to sweat that on in that situation.
Had the city come out the following day, shut off the supply for a while. Cut the main before the meter, popped on a bite and done. For a contractor, the cost is offset by time and aggravation saved. Just do it.
Thank us later.
Pexed most of it, and used shark bite fittings everywhere.
We had to cut into a supply line where the main wouldn't shut off completely and just shoved a bite on there. BAM! Never would have been able to sweat that on in that situation.
Had the city come out the following day, shut off the supply for a while. Cut the main before the meter, popped on a bite and done. For a contractor, the cost is offset by time and aggravation saved. Just do it.
Thank us later.
Have to agree with everyone else. Installed two yesterday - one that was a cutoff valve and the other one a T for an expansion tank for a hot water heater cold water inlet line. The install was in the attic close to a wall where sweat fitting joints was not practical. At $17.00 for the cutoff valve (3/4"x3/4") it's a bit pricey, but time and trouble savings made up for it. Rarely do they leak unless the O-ring is damaged by a burr on the pipe.
Used them to plumb the island when we did a renovation. Put a T in the main copper supply and connected new Pex to it. Worked great.
I know people who have used them in Airstream trailer renovations, and then pulled the trailer 50k miles, never a leak.
Sharkbites are super, but they have their limitations: 200 PSI max and code dictates they're not used behind walls or where they can't easily be seen (the same, I think, with compression fittings). I think we've not seen them as widespread because they might put plumbers out of business--sweating's the only hard part of plumbing and this prevents it!
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thinkxingu said:
I'll check nexct time I am in the basement. But I believe PVC is rated for 100 PSI max. So the 200 on the Sharkbites should not factor.
Hog, no--the 200 PSI shouldn't matter since if you've got over 90 in the house (most incoming is between 60-90) you'll have problems with leaky valves anyway. I only mentioned it because that's one of the criticisms--regular sweating/pipes/valves are rated at 300 PSI. Let's also not forget that there will be momentary pressure spikes.
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thinkxingu said:
Roger that.
I have a well, the pump is set for 30-50 PSI, I won't even get a spike anywheres near 90. So I think I'm ok.
I also have several Sharkbite elbows buried in the addition walls. I did however set it up that I can remove wall coverings if need be to get to most of those fittings.
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