Pro's & Con's of Shark Bite fittings?

[rafterq]

Have any of you used them??

[PLUMBER RICK]

this has come up on a few occassions.

i give it 3 thumbs up:):):).

cons, a little pricey.

pros, a poor mans propress. can work on copper, cpvc, pex. even on wet connections.

i've used them for the past few years as needed:D

rick.

[Crappy days]

I think they are great , especially in tight areas. I use them mostly on qest repairs as they do not strain the qest like crimp fittings can. The only down side is. They are sold at Dixie line so once a customer sees you install, they can do it themselves next time.

[ToUtahNow]

Keep in mind the Shark-Bite fittings are only listed for copper, PEX and CPVC. They are not listed for PEX-AL-PEX or Polybutylene.

Mark

[Crappy days]

Many of the plumbers here that I talk with have used them with qest. So far I have not heard of any problems. I never warranty qest repairs, as the pipe is bound to leak again anyway. I have another waiver notifying the home owner of the recall. I have probably done over 50 repairs this way and have not had a problem yet. Not to mention at the parts store they recommend it for qest repairs over the crimp fittings. But it is good to know as I did not know this.

[Crappy days]

Look even Bob Vila is using them for qest. Or as they say qwest.
http://www.bobvila.com/BBS/Qest_pipefittings-Plumbing-1-T5636.html

[Gene Bickford]

Maybe it's the NewEnglandah in me but, How else would you pronounce Qest?

AYAH:D

[apf]

Shark bites will get you out of a jam but I would not use them where there is no access after the repair . ie. behind repaired / replaced wallboard

[PLUMBER RICK]

Shark bites will get you out of a jam but I would not use them where there is no access after the repair . ie. behind repaired / replaced wallboard


i second that. any one i've ever used is located in an area that water damage will not hurt. i also date the fitting to know how long it's been there and how well it has performed in the real world.

rick.

[Crappy days]

I do not know what the big stink is about shark bite fittings is, as they have been around for over 10 years ,over seas . They carry plenty of certifications. They are made to be installed in walls and covered. I have not used them in this way. Although even if you do, the manufacturer Carry's the liability as long as they were installed up to code. The manufacturer has distributed them for about twelve years in Australia. They make them to be used with pex water supply and radiant heating systems.

[apf]

I have the literature that shows they are approved for non-accessible locations . My nerves won"t allow it. I still don"t like pex , wirsbo or Kitec either . I use them to keep competitive but I just am a metal pipe plumber . I prefer The coated black iron pipe for underground as opposed to the pex , but I use pex with the transition risers ....to be competitive . I am glad I can use pvc dwv for the first 3 stories of a bldg. though. I think plumbing softeners and water heaters with flex lines sucks . Nothing prettier than nicely soldered lines . Plumb , level , nicely strapped ....I'm starting to tingle :D

[Crappy days]

Are you talking about water supply or gas. I do not know anyone who uses pex for gas or coated black iron for water. Do you mean the yellow poly with transitions.

[apf]

I was speaking of gas

[apf]

I reread and seen I should have said poly for gas , sometimes I lump all the plastics together ,my mistake ;)

[ToUtahNow]

Shark-Bites are also approved to be used underground which seems a little odd but it tells you they are well built.

Mark

[proplumb]

does anyone else think that these are very ammature and take the need away for our trade. why call a plumber when you can slap together pipe no matter what you run accross even with water dripping out. i feel this is a lazy repair and we should all try to act like skilled tradesmen and solder. the only time i feel these are okay to use is the caps if you cant get the water to stop or ncant find the curb cock outside. and we wonder why home owners dont call as often anymore!!!!

[westcoastplumber]

does anyone else think that these are very ammature and take the need away for our trade. why call a plumber when you can slap together pipe no matter what you run accross even with water dripping out. i feel this is a lazy repair and we should all try to act like skilled tradesmen and solder. the only time i feel these are okay to use is the caps if you cant get the water to stop or ncant find the curb cock outside. and we wonder why home owners dont call as often anymore!!!!


Great point. just like at the trade show this weekend, there were about 20 guys crowding the miracle tape booth, you know, the tape that is supposed to fix any crack or leak. I feel the best way is the old school way. I agree with apf, hard pipe, straight, clean, plum, thats why it's called plumbing, homes and buildings are places of investment, many of our retirement plans, especially here in cali, we should do our best to protect the investment. people should call us because of our commitment to workmanship and quality:), not to shove on a fitting, if it's too easy, everone will be doing it and losing the whole meaning behind "Plumbing"

[Drip Leg]

Sharkbite fittings are made for diy people. So are the watts fittings that are similar.

I also use them for polybutylene (quest) repairs on mobile homes because I think its alittle better in that situation. Sure I have used a few here and there in a jam but I know where they are and they are under the house not in the house.

I dont like the way they let a pipe rotate around, I seen a shower valve installed with these :eek:

I havent tested this theory but I would imagine that if you put enough of them on a run the plastic insert would affect the pressure. You can take the insert out for everything except quest or pex wich needs an insert anyways.

Sure manufacturers want to make things easy but I think it could also be because of the lack of skilled plumbers around these days. Of course this has always been an issue.

[Crappy days]

Shark bites are like any other fittings when used smart they can benefit the Plumber. In tight places or when time is of the essence. I mainly use them as a transition fitting between copper and qest. They really aren't good for much else, as they can continue to move after installation. I have used them as caps quite often to. They are great for projects that are going to take a few days where water needs to be returned each day.

[gear junkie]

I only use them for quest to pex transition. Not bad though.

[PLUMBER RICK]

I have the literature that shows they are approved for non-accessible locations . My nerves won"t allow it. I still don"t like pex , wirsbo or Kitec either . I use them to keep competitive but I just am a metal pipe plumber . I prefer The coated black iron pipe for underground as opposed to the pex , but I use pex with the transition risers ....to be competitive . I am glad I can use pvc dwv for the first 3 stories of a bldg. though. I think plumbing softeners and water heaters with flex lines sucks . Nothing prettier than nicely soldered lines . Plumb , level , nicely strapped ....I'm starting to tingle :D

out here in earthquake country:eek: you would be foolish to hard pipe a 30-50 gallon heater. the old code use to be if you hard piped the heater, you didn't need to strap the heater.

ever since the northridge quake of 93, all i've used are flex lines. back to copper flex lines as the stainless braided ones have had many bad issues and are still failing.

on larger 75- 100 gallon heaters, i still hard pipe them. a 1'' flex is expensive and forget about a 1.5'' or 2'' flex line. i just make sure that the heaters are bolted as good as it can be. we really havn't had any real quake here since northridge. i guess we'll find out the next time what works and what doesn't.

rick.

[apf]

I plumbed in Vegas for 2 years , and straps were code then, too . Let me throw this out there rick . Any wtr. heater in a garage is on a platform . Many times there were not or are not pans provided for the framed platforms . I always install a pan..I have seen some really scary stuff when the wtr. htr. crashes through the platform because of a leak , and the only thing keeping things from being devastating was the hard plumbed lines . Seen the same thing happen with flex and it's a bad deal . I ran a buisiness for years in Tampa and we adhered to the Hurricane codes there . Same deal . Plumb in hard and brace for the storm .

[ToUtahNow]

Oddly enough Las Vegas does not call them Earthquake straps. They use the UMC which requires the anchorage of appliances to justify calling for the straps.

Mark

[Crappy days]

I have had several calls on leaky SS flex lines for water heaters. There are several things that I have noticed each time. For one they are not full port/diameter. The next is the hot side deteriorates under high temperature. Last call I went on the womens bath tub would fill with black speckles in it. I also have had many calls on the home center copper flex. They are made without the extra 5 cent plastic washer or seat in them under the gasket. If they are over tightened by the slightest they tend to leak.

[BAPlumber]

I only use sharkbites when I have to. usually mobile homes.

I ran into a PB water service awhile ago I used one on.

I don't think they should be a "go to" fitting.