Sharkbite fittings

[Drain Medic]

Ok, i dont install any of these, but i do have a question about them. I do all the drain work for the local little league.

Got a call today for water leaking from the toilet. So i check it out, flush the toilet acouple times. Its not the toilet. Turn the sink on and both shut offs are off. Turn both shut offs back on and i found the leak.

The leak was coming from a 2ft section of pex that had 2 sharkbite fittings at both ends of it that were fitted to copper on the other ends of the sharkbites. I dont know to much about Pex or the sharkbites, i have seen the sharkbites before but never on Pex line. Are the sharkbites made to fit over the Pex??? The line was leaking where the plastic fitting on the sharkbite connected to the Pex line. It was leaking from both connections on both ends of the Pex. It wasnt leaking where the sharkbites connected to the copper.

Just looking for some input.

[glkearns]

I have recently used pex/sharkbite combination on a TEMPORARY kitchen sink relocation on a whole house remodel where the Owner + family 4 all together stayed in the house during construction, and I had 0 problems in a 6 month or so timespan. Here's my take on Sharkbite+pex.

1 there is an insert that slips inside of the pex before the sharkbite can slide over the pex
2 the pex needs to be fully inserted or it will leak
3. the inserts do not need to be on there for copper, but then again there are far better ways of joining copper.

Overall I would say that the sharkbites are excellent for temporary. I use them for quick cap off's during remodels and I use them on stub outs. No leaks on anything that I have used the sharkbites on, except for 1 Sharkbite on pex that fooled me into thinking that it was fully inserted when it wasn't.


Greg

[Drain Medic]

Ya ive seen that plastic insert in them. I just wasnt sure if you could use the fittings on Pex because of the outside of the Pex being maybe smoother?

[PLUMBER RICK]

greg medic:D as the other greg:D mentioned. there is a plastic insert for pex tubing. all the sharkbites come with them installed on both sides.

i would probably cut off the pex to make a fresh connection and install 2 new pex couplings.

or of course you can solder a mip on the copper and go directly with a stainless water flex to the fixture.

rick.

[Drain Medic]

greg medic:D as the other greg:D mentioned. there is a plastic insert for pex tubing. all the sharkbites come with them installed on both sides.

i would probably cut off the pex to make a fresh connection and install 2 new pex couplings.

or of course you can solder a mip on the copper and go directly with a stainless water flex to the fixture.

rick.


Ya thats what i really couldnt understand was that it was in a wide open area, why not just cut and solder 2 couplings and copper instead of the Pex and sharkbites? Time and money maybe??? Again i dont use the stuff, im framiliar with it, ive seen the plastic inserts inside, just wasnt sure if you could use it on Pex or not.

[mtnman1100]

Pex, copper, CPVC and wirsbo in any combination, right Rick?

[Drain Medic]

Pex, copper, CPVC and wirsbo in any combination, right Rick?


Good to know, thanks for the info guys.

[NHMaster3015]

Here's a problem you can run into with sharkbites. If you don't chamfer the pipe ends the sharp edge can and will cut the o ring in the sharkbite

[aero1]

as with anything new time will tell just what kind of legacy these little jems will leave. as said before insertion and taking care not to damage o ring very important and yes use insert. down south 99.8% of water line repairs we do our under houses and a lot of the crawl spaces are neither cozy or roomy and occasionally you run into friends ie black widows copper heads rattlesnake, and we have a hi rate of copper failure as well so a quick fix can sometimes make for happy plumbers. but as for in house use iam still very very weary.

[westcoastplumber]

I would just cut and solder. It will be slower, but it will last longer the sticking 2 sharkbites back in there.

Rehau pex is the best pex in my mind, but the tools are expensive, not sure if you are set up to do it.

they have a 25 year warranty, take them back and get 2 new ones.

[All Clear Sewer]

Sharkbites are a mechanical joint and will fail.

I used one on some black polly and I`m waiting on the call at 3:00am to tell me that their house is flooding :rolleyes:

[ToUtahNow]

Sharkbites are a mechanical joint and will fail.

I used one on some black polly and I`m waiting on the call at 3:00am to tell me that their house is flooding :rolleyes:

Now you sound like a presidential candidate. The only problem with your conclusion is much of the critical industrial lines are plumbed with similar joints. Like everything else only time will tell how they perform.

Mark

[gear junkie]

We have a project installing storm drainage lines and there's a lot of unexpected utility lines we're hitting. Electrical, water, sewer, fiber optic(that wasn't cheap), everything. Anyway, some of the water lines have been repaired before with a slip compression coupling that have been leak free since the 1980's. These aren't small 1/2" lines, they're 1-2" and some are under gravel roads, no leaks. If these can last 20+ years , I can't see why a sharkbite can't.

[All Clear Sewer]

rubber O ring ;)

[gear junkie]

Slip compression coupling- nothing but rubber and friction keeping it together. At least a sharkbite uses ss teeth to hold it together.

[All Clear Sewer]

O rings rot in no time at all ;)

[PLUMBER RICK]

Sharkbites are a mechanical joint and will fail.

I used one on some black polly and I`m waiting on the call at 3:00am to tell me that their house is flooding :rolleyes:


i don't believe that poly is a rated sharkbite material?

i hope you kept the plastic inner stiffner installed.

rick.

[All Clear Sewer]

Yep and they said it would work too ;)

[ToUtahNow]

Yep and they said it would work too ;)

This is what SharkBite fittings are listed and approved for:

Instant push-fit connection for increased ease of use. Certified to 200 psi and 200°F (93°C). Fits OD controlled copper, CPVC, or PEX pipe. Body composed of solid DZR brass.

http://www.cashacme.com/prod_sharkbite.php

When you say "they" if you are referring to the guys at the supply house I am fairly certain they will not be sitting with you when you mediate with the Plaintiff.

It's like what that nice Irish boy said "it's not who answers the phone at 3AM but what they do about it".

Mark

[PLUMBER RICK]

Yep and they said it would work too ;)

it might temporally work, but it's not rated for this material. if the material changes due to temperature, i think that will be the issue.

of course the stainless teeth will grip like crazy, it's the o-ring that will drip.

there are mechanical fittings used all the time on hdpe/ poly gas systems. similar to a sharkbite design. these are rated for the poly gas pipe.

i would never take the chance on a fitting that is not designed/ rated for the product.

hope fully it's only a temporary fix for the night.:eek::eek:

rick.

[NHMaster3015]

And since we have no faith in "O" rings, how bout them pro press fittings.?

[PLUMBER RICK]

And since we have no faith in "O" rings, how bout them pro press fittings.?

i've been using them for 3-4 years. so far, so good.

they've been in europe for over 20 years now.

the o-ring is crimped so tight, that there is very little exposed to the water.

look how long victaulic has been around.

a 4'' crimp in 5 seconds beats a 20 minute prep and solder job. and that's assuming there is no water dripping while you're working.

rick.

[NHMaster3015]

[quote=PLUMBER RICK;132056]i've been using them for 3-4 years. so far, so good.

they've been in europe for over 20 years now.

the o-ring is crimped so tight, that there is very little exposed to the water.

look how long victaulic has been around.

a 4'' crimp in 5 seconds beats a 20 minute prep and solder job. and that's assuming there is no water dripping while you're working.

Very good. I somtimes wonder why as plumbers we generally feel that the products we install should last forever. It's a noble thought indeed, but when you think about it, not too many products have an infinant life span.

[PLUMBER RICK]

next time you're at a supply house that carries propress fittings/ viega, compare a 90 to a solder 90.

the propress is a long radius and type k+

the copper/ solder is a tight turn and looks like type m. especially on 1/2'' -1''

return lines / and pumps are where all the pin holes tend to show up.

all my installations are easily traced on my computer and i've yet to have to fix one. of course it's only been a few years, so time will tell.

but i can tell you, in buildings that were constantly having 3/4'' return issues. the pin holes are gone for now.

in rare cases, i've installed a sharkbite 90 and coupling for a repair. all ok.

rick.

[MPMGinAL]

As much as i hat to admit it i have use alot of sharkbite fittings over the past couple of years. I luckily, have had very few if any problems. I am now researching getting a propress as i feel that it is a much better joint. Actually, there is really no comparison. I have gone behind other plumbers and had to fix SB fittings, but only because the joint was stressed. There can be no stress on the joint at all. Several other manufacturers have tried to create a SB ie. elkhart, jones stephens, watts, etc. To me the quality is not there. Cash Acme is better. As rick mentioned pressing is not new technology, niether is push fit connectors. They have been used in the automotve industry for alot of years.

[Lauren Clark]

SharkBite actually isn't as new as everyone seems to think. Although it has only been around in the United States for around 5 years, it has been in Australia for around 12 years. So far there have been no problems. Make sure you deburr the ends of the pipes, insert all the way, and leave in tube liners for PEX use and everything should work perfectly. Cash Acme also manufactures red, white, and blue PEX. It is certified for use with PEX, CPVC, and Copper, potable water and hydronics systems, and it is approved for use underground and behind walls without access panels. And think of it this way, what do you have to lose? As long as it is installed correctly, SharkBite has a 25 year warranty.

[Gene Bickford]

What does the warranty cover, just the cost of the sharkbite?
Does it cover the replacement of ruined flooring, cabinets, or mold removal?

[Lauren Clark]

If there is an actual defect of the SharkBite, not an installation mistake, Cash Acme will cover the damage that was caused (not just the fitting). Out of the millions sold, there have been a very few handful of fittings with actual defects. The most common cause for leaks is a damaged o-ring, which is caused by not deburring the pipe. If it is going to leak, it will leak immediately, not in 6 months.

[NHMaster3015]

Right or wrong I see these products as yet another way for the diy'er to get around having to hire a professional to do the job right. The fact that we licensed plumbers let the manufacturers, code review boards and plumbing boards accept this crap pisses me off more than words can describe. We are rapidly putting ourselves out of business as more and more of this CRAP inundates the market. I will not be bought off by some marketing shill, whatever the so called facts are. Personally I don't give a crap if shark bites are the greatest thing since sliced bread. I don't care if they have a zero failure rate. What I do care about is the health and safety of the nation. And this junk just makes it that much easier for Joe Hack to whack into his water system and cross connect something. Any plumber using this crap for anything other than a temporary repair or testing should give serious consideration as to his career choice. Perhaps flipping burgers would have made more sense.

And for you Lauren, If you are involved with this trash, thanks for doing your part to degrade the profession at the chance to stuff a few bucks into your pocket. There in lies the problem with the industry today.

[NHMaster3015]

An after thought. Betcha $20.00 that these F-ing things are also being market as "green" cause you don't put carbon in the air using the torch ;)

Every newborn child should be issued a 55 gallon drum of Vasalene to help ease it's way into this world of shysters. :D

[BHD]

there are many grades and qualities of rubber and rubber type products, If they are using a quality rubber, the fitting should last nearly indefintely, but if they cut the quality it may only be a few year situation.
It is not that a O ring is used or not, it is the quality of the O ring that matters. They use O rings in High pressure hydraulic oil fittings a lot, and most oils are not kind to rubber products, and they are lasting for many many years, under harsh conditions, much more than what would be normally found in a residential water system. I have O ring hydraulic fittings on all of the tractors and combine that are original and the oldes tractor is a 1970 tractor, and have never leaked with nearly 10,000 hrs of 1900 psi of hydraulic pressures on them with heat ranges of 250+F to -40F,
(and when it comes to leaks on oil hydraulics, I have less leaks with O ring fittings than with any other type, JIC, IPT, solder, brazed, actually I have had more failures on steel Hydraulic tubing than I have had with the O rings, I have only had one leakage on a O ring fitting that I remember, and that is with over of 30,000 hrs of running time on the the various machinery, and most is over 30 years old.

granted much of the products that are being currently sold are made with very poor rubber compounds, Tires and valve stems are hideous in comparison to jsut a few years ago, and yes rubber compounds are suspect until proven other wise, I do understand.

If they chose the correct compound the units should be nearly life time in most instances,

but there is not hardly a fitting that has not failed in some way or another, I have had pipe fittings crack and split, solder and brazed fittings have failed in vibration situations,
brass flare fittings have split, (many years ago, had one on a propane line on this house that was installed by a professional when the origional gas furnace was installed, it filled the crawl space of the house full of propane), I have seen many of the fittings on tubing fail, even welded fittings have failed, (yes most all the failures are do to some error or flaw, but there there and they fail),
how many copper pipes spring pin holes?

but say there bad jsut because there is a O ring in them is not a Fair statment,

But If it is mechanical it will fail in time true jsut as everthing else does.

[DELCASE]

new to the forum...just my thought on them...never used one...if its copper pipe just solder it together and be done...

[OkieBill]

This is what SharkBite fittings are listed and approved for:

Instant push-fit connection for increased ease of use. Certified to 200 psi and 200°F (93°C). Fits OD controlled copper, CPVC, or PEX pipe. Body composed of solid DZR brass.

http://www.cashacme.com/prod_sharkbite.php

When you say "they" if you are referring to the guys at the supply house I am fairly certain they will not be sitting with you when you mediate with the Plaintiff.

It's like what that nice Irish boy said "it's not who answers the phone at 3AM but what they do about it".

Mark


I'm currently working a remodel and had a very hard time with a couple of 3/4" sharkbites ( I went through 2 of them and 15 minutes of pipe end prep just in case I was splitting rings until I decided they would not work) the problem IMO was they could not take the pressure 100 PSI, the things would not stop weeping...

These jems are IMO temp use only!

I have been in my supply house on more then one occasion and seen the counter guy sell them to joe homeowner for PB Pipe repairs:nono:

Okie

[tccoggs]

Its amazing how fast people are to bash certain things that are different then what they are used to. I look at it this way:

Sharkbite = Rubber Seal

ProPress = Rubber Seal

So why do people bash the sharkbite and praise the Propress???

Both of these products are innovations in their own respect. Both products have applications they accel at and ones where they are not the number 1 solution.

In my eyes, these fittings and DIYers are not causing some sort of massive tremor in the Plumbing industry. There are plenty of guys that had jobs years ago that probably preached that computers and robots could never do their job, yet 30 years later there isn't a single person working on that line.

The real reason that has driven the DIY market in all aspects is probably the high cost of labor, which in turn, is due to the high cost of health care, high cost of liability Insurance, etc. Due to that, the average joe can't afford to have joe the plumber come over a splice in a fitting, or fix a leak, so they do it themselves.

I started woodworking 15 years ago, and back then, when I saw intricate carvings, I used to say to myself "There is something that a true craftsman produced, and no machine can do that". 15 years later, and several trips the IWF shows, I now no longer think that. Innovations change industry, like it or not, you either change and adapt to accept these things, or get left behind. Quality will always stand out, but people will always be able to choose a lower priced product if they desire.

I'm sure some sharkbite fittings will fail, as will some copper, some brass, Burham V8 boiler blocks, etc. Everything fails sooner or later. Many a plumbers have installed millions of globe shutoffs, and they all leak or will all leak at some time, I don't bash plumbers for doing it, they did what they did to get the job done with the budget they had.

I'm the type of guy who appriciates quality and will always spend a little more and work a little harder to get the top notch result. Some people will think I'm crazy, and others will apprciate the work and results as much as I do. I don't worry much about the ones that don't see the value in it. A sharkbite will probably never have a place in my house, but if the situation arose where the product fit, I don't think I would loose any sleep over using one.

[Chemeng]

My main issue with Sharkbite is the COST !!! I could not believe my eyes when I saw a Sharkbite 1" ballvalve at a cost of $42 at Home Depot in Toronto!!!! I could not believe it. The sweat-on 1" ballvalve was $15. I'm going with sweat-on -END OF DISCUSSION for me!

[tccoggs]

My main issue with Sharkbite is the COST !!! I could not believe my eyes when I saw a Sharkbite 1" ballvalve at a cost of $42 at Home Depot in Toronto!!!! I could not believe it. The sweat-on 1" ballvalve was $15. I'm going with sweat-on -END OF DISCUSSION for me!


Yes, but what do you do when there is water in the line, or your right next to flammable materials, etc.

Sharkbites weren't designed to be cheaper. Propress fittings are more expensive then sweat fittings, but in the right situation, the time difference will more than pay for the extra material expense.

[Chemeng]

There may be certain rare situations as you point out that require you to use Sharkbite (I have not encountered them, I have always been able to sweat a joint... but I am not a plumber). My belief is that homeowners are buying Sharkbite because they have no idea how to use a torch much less sweat a joint.

[NHMaster3015]

Plumbers Protect the Health and Safety of the Nation.

That one sentence sums up the reason for licensing and permitting of plumbing installation, modification, design and repair.

Products like Shark-bites allow uneducated people to cut into, modify and re-design water distribution systems with relative ease. This in turn can lead to cross-connection, backflow issues and has the potential to do great harm to the house hold as well as the neighboring water supply. Shark bites should not be sold to unlicensed people. for that matter, plumbing materials in general should not be sold to unlicensed people.

[Herk]

I occasionally use sharkbites - for example, when it's too dangerous to solder. I did a repair in the ceiling of a home a couple of weeks ago and there was no way I was going to try to use a torch in that enclosed area. The repair went great.

If I can't stop water dripping in a crawl space, a sharkbite is the way to go.

Tips:

ALWAYS chamfer the ends of the pipe with the Sharkbite tool.
ALWAYS mark the pipe for depth using the sharkbite tool.
ALWAYS use the insert on plastic pipe, pull it out for copper.
DO NOT use sharkbites on pipe like polybutylene because the insert will not keep it from being shrunk.

If I had a problem or a call back with them, I'd quit using them.

By the way, you could consider this just another DIY item, but there are a lot of products that we use that are in that category, and obviously, they still take some rudimentary skill to use. DIYs can screw up anything.

[Bogart]

I said it before and I'll say it again, sharkbites have their place in the service plumber's arsenal.

[OkieBill]

If there is an actual defect of the SharkBite, not an installation mistake, Cash Acme will cover the damage that was caused (not just the fitting). Out of the millions sold, there have been a very few handful of fittings with actual defects. The most common cause for leaks is a damaged o-ring, which is caused by not deburring the pipe. If it is going to leak, it will leak immediately, not in 6 months.


I'm gonna raise the Bull$hit flag on this one.... Please show me that Cash Acme will cover secondary damage in writting. I believe they will cover secondary damage after the judge says so and the appeals process is worked through no sooner.

Okie

[MoJourneyman]

I'm gonna raise the Bull$hit flag on this one.... Please show me that Cash Acme will cover secondary damage in writting. I believe they will cover secondary damage after the judge says so and the appeals process is worked through no sooner.

Okie

Actually if you read the warranty PDF on the cash acme sharkbite page, it reads like they will pay for the labor and material. but you have to get preapproval from cash acme before doing the repair. But under section H they say they are responsible for no other damage to other materials. Basically they'll buy you a new sharkbite, and pay you to install it.

[Gene Bickford]

Actually if you read the warranty PDF on the cash acme sharkbite page, it reads like they will pay for the labor and material. but you have to get preapproval from cash acme before doing the repair. But under section H they say they are responsible for no other damage to other materials. Basically they'll buy you a new sharkbite, and pay you to install it.


Good luck getting a warranty on just about anything. They create those loop holes for a reason.

Just like the trusses I had delivered to build my home:"Warranty will be void if trusses are stored on their side". Yet when they are delivered they are placed, by the driver, on their side:confused:.

My brothers boiler cracked. I was checking out the warranty fine print.
'boiler must be cleaned and maintained at least 2 times a year'.
Yeah right! Who in this world does that?

[JCsPlumbing]

A soldered joint is superior. A professional using a Sharkbite type fitting is making a conscious decision to put in an inferior joint.

J.C.

[OkieBill]

A soldered joint is superior. A professional using a Sharkbite type fitting is making a conscious decision to put in an inferior joint.

J.C.

Should we say the same thing for the Propress as well???:duck:

I still want a propress and I keep (2) 1/2" and (2) 3/4" sharkbites on the truck:p

[plumberscrack]

My brothers boiler cracked. I was checking out the warranty fine print.
'boiler must be cleaned and maintained at least 2 times a year'.
Yeah right! Who in this world does that?

Umm...I do :o

I even put a coat of automotive wax on her a few weeks ago. Sometimes, I pull up a chair just to listen to her purr


I'm a sick sick man :help:

[OkieBill]

Umm...I do :o

I even put a coat of automotive wax on her a few weeks ago. Sometimes, I pull up a chair just to listen to her purr


I'm a sick sick man :help:

I used to work on an aerobic digestor heater ( poo heater) and would do the same thing:rotflmao:

[JCsPlumbing]

Should we say the same thing for the Propress as well???:duck:

I still want a propress and I keep (2) 1/2" and (2) 3/4" sharkbites on the truck:p

Absolutely.

J.C.

[tccoggs]

Plumbers Protect the Health and Safety of the Nation.

That one sentence sums up the reason for licensing and permitting of plumbing installation, modification, design and repair.

Products like Shark-bites allow uneducated people to cut into, modify and re-design water distribution systems with relative ease. This in turn can lead to cross-connection, backflow issues and has the potential to do great harm to the house hold as well as the neighboring water supply. Shark bites should not be sold to unlicensed people. for that matter, plumbing materials in general should not be sold to unlicensed people.


Under this concept we shouldn't sell food to people who aren't chefs, motor oil to non-mechanics, or any auto parts for that matter. How about computers??? Do you call a pro to install software, RAM?? Plenty of DIY's get the work they do inspected and approved, so to say they should't be able to purchase pipe and plumbing materials is down right rediculous.

I built a hockey net out of PVC pipe for my son, guess in your world I would need a permit for that too.


I'll agree with you that certain tasks are best left to pro's, but I don't think sharkbite falls into that catagory. CSST, yes, but I have seen pleny of Pro installs of this material that looked like they were DIY jobs.

[Chemeng]

I wonder if somewhere out there, a nut has replumbed his whole house using nothing but Sharkbite fittings? I bet there has been!
Has anyone seen a whole house plumbed with Sharkbite??????

[NHMaster3015]

Ah yes, all the usual arguments. Anyway, next time you need your teeth worked on or minor surgery give me a call. I should be finished reading the DIY manuals by then. :D

Is this close enough? :way-to-go:

[tccoggs]

Ah yes, all the usual arguments. Anyway, next time you need your teeth worked on or minor surgery give me a call. I should be finished reading the DIY manuals by then. :D

Is this close enough? :way-to-go:


You can twist any statement to meet your needs. Maybe you should try politics instead of plumbing.

My only point is that over regulation will destroy inovation and any area. A statement like "you should need to be a licensed plumber to buy a peice of pipe" is just plain rediculous.

Sharkbite is a viable product for a small marketplace and in the end, economics will determine their future. With 34 years of experience, I'm sure you soldered some water supply lines with 50/50 before it was illegal. So much for protecting the health of the nation...........

[NHMaster3015]

You are barking up the wrong tree and have no clue as to what you are talking about. No clue as to the history of sanitation and no clue as to the health hazards caused by improper plumbing. You are just a diy'er that thinks he has a god given right to do anything he wants without paying the price which in this case would be an education.

[OkieBill]

Under this concept we shouldn't sell food to people who aren't chefs, motor oil to non-mechanics, or any auto parts for that matter. How about computers??? Do you call a pro to install software, RAM?? Plenty of DIY's get the work they do inspected and approved, so to say they should't be able to purchase pipe and plumbing materials is down right rediculous.

I built a hockey net out of PVC pipe for my son, guess in your world I would need a permit for that too.


I'll agree with you that certain tasks are best left to pro's, but I don't think sharkbite falls into that catagory. CSST, yes, but I have seen pleny of Pro installs of this material that looked like they were DIY jobs.

Semantics will get you nowhere around these parts Sir....

The difference in your listed exmples and what NHmaster is refering to is the fact that a DIY'er with access to these materials has the ability to not only hurt himself but to hurt others possibly on a very large scale (look up backflow accidents / cross connection accidents or even SARS in Hong Kong though I'm sure you know all about this already)...

I see so much bad and dangerous work on a daily basis , I agree that maybe limiting access to the materials would prevent some of it.

Please elaborate on exactly what you should have the right to do and what tasks should be "left to the Pro's"? Please keep in mind that not everyone will have your vast plumbing experience so how do you make sure it will be done safely?

Why is it that people believe that since they have seen what they consider DIY looking jobs by pros that they are justified to do what they want???

The "You can do it we can help" age of instant gratification strikes again...

Electrical Engineer Really? PE or just a switch installer ( no insult intended but your title is doubtfull based on your opinion as a purported professional of a trade)

:shrug:

[henkfish]

I didn't catch which specific Sharkbite fittings you found, but most of them (not all) work 100% with Pex - especially because it IS so smooth. The comment about raw edges is right on, because if the "O" ring is damaged, the fitting is toast. The ONE fitting that I am aware of that is NOT compatible with PEX is the "slip coupling" - roughly 3" long, and a great fix for frost burst copper pipes, but probably because it lacks the plastic insert on one side, it clearly says on the package "for use with copper only". I have sold literally hundreds of these fittings over the past year or so, and have had only ONE negative - and that seems to be a really badly stressed joint - and user.

Cheers

Henkfish

[henkfish]

Come on, guys:

There are lots of places in both our countries where good plumbers are very scarce - especially where I live in "Cottage country", where frozen = burst copper pipes are a fact of life. These fittings are indeed not a "proper" substitute for a good soldered fitting, but hey, for the "weekend warrior" they are an affordable fix for an otherwise dangerous situation (like do you really know how to solder without burning the place down?) And yes, I have one customer ( an engineer no less) who plumbed his whole place with PEX and SharkBite - very happy - so far. Also, if you have to transition from copper to PEX (because the copper corroded and leaks), it's a very good alternative.

So, yes, there will never not be a need for a good plumber - but who do you call on a weekend in the middle of nowhere?

As always, on the lookout for a better solution to the tribulations of life.

Henkfish

[Drip Trip]

Come on, guys:

There are lots of places in both our countries where good plumbers are very scarce - especially where I live in "Cottage country", where frozen = burst copper pipes are a fact of life. These fittings are indeed not a "proper" substitute for a good soldered fitting, but hey, for the "weekend warrior" they are an affordable fix for an otherwise dangerous situation (like do you really know how to solder without burning the place down?) And yes, I have one customer ( an engineer no less) who plumbed his whole place with PEX and SharkBite - very happy - so far. Also, if you have to transition from copper to PEX (because the copper corroded and leaks), it's a very good alternative.

So, yes, there will never not be a need for a good plumber - but who do you call on a weekend in the middle of nowhere?

As always, on the lookout for a better solution to the tribulations of life.

Henkfish
The homeowner who repipes his own home with any material is rare. Those type of people were never my customer and never will be.

I went to a HD 2 years ago for the first time in 10 years. I felt like I was in a competitor's shop. I looked around while trying to translate the Spanish announcements.

I literally ran out of there. If the Christian devil exists, his home is in Home Depot.