Sharkbite fittings

[deeretails]

I'm a little slow with a lot of things, and I suspect many of you have already figured this out. But I thought I'd pass my discovery on anyway. Sharkbite fittings have saved me several times, but I really dislike the little tools they sale to disconnect the fittings. I discovered that an open end 3/4" wrench works very well on 1/2" fittings and a 7/8" wrench works on 3/4" fittings. Just slide the wrench on and give it a bump and presto it comes apart.

Merry Christmas to all-

 

[bc]

Good to know. I just use them for some repairs or adding in extra ball valves, replacing gate valves, transitions from copper to pex for repairs, etc. otherwise I still sweat copper or use crimps on pex. I double valve incoming lines and the softner and heater have valves on all sides for easy changing. I've added extra outdoor faucets and they all get valves to isolate them in case of leaks. Have valves on each line going into the bathrooms to isolate them and the kitchen as the faucets they make nowadays don't last that long. Every line under the sink or to the toilet gets its own valve. I've replaced all the gate stop valves at the toilets and sinks with ball valves but still don't trust them either.

So what you are telling us is to not let the kids play in the basement with wrenches or there might be a big surprise.

 

[Russ from MN]

We used similar fittings on 6 mm air lines on the robotics where I used to work. I always carried a 6 inch Crescent wrench, it worked fine for disconnecting the lines, just snug it on the line, and push in on the release collar. I have used SharkBite fittings several times on personal plumbing jobs, but never had to disconnect one.

 

[Russ from MN]

I don't think a child playing with a wrench would figure out how to disconnect one, unless you showed them! And, I think it would be much
harder release a fitting under pressure, it was even noticeable with the little 6 mm lines with 80 psi air.

 

[M-MAN]

I thought they had to be cut off. Thanks for the tip.

 

[K Effective]

bc- I think the valve on the outlet of a water heater is such a bad idea that it is illegal in some places. Technically, it's a good idea, just a bad practice. Expansion of heated water, and all.

I have used the Shark Bite fittings to re-arrange some plumbing for my Mom, when I needed to assemble one way for a while then change it soon after, and they work really well to take apart and reuse.

I had to go to a third store today to get flux for sweating copper- Trua Value was out and TSC didn't even have a spot for it in the plumbing aisle. No copper fittings that I saw at TSC, either.

 

[504]

Crescent wrench works fine. I installed my water heater around ten years ago with Sharkbite. No leaks,it hangs on the wall right by the clothes dryer.

 

[Scott 730]

Just had a plumber here to move a few lines and he told me that sharkbites have been approved for use in concealed spaces for a while now. They are using them more often now for repairs as there is no fire danger and much faster than sweating joints.

 

[Russ from MN]

That's why water heaters have a T&P valve, should make it idiot proof!

 

[karlinpa]

THESE FITTINGS ARE ON MODERN TRACTOR TRAILERS TOO AND ARE DOT APPROVED JUST 80000 LBS GOING DOWN ROAD NEXT TO YOU HAVE USED THEM MANY TIMES ON REPAIRS ON THE ROAD ARE A BLESSING TO ME AS CONNECTING JUST TAKES A PUSH CANT UNHOOK EM TILL YOU DRAIN ALL AIR OUT SOME OF THESE GUYS THAT ENGINEER THE BIG RIGS SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX ONE ALONGSIDE BUSY INTERSTATE ON RAINY SNOWY OR COLD DAY SORRY MY BAD JUST SAW THIS AS I JUST CAME IN FROM ROAD CALL

 

[Destroked 450]

I've used shark bites on truck air lines but just recently completely pumped the bath room in moms house with pex line and shark bites.
They are pricy compared to crimp fittings but being able to disconnect them to correct measuring mistakes or to reconfigure was a blessing for a non plumber like me.
Also since they connect on the outside of the line there's less restriction and flow loss than with the crimp fittings that go inside the lines.

 

[moresmoke]

I hope the shark bites are better than the DOT air line fittings. My 2012 truck it’s a battle to keep air in it over night. I have a 1994 trailer with all hard connections that will hold air for 2 months.

 

[fixerupper]

I never had much to do with shark bite till i ran air lines through the last spring. I must have used a gallon of them both straight and tees and not a one of them leaked. Last summer i used a shark bite on a3/4 copper line that was hard to reach and so far its holding. The copper line is an air line that holds up to 170PSI. I was a bit sceptical but so far so good.

 

[jacksun65]

I replaced my water heater in 2008 and had to extend the lines. I used sharkbite fitting on copper They haven't leaked yet better than some of the pvc fittings.

 

[Texasmark1]

You mean a "Crescent" brand, "adjustable" wrench. Growing up, all adjustable wrenches were called Crescent....course that's what was for sale as I vaguely recollect. I get in industry where employer has a bunch of gadgets they manufacture and we were told to be very careful as patents can get lost calling a name brand an adjective. Kleenex is an example of a facial tissue misnamed. Funny I just posted on this subject a couple of days ago.

 

[RedMF40]

Merry Christmas to all-[/quote]

Thats a good tip, thanks. Years ago when I first started using them I couldnt make that little tool pull the fitting off the pipe. I asked the plumbing guy in the big box store to show me. He acted all hot and bothered that he had to demonstrate. Turned out he couldnt get it off, either.

I like pvc, havent gone with pex yet. Plastic n glue, reminds me when I put model cars together as a kid.

Gerrit