Це відео не доступне.
Перепрошуємо.
Why I Don't Use Sharkbite Fittings on My Plumbing Jobs
Вставка
- Опубліковано 12 вер 2021
- Why I Don't Use Sharkbite Fittings on My Plumbing Jobs - Plumbing Basics - Ask A Plumber
Today I'm telling you why I don't use Sharkbites and why I don't let my plumbers use them either. I know many plumbers use Sharkbites and swear by them, and many home builders use them as well. There's also a lot of plumbers like me who will never use Sharkbites on our plumbing work. Here's why.
► Click Here To watch Orbeez vs Green Gobbler - • CAN GREEN GOBBLER UNCL...
► Click Here For The Trades Academy - www.thetradesacademy.com
► Click Here To Subscribe - goo.gl/va1xXe
► Getting Into The Trades - www.thetradesacademy.com/gittnow
► My Free Mini - Course to Help You Begin Your Plumbing Career - bit.ly/rogersfreeminicourse...
► Become a Member TODAY - / rogerwakefi. .
► Follow me on Tik Tok! - bit.ly/RogersTikTok
► Check Out My Merch! - teespring.com/stores/tuberturds
► Join My Subreddit! - / rogerwakefie. .
► My Networking Secrets That Grew My Plumbing Business FAST - bit.ly/rogersfreeguide
► My Recommended Plumbing Study Guide - amzn.to/2RgYEn5
► Find Your Local Union - bit.ly/findyourlocalunion...
Today we are teaching you how to make a redneck margarita machine. This is a little different for us so thanks for watching! I'm Roger Wakefield, LEED AP, The Expert Plumber and welcome to my channel. On this channel I teach homeowners how to save money on their plumbing by doing DIY plumbing projects. I also teach plumbers and plumbing company owners how to be the best plumbers in their area and run successful plumbing businesses. My goal is teach you everything you need to know about plumbing.
► Check Out Our Social Media:
Website - texasgreenplumbing.com/
Blog - texasgreenplumbing.com/blog/...
UA-cam - goo.gl/va1xXe
Facebook - / theexpertplu. .
LinkedIn - / rogerwake. .
Twitter - / _rogerwakefield. .
Instagram - / _rogerwakef. .
Tik Tok - bit.ly/RogersTikTok
► Gear We Use:
Coolest Clock Ever - amzn.to/31CjLkW
Main camera - amzn.to/2RCyj1F
Lens for main and Second cameras - amzn.to/2SM7
Second camera - amzn.to/2SdzfdQ
My microphone - amzn.to/2FEvN8s
XLR Interface - amzn.to/2RDqskj
Wireless Lav Mic - amzn.to/2HenuRp
Tripod to hold our camera - amzn.to/32aI7Dj
Our studio lights - amzn.to/2Zv2R6O
*NOTE: This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at NO COST TO YOU. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in NO WAY obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!
![ЛЕБЕДЕВ у ДУДЯ: муху не обманешь 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E74h5fvVrqs/mqdefault.jpg)
Noooo shark-bites
or the aftermath
I don't think they're bad if you know what you're doing and it's at your house diy job. It's not the greatest but also not that bad. If you install them correctly they will last a long time.
@@Zoroaster4never close to as long as soldering
If we tied Roger's hands together to the table could he still talk ?
Hmmm, only one way to find out
No
😂😂😂
we would make him pronounce "pap" properly, at least
Exactly, he moves too much
A very fair assessment. The most important point I feel, as explained, when using a sharkbite fitting is to 1. Cut straight, 2. Deburr and 3. Mark depth with depth tool and push all the way in. These are the fittings that won’t leak. The slight restriction water flow when using multiple sharkbite fittings in something I learned from this video.
And as with anything, one can have the right product, but if it isn’t install correctly, it’s not the product itself but the installation process performed incorrectly.
Rightfully said!
The reduction shown in the video is without the insert removed from the sharkbite fitting "for copper use" (which would reveal a shoulder/stop that is equivalent to the thickness of a copper tube). Additionally, the copper coupling was shown without any copper tube inserted. If you were to compare the couplings in an apples to apples representation, both fittings have full port flow.
@@jasonkalai3323 .
Right on. As long as you have a reasonably straight cut and clean up the burs - a shark bite push fitting isn't going to leak
"One can have the right product, but if it's not installed properly then it's not the product but the installation that's done incorrectly"
We're really firing on all cylinders here. 😂
I have used Sharkbites a LOT and never had any problems.
I put one on when I installed my water heater 6 years ago, and still haven't leaked a single drop.
When used properly, they are great.
i have used several of these in different places and the one on my shower leaked near the beginning of when i installed it., i just replaced it with a new one and everything is working good now
@@sensequest the biggest cause of leaks is because the pipe isn't pushed all the way in.
It goes in deeper than it seems like it should, you have to push in until you feel and hear the *click*.
If you did that and it leaked, then it's just an example of a bad apple in every batch.
@@BigJeremyBeyer In other words, the only time there's an issue Sharkbites, is when they're improperly installed.
@@keitht24 yes, that's what I said.
Junk
Gotta tell you, I installed a new dishwasher, removing a OLD one, and the copper used before was HUUUGE and old. I just cust it out, got a Sharkbite 1/2 x 3/8 valve, cut it, cleaned it, installed it and D O N E. Plumber wanted nearly $300. to replace one valve and screw on the braided line. I love the experienced plumber, but for the average homeowner (ME) these jobs work & save $$$.
As a non handy home owner…. I have used shark bite 3 times inside my house and no issues so far… (15 years on the oldest)
Those positive Amazon reviews aren't lying. 😁
Used them off and on for years. Not one leak. I have sweat hundreds of connections not one leak. I only use shark bite when a potential fire or some other reason old school is too difficult. They have provided a way to complete jobs that otherwise would have taken considerably longer and always paid for themselves in those scenarios. Ive worked in several other areas of construction and rarely have call backs and on the rare occasion it was something else I had nothing to do with where the customer was honestly mistaken or trying to pull a fast one. I have always taken pride in my work and have always been a bit of a perfectionist. How well most products installed perform and last is mostly determined by the professionalism put into the installation. Id say except certain big numbers of defective products that 98% of all failures are due to poor and or rushed workmanship. How do I know? Because I have been the guy returning to do the fix and find out what went wrong. Almost always a failure from a lazy unprofessional who did not care about his workmanship.
Totally agree.
The best of both worlds with discretion
I wonder how many of the “I only use them for emergencies” commenters are just too embarrassed that it’s the only thing they use but want to sound reasonable
Just remember that it's only an emergency till the leak is stopped. After that, a new leak is a new emergency. Put a few shark bites in the kitchen drawer for a rainy day!
Nothing is more permanent than a temporary solution.
Anytime you want to see my truck stock, you''ll find I only carry 1 of each and that box is on the bottom. The boxes on top have ProPress fittings, Pex fittings or PVC / CPVC fittings. One can only carry so many fittings. When your out all night fixing 20+ busted pipes on a property because of Freezing temperatures you will run out of proper fittings, until you can resupply and come back to replace the 1 or 2 sharkbites you had to use on the last 1 or 2 repairs for that night.
@@awalllen212 that was pretty good.
I fixed an emergency 15 years ago with some sharkbites my neighbor had on hand. No leaks yet. Plumbers are pissed at how much money they have lost to the average homeowner that cant sweat pipe. Now instead of a $100/hr guy that can show up in the next 3-12 hours maybe. Anyone of average intelligence can spend $40 on a couple fittings a piece of pex and a cutter to stop their leak. Using them with basic instructions from a UA-cam video. Should you plumb your house with them? Absolutely not. Do they work and work well in a pinch. Hell yes they do. Plumbing was my first real job out of high school for a few years. I use them sometimes still. They work
Just bought a few of these fittings to have a short term fix on some outdoor fixtures. I really appreciate that there's a laymen's solution for copper fittings considering the expense of replacing a half dozen frozen spigots. While I can turn off supply to most of them and kick that down the road, it's nice to have one that works before I can spend the money on a complete outdoor overhaul.
I have an assortment in my van. Mainly use them to transition from cpvc to copper or pex, and when going from 3/8 to 1/2. Have also used the evo's they are handy for tight spaces where the crimp tool won't fit or to transition from uponor to viega. Evo chrome valves are pretty awesome too
I've used push-to-connect type fittings for air and water for decades. Of course these are typically Parker or John Guest for 3/8" and smaller tubing.
I have used Shark-bite fitting for some quick repairs around the house but seldom leave them in place for more than a week.
I've used Sharkbites at a couple of locations in my house. One was to fix a leaky valve in a very tight overhead spot that leads to an outdoor spigot. I followed the directions about clean cuts and deburring and have had no issues as of yet for 8 years. The other was a weird spot in a 6 foot stretch of plumbing where the original plumber went from a 1/2 inch copper line to a 3/8 inch line back to a 1/2 inch line. It was at one of the connections that I had a catastrophic failure after 35 years. I turned of the house main then ran out to get 2 Sharkbite couplings and a section of blue PEX. I cut both sections of copper behind the original connections, deburred , then cut the PEX to fit and deburred, made the two connections and everything has been fine for almost 2 years now. I am not a tradesman so products like Sharkbites really help guys like me. Your evaluation is very good and spot on.
Roger, great and informative video. I may be old fashioned but I use copper everywhere in my home. My home is around 90 years old and a large component of the hot and cold supply lines are original and I have not had an issue with them. Further, my heat is steam and all the piping to the radiators is copper too. It is a testament to the quality of the materials that they have stood the test of time. Only things that have gone are the shutoff valves that I have replaced over time.
It's always at the connections isn't it? Well, most of the time.
@@nazretselYes, indeed, However, once replaced, I hopefully wont have to deal with them again for 30 years or more.
I think SharkBite gets an unfair reputation for leaks because they are mostly installed by home owners who are not preparing the pipe correctly.
They aren't cutting straight, marking and installing deep enough and cleaning and de burring.
Thank you for saying so.... I am about to install a sink line with Sharkbite and will check more carefully.
I've used these in tight locations or MORE OFTEN places I don't want to use a torch. Tight spots against wood I don't want to burn as I'm trying to sweet fittings - I know I can use a heat shield but that's a problem sometimes too.
Trash
I'm a professional and I do occasionally use Sharkbite fittings. I never put one where it can't be accessed easily and will never bury one. 2 things Roger didn't mention that bares mentioning.
-Sharkbites depend on O-rings and we all know O-rings fail eventually.
-Sharkbites are easily accessible and easy for laymen to install putting skills of the trade out to pasture if you will. When you solder neatly and run pipe straight and neat customers will appreciate the work better than "push to fit" work they may feel like they could have done themselves.
I will never be the cheapest plumber in town and I charge for getting my torch box out of the truck. Sharkbites are expensive and leave the customer wanting when they see the bill. I never get that look from the same bill or higher if I make repairs outside of most DIYers skillset.
I dont think the vast majority of consumers care about how its done. Just that its done right.
Its why decent products outsell much nicer products by a metric ton.
Just look at furniture for example. Most people are not willing to spend twice as much for a piece that is put together with nice technical joinery when they can get the same product (functionally) for half the cost and its put together using something like pocket hole screws.
Of course you will always have a part of the market that will and have a great appreciation for the trade and skills. But they make up the vast minority.
In today's economy, people are looking for practical and affordable options that are efficient and effective.
8:37 i paid 350 bucks to have a main ball valve to replace the old school twist rubber washer valve on my house to go from 3/4 to 1/2"
Because the 3/4" main came up out of the floor and it had water up to the top, it could not be sweated or i would have done it and yes i could have used a hand pump to pull the water out instead he used his Milwaukie crimp tool and crush fittings on copper pipe.
I was good with that. I can sweat a joint but its not always fun.
The guy only spent maybe 25 min to fix the problem. Now I've got a main shut off inside aside from the shut off by the water meter.
I think a big problem is that people neglect the prep work with these. They just make a crappy cut and slap it together.
you are atleast 95% correct, im sure defective sharkbites exist.
Yep. If you don't have a reasonably straight and clean cut - you're asking for trouble but that goes with just about any style of fitting
@@mediocresupport4682 I got a defective sharkbite I saw the defect before I installed it, inside the plastic melted and the teeth inside went half way around took it back they said it was defective gave me a new one.
Agree 100%.
I couldn't swing my cutter all the way around the pipe so I had to hacksaw the last bit which caused some distortion in the pipe. I had to do a lot of filing to get it down to flat and square, but I was scared to death it wouldn't seal. Lol.
Only use them in an EMERGENCY situation, where may be out of the fitting I need to make the repair. I will come back as soon as I get the CORRECT fitting for the job, an remove the sharkbite fitting.
100%
The only acceptable use 💯
I haven't had any prob but my plumbing is very small and I use fundamental dos and donts I've seen the pex fittings fail and have replaced them with sharks for my few handyman customers but I won't bury them ,and have checked the dozen or so I've installed in last 5 years with no visible signs of problems.but again they are isolated and I've prepped them like I do for a softer. But I think one major reason like u said is poor application and installation ,I live in my and I've found sharks to be invaluable in freeze they are tough and I yet to see one fracture when it froze ,break s happen regular up here
Just like condoms
Never had an issue with one
I have used them to transition from Pex to do a repair because I didn't have the pex crimping tool at the time and had limited options as a homeowner. They are really easy to use and convenient for working on different types of plumbing. I prefer using regular fittings because they are cheaper and the repair is permanant. The shark bite fittings are easily 3 or 4 times the cost of traditional fittings. The reduction is not an issue for me because it saves water. It's been on for a few years and hasn't leaked.
Pex crimping tools have come down considerably. We are talking like 60 bucks at lowes. I think Harbor freight is even releasing one here in the next year.
It won't leak. As long as your cuts were reasonably straight and clean that is
I use sharkbites for 2 things only.
1-CPVC transition (don’t have to wait for glue to dry)
2-Caping pipe stub outs. (Can be pulled of and put on an angle stop without needing to cut the pipe)
Push Fittings have been in use fo rover 50 years, mainly in soda machine dispensers, refrigerators, ice-makers, and filtration systems. In my State, they are fully Code approved, and that includes in concealed locations and buried locations - without need for access door. BTW - your sponsor - FERGUSON ENTERPRISES - who caters mainly to plumbing professionals - is a major distributors of Shark Bite fittings. Thank you
I did a little test with sharkbite on my own hot water tank. It's been 7 years with no issues whatsoever. I still am reluctant to use them on jobs, but field testing doesn't lie. As with anything, it's typically an operator error. Also, you cannot keep using the same fitting over and over, like a cap. I used to use a SharkBite cap when I was roughing in bathrooms, to leak test. Finally after probably the 5th bathroom and using it, I put it on and it shot off when I put the water on. Luckily it didn't damage the tub, but it went straight to the recycling. Now it's twice and that's it. I think the flow reduction argument is negligible, the average person is not going to notice it with one fitting on their line. I'm not saying it doesn't exist, but it would be quite minimal unless you you had like dozens of these things in your plumbing. Great content though, good for thought.
Yeah, I would only use Sharkbite in places where I can see them, like my hot water tank connections.
sharkbites only leak when user error installing them... i have had them on places for many years... not a drip. Yes be aware its a light reduction... Any plumber does not want to advertise "sharkbites" because it lessens his value... Any schmo can redo plumbing with sharkbites... the plumber cant sell propress fittings :) Which means he is hurting his income. I see so many guys not "seat" the sharkbites or they are sideways or he didnt cut straight or deburr...
I use them regularly and haven't had a call back ever. I use them mostly for Hot water tank connections(hot and cold).
No shame here.
As long as you do it correctly, you won't have a problem.
@@Alex_was_here694 I’ve seen a plumber not deburr when using a sharkbite so you know the average home owner isn’t going to want to spend the extra money on all the correct tools and that’s when you get leaks.
@@idea999 average home owner here. I spent ~$230 on the tools to do both crimp and clamp PEX just to avoid using a sharkbite fitting. Never plumbed before in my life but now I have replaced the PB pipe in my house with a PEX B manifold system. With how easy it was to learn it really has me considering a journeyman license.
@@zedsdead7670 expanded sleeve joins like waterpex or rehau is pretty much the industry standard & the manual tools are not that expensive. 🤔 ABOUT $300 , much better option than pushfit.
@@zedsdead7670 that sounds like a best case scenario. Consider that going for a journeyman license means you must become well rounded in different aspects of plumbing including the not so fun aspects of working on drain lines.
I have several push on fittings in my house and they've all been fine so far. If they ever do fail (knock on wood) I'll probably replace them with propress fittings.
I’m doing my own plumbing in my van buildout and I’m using shark bites for only two or three of the connections which are difficult to get at. However I am also using the silicone tape around those fittings. Also my water pump only moves like one gallon per minite so I’m not worried about high pressure overwhelming them. 😂😂 thanks for this though it’s always good to know a professional’s perspective.
Real sharkbites hold better pressure than pex or copper. Also sharkbites are very easily permanent. The issue with them is they are a mechanical fitting, they have moving parts in them. So as long as no one is smacking them or bumping into them, they will last for a very long time. Temporary can mean 15 years
Yes, I use them on some occasions.
The first and most common is a temporary, emergency Pex water service that goes above ground from the water meter nipple to the front garden hose bib via adapters after removing the vacuum breaker. I shut off the service valve before the PRV to bypass the broken water service while the utilities are located. A roll of pex is cheap, and I want to get fixtures up and running for the customer with a recommendation they drink bottled water. This also serves to dissuade the customer from shopping around after I leave and canceling the job before the utilities are located. They always do that unless I take the time to put in an emergency water service, which I discount from the full job once the work is finished. If the customer decides they want to go with someone else to replace the water service, I already have the charge for the temporary water service laid out on the signed contract.
Secondly, I installed my own water heater with sharkbites to both test how well they hold up to thermal expansion and longevity of the fitting in general. It is exposed in the utility room for monitoring. A properly installed SharkBite will last as long as the o-ring inside. The question I had was would the o-rings inside FIP S.B. adapters screwed directly onto the dielectric nipples of a gas water heater outlast the tank itself. They have. Even in close proximity of the flue hat and the tank, the fittings were in good condition when I had to replace the GWH. I replaced the S.B. fittings along with the W.H. right along with the thermal expansion tank since they both have rubber up against water.
Thirdly, the company I worked for put them on our trucks and told us to use them. I replaced a PRV in a crawl space with S.B. Adapters to the copper line. They were rated to 200 PSI and I cleared it with management since there was no worries of flooding the home and street pressure was about 120 PSI. Of course I would use pro press if that was on the truck, but it was uncommon at the time.
Fourth, when everything else was installed with S.B. and a friend was selling the house. Opened up a wall and the shower valve was installed entirely with S.B. and the one serving the shower head riser blew off. For some reason the teeth were retracted and not gripping the pipe so I figured the fitting was damaged during install or pulled off and reused or maybe not fully seated from the start, and the fitting relied on the o-ring until water hammer shockwave wallowed it out enough to blow out and wiggle around. I tried to reattach the fitting and was able to pull it off easily since the teeth weren’t biting. I replaced the failed fitting to that basement shower with tiled and concrete floors throughout the basement. I was much more concerned about sharkbites used all through the system and especially inside the walls on the main and upstairs floors that would leak through ceilings later. Had I had my full kit of crimp rings and fittings and crimping tool I would have used that but I was far away from home and cost was a big concern with the customer so I used what was readily available and I not ashamed of that decision whatsoever.
I always use the removal tool and pull out the stiffener when appropriate. I don’t want that stiffener in there causing more turbulence and wish they had a kit of slightly different sized stiffeners since the I.D. is sometimes different in soft lines with standard O.D. What good is a loose stiffener that can move side to side inside the pipe other than you have to use it legally? It seems like any shifting of the stiffener caused by water hammer could cause more momentary turbulence and pinhole the pipe downstream of the fitting.
I use the caps for Renovations. And always keep a cap in 1/2 and 3/4 in my bag just in case I either accidentally cut a live line or accidentally breaking a line.
my temporary sharkbite shutoff valve for a leaking hose bib on my house has become a permanent fixture. but this video made me go the extra mile of getting everything really clean and square.
I use to do HVAC and my boss had rental properties. I only want copper lines in my house that are soldered. No pex, no compression fittings. I as well refuse to install cheap shut-offs anywhere, quality ball valves or don't bother.
Many builders feel the same way you do. They want to wait 20 more years to see how pex installed in the 2000s performs.
We use them to cap sink lines while remodeling. Then remove them when the new sink is installed. Lots of companies around here use the sharkbite tee to feed the sink and the dishwasher. But other than that we don't really use them, especially in a place that can't be seen or accessed. To remove, take a cresent wrench and place it on the pipe close to the fitting. Close the wrench down on the pipe so its touching on both sides. Then slide the wrench up against the tan collar on the fitting and press untill the fitting slides off.
This is how they should be used, not for permanent installations.
compression fitings are the best for adapting to different brands of pipe, even though i do enjoy using sharkbite fittings for a temporary water pipe fix given the material shortage these days
Fantastic video. I've only ever used Shark-bite fittings on a few occasions, and they were leaks underground where it was basically impossible to sweat all of the moisture out of the lines for a proper solder.
My grandad was a plumber, his trick was to stuff bread into the lines to get them dry enough to solder. I've never done it, I just recall him telling me that. Just a thought.....
@@jackdmorgan So you want a dough ball stuck in your line?? Your grandad most likely did this in a way to purget the ball out, but it doesn't always come out. Dont do it
Well, once you turn the water back on, the bread solves and comes right out. Most certainly, it's a lot more "disovavable" then a great deal of stuff thgets into the lines naturally.
But, I'm 78, I don't do much of any kind of work anymore.
I have used them on copper pipe where you couldnt really use a soldering torch and the fitting was not going to be sealed into a wall. They are great for emergency and temporary repairs.
The big box stores have 40 feet of shelf space dedicated to Sharkbite products. If sharkbite was a bad product or could have the potential to cause so much home damage, these big box stores would not take on that liability.
Hahahahahahahaha yeah right
Isn't the statute of limitations on something like that typically 1 year?
@@TheMoody2006Their liability is for the cost of the fitting lol.
@@billjohnson9472 I have detailed knowledge of internal Lowes "liability" You are wrong.
I have been in the marine field servicing hvac,refrigeration, and plumbing systems on large yachts for over 25 years. In the past almost 10 these push fittings are basically industry standard on production yachts, the true custom are still using copper or a pex type pipe that has screw together fittings with seals. In the marine field the popular brand is Sea Tech, they look basically identical to pex push lock and YES they do leak overtime. Have repaired many with only a year or 2 of service, I usually go with a threaded fitting that I previously mentioned or a shark bite copper if space is a problem.
Given the vibrations of a marine setting, it isn't at all surprising that a push fitting would eventually leak...
Yup, I'm in maintenance and they do fail! or outright are pushed out of the pipe causing major flooding and damage. I used to use quick connectors but been burned too many times by failures. Soldering, sweating connections are "very" easy to do and is a permanent fix that will last the lifetime of the building. Also my reputation is not damaged from my fixes breaking and causing damage.
use 3/4 shark bite caps on water heater replacement when i go to remove the old heater and put it in the van. helps keep any residual water or gunk left in the tank IN the tank during removal and transport.
also use the caps if we are leaving a line open for an extended period with nothing but a ball valve stopping the flow from an empty line. if leaving a project in progress, the caps will prevent damage if the home owner or another trade happens to hit the handle of the ball valve
I agree with lots of comments here. As with all fittings failure to install properly is causing the leaks not the fitting itself. Applies to all types of fittings regarless of the manuf. Going on 4 years with sharkbite fittings with zero issues, love the stuff.....
I'm a homeowner, and I use Sharkbites sometimes. Recently, I had an outdoor pipe freeze & burst. In subfreezing conditions, cutting off the pipe, and popping on a Sharkbite cap is WAY easier than soldering. I'll replace it when the weather warms up.
No u won't
@@pointedspider lol, The world is filled with good intentions that never get completed. Once it starts leaking, at the end of its life in 5 years it will be replaced.
In his defense he won't because he will realize that there is no reason to.
I work for a small water utility & have used push to fit fittings following the correct installation process & have no issues with the sharkbite or other push to fittings; you are correct about the reduced size in the fitting,however, the length of the fittings are only a couple of inches & if you use a minimum of fittings the reduced size is negligible with good volume & pressure. I have several meter installations where the fittings are buried 5ft deep & have been there for 10 years & we have had no leaks or issues of any kind. Shark it's & others like the pro - bite are good fittings when you're in a small work area, such as a water meter box or vault, if the correct installation process is followed,I wouldn't hesitate to use them in a new installation! They don't freeze & break ,where copper pipes do & they meet the no lead code requirements in our state of N.M.
You guys will charge the customer to fix your installation failure. So if you installed thousands of these and then in 10+ years they all start to fail... Well I guess it's good for you $$.
@@mrdan2898 Negative! The water utility does not charge the customer for the meter installation, and we do not charge the customer if a leak occurs due to a bad fitting or for something that is the cause of the leak in equipment belonging to the water utility; pipes and fittings that supply water up to and including the meter are property of the water utility. The pipes and fittings that come off of the meter and go to a customer's house or commercial building are the customer's responsibility, & we will help the customer connect their pipe to our metering equipment with the appropriate fittings.
Used to work for a commercial company. I would use sharkbites temporarily to isolate large plumbing systems to air test and then remove the fittings to continue to the new section allowing us to verify sections were good to cover before we finished the entire job. It would give the general contractors more time to get sheetrockers in earlier and shave some time from the jobs
Used 1/2” sharkbite elbows for pex to copper. Used a sharp wheel pipe cutter for both. Cuts pex great, actually preps the OD perfectly as it cuts. Just need to debur the ID for pex. I use a file to debur the OD on copper, never use sand paper. Sandpaper, especially if you slip, messes up the surface finish on the pipe, then those grooves allow water to bypass the o-ring seal.
I think one of the main advantages of sharkbites, is in situations where you need to connect two different types of pipe together. Not many situations i can think of where you need to do this. But when you do, a sharkbite fitting is the best way to do it. While I prefer soldered fittings, there is a time and place for sharkbites.
If you have 10 freeze out copper leaks, you could repair all of them so quickly with a shark bite slip coupling that it should be a crime
Watching this video has made me a professional plumber. Thank you!
Great Information thanks. I just used a sharkbite slip ball valve to add a shutoff for my sillcocks water faucet that is outside. It’s a 30 year old sillcocks that leaks and I cannot find washers or the stem to replace it as it has worn out the teeth that grab inside the pipe when it shuts off. It was so bad that it just popped out enough to turn the water on. And since the inside location of the sillcocks is drywalled and finished so I wanted to avoid that repair by putting this in. I will try and attach a picture, but this 1/2” copper pipe only feeds this water faucet so I am not worried about loss of pressure or flow. And since this is a tight space that makes it challenging to solder on the proper valve I thought I would give it a try. Now that the cold temps have started, I didnt want to take a chance on freezing pipes and further damage.
Thank you sir. Can you cover other non-solder pipe fittings? Like threaded compression fittings or others?
My rule for shark bite fittings is they must be accessible along with use as few as possible generally in very difficult to access areas where a torch just wont work.
Been using them for the last 10yrs. Never had one leak. Plumbed my entire home with them. Never an issue. Its all about proper installation. They are quick, and easy to use. Saves time.
This is the biggest thing I have read and heard. Almost every "They leak" video I have watched normally has a "If not installed properly". I know I'm not a plumber but I need to replace a couple of sinks and the on off valves are all frozen. If I cannot just rebuild them then I'm just going to cut and clean the lines and use sharkbites when I reconnect.
I use the caps alot when I do remodeling and remove the cabinets and toilet just so I can turn water back on the rest of the house ,and when I install the new cabinets and flooring then I can take them back off to install new stops.
I was planning to use my first push fitting today. I'm removing an old fire hose and blocking the feed for it. It's a big commercial building so I'm expecting alot of water and i need to be quick to not disturb any operators in the building. So I'm planning to put on a push fitting cap (german Roth) with water partially tapped. I feel like this is a perfect situation for this type of cupling but man am i sceptical. Trying to be cautious and teach myself the do's and dont's and found your video. I love plumbing and I love to learn new things, I'll definetly check on your videos and get an American perspective! Wish me luck and greetings from Sweden
The only shark bite I have ever used was when my father and I were fixing some of the plumbing in one of our rentals. It was inside a tight cabinet and we tried and tried and then we decided to install a shark bite because it was to small of a space to do a proper solder fitting.
I'm sure it's still a working fine.
I had the same problem yesterday so I used shark bite
I use shark bite fittings, when connecting pex or copper to old cpvc. That way I don't have to wait for the glue to dry. I don't use them if behind a wall. I use the shark bite caps on pex stub outs during rough in, for water test. That way you don't waste a Polly pex cap and ring.
Your most likely source of a sharkbite failure is on CPVC when its old. I have seen two jobs the plumber ate recently because they did this when attaching to old CPVC work. There were six figure leak claims when it failed months later.
Not the most likely at all. Incorrect installation is always your most common point of failure. Cpvc sucks period but it had nothing to do with the shark bite that's stretching it a bit.
I'm using them, but mostly as temporary connectors to keep water running while I do a bathroom renovation. Then I replace them with a crimped pex as I go along.
Thanks for this, I was looking for anything that addressed reduced flow with the fittings. as a doityourselfer, I had been waffling using the sharkbite-T to supply a zone of my house directly from the hot water tank to feed 5 fixtures, but now I'm going back to a good old copper T. That said, I will use a type of sharkbite competitor fitting in areas where there is a single fixture downstream where the flexpipe supply line inner diameter is smaller than the sharkbite inner diameter. I also love the sharkbite caps, feels like cheating. Have a great day.
I keep sharkbite endcaps on hand in case my repair goes awry and i need a temporary repair while I head out to the only Home Depot in my area to purchase what I actually need. I can't understand why I would pay a plumber to use sharkbite; seems like I would be paying them to be lazier than myself.
Not only that, but the cost of shark bite vs. copper is astronomical, so you're paying more for less work.
A shark bite coupler is like $17 at Lowes, the same copper coupler that needs 10 min worth of prep and work costs $2.37
@@Chris.Rhodes is there a 10 minute charge on your labor? How about when you have to go by boat 45 minutes to a job that your customer doesnt know what is going on? You gonna do the 4t minute boat rife back to get the proper fitting? That's 1.5 hours of labor plus a boat charge already, and you haven't even done any work. At my company there is nothing less than a 1 hour service call, meaning if I drive there and make a parts list, that just cost my customer 100 bucks minimum. For a simple leak under a cottage it's far cheaper for me to bring a couple sharkbites and return the ones I don't use, especially considering there's only so much room in the boat I can't bring every fitting out there. And if you are paying 17 bucks for a shark bite you must be using big ones, cuz the 1/2 and 3/4 stuff I buy is like 7-12 bucks.... at a plumbing supply store, not Lowes.
We will use end caps sometimes, and an occasional coupling when necessary.. but I like them! gets you out of a jam for sure. everyone should have a sharkbite cap in their bag. just incase!
1/2 and 3/4 are a must in my backpack.
I used Shark bites on my home bathroom redo- they worked great! Using again on another cold water redo bloody expensive but the ease and avoiding torching the house is worth it
100% Roger. Only other time i use them is to cap rough in water line test. Remove after inspection.
Been plumbing for almost 20 years. I use shark bite fittings. I've never seen one leak or heard of one leaking ever if properly installed. The pipe should always be lubricated before Inserting into shark bite fittings though.
Yes sir, i used a shark bite with a shut off valve on my main water line coming from my meter when it bursted underneath my house. That was 6 years ago. Sharkbite for the win.
What do you lubricate the pipe with? Are you referring to copper piping? TIA
We use shark bites almost every day when we use on cpvc or copper we remove that plastic piece inside. That reduces the flow reduction. As long as they are put in correct there will be no problems
Junk
Oh there will be problems
The "stiffiner" it will leak eventually I've tried
Off. I feel bad for your customers.
I’ve used maybe 4 shark bites. was elbow deep blind reaching.
I work on tractor trailers for a living. They have push on fittings (kind of like the shark bite) for the nylon air lines. You push them in and give a slight pull back out to set the lock. Those are good for 130 psi. So I don't know why shark bites are so bad (I mean as in they leak)
As a Water Treatment Company service employee in Turkey; We use them a lot, more then you think, on under kitchen sink type water purifiers all of its fittings are sharkbite (we use 6 mm hose to do the work) they are good to go until 10 bar of water pressure. I love them. But I didn’t use them in big Water Softener type of treatment machines (which works with salt etc. and installs at main pipe of the house)
i feel like at least 2 of your cameras dont film in 60fps, theres a very noticeable difference when you change perspectives
I have used shark bite for plumbing repairs and some new water lines ( to the refer water supply line). It's so easy and quick. As long as you insert the line properly and snap it all the way in (past the O ring), I haven't had a failure.
yeah he is exaggerating the failures... when idiots install them, they can leak... but pro plumbers don't like them because anyone can use them, and it devalues his worth as a craftsman... I mean if your car could literally snap in new brake and rotors(so easy anyone can do) im sure auto mechanics everywhere would claim "oh those don't work!, dont use them!"...
You Haven't had a failure YET! The rubber seal will degrade and fail!
that is correct.
I love the shark bite push connectors. Especially when doing a remodel or repair that requires going from copper to PEX. Yeah they're pricey but they're worth it in the time you save and I've never once had one leak.... Never
I've personally used "tectite sprint" as we call them in the UK which are the copper version of these and not had an issue, however I never use the "tectite original" like you've shown here.
I work on skid mounted pump systems that use 1” sharkbite fittings on pressure lines that routinely see 120 psi all day without any issues. I was skeptical at first, but they are time proven in the field.
Was it horizontal or a diagonal placement? I have personally never had a good experience with sharkbite
Did you nor watch the video? They restrict flow.
I use them when you don't have time to wait for glue to cure for CPVC. Or the client doesn't have time for soldering.
I used one that I had to pull off of some old deleted pipe on a water heater. The cutoff wouldn’t work, the main p.o.s. plastic pex ball valve wouldn’t turn, and the meter valve was bypassing also.
I just turn my water on for the weekend today😂. I’m a homeowner. you are right, I have reduced the water from kitchen back (bathroom is closer to the main and it has full power. I used two sharks on the ends of a 2ft copper pipe. Also, my Sharks did not have the white plastic in the insides.
I did have to small tap the last end with a hammer (was not so much give) so it was flush, to stop leaks.
After seeing your video I will switch to outside clamps.
Do you have a preference for the outside clamps?
Thanks for the video!
I have been plumbing for 16 years. I have almost never had a call to fix a bad sharkbite fitting. The only times you have problems is when you use and re-use. Stick it in and be done.
I've worked in the US Senate buildings and that's all we were allowed to use due to torch restrictions and clearances where we couldn't get pro press in.
I use alot of them for transitions but never in the walls. Almost never had a problem.
Thank you! This guy is seriously not trying to compare shark bite technology to sweating copper😒
Only thing I reuse are the caps (which are always temporary for me). Any couplers, elbows or anything like that, if they come off they don't get reused. That may just be personal preference, and I may feel different if it was in my own place in an exposed area I can check, but won't bury a reused fitting like that
Finally an honest plumber in here haha. Funny there's guys with them 20+ years old in here that are fine but every plumber says they will explode and it will be nothing but trouble.
@@gearjammergamer8560 I'll have to admit, when installing one there is always the thought in the back of my mind that this could be the one that blows apart. It does make me feel uneasy that there is not a physical bond between piping materials. But I have literally put on thousands and almost never had a problem.
I'm not a plumber but a couple years ago I replumbed My house completely with Shark Bites and have had no problems I didn't remove the piece that restricts flow but did debur and smooth everything well No problems yet
Give them time, they will start leaking. Just like a faucet with a rubber seal!
I plan to install two isolation valves on some 1/2" copper runs so I can isolate the water to my 1st floor shower in preparation for a bathroom remodel planned for over the winter. I normally use solder on any plumbing projects but I am concerned I will not be able to completely stop any water flow so using solder is not an option. Compression or SharkBite are my choices and I think I am going with compression for two reasons. One is the water flow reduction you mentioned. Since it's a shower I do not want to have any flow reduction. The other potential issues is the "play" or lack of, that I will have after cutting the pipe to install the valve. I am concerned it will be difficult to get the necessary movement in the pipe to get a good full insertion of the pipe into the fitting. Using compression gives me a little more wiggle room....no pun intended. Plus I can get two compression ball valves for about the price of one SharkBite valve. Good analysis and glad I got to see this before making my decision.
i only use sharkbite for connections outside the house like in the garden with my DIY garden irrigation system (still experimenting with the best ideal setup hence sharkbite since its not permanent) since i also have a quick disconnect at the start, so if there is a leak it can be removed without causing issues to the rest of my house. the rest of my house i have a ball valve at every connection allowing me to shut off each individual faucet/pipe without affecting the entire house. i have 3 toilet and 1 kitchen and 1 for garden, there will be 1 main ball valve for water main inside the house in addition to the mains shut off outside the house, the pipe that enters each toilet will also have 1 and 1 for each toilet bowl, and sink faucet will have 2 one for hot and one for cold, same with the shower so i can shut off the faucet but still have a functioning toilet bowl or shower or sink faucet. i like having multiple redundancies in my house as i dont like searching for a shutoff when something leaks, same for my electrical.
You said you're always fixing leaks using these. Show me one video of that. I seen sb's last 20 years and still going.
He won't, because he is a BSer
I was always told - if you have the opportunity and convenience to do soldering/hard pipe the final installation do it. It looks better overrall. But when you’re in a pickle, or doing something temporary shark bites are clutch to have.
Agree, just remember to perform the real permanent fix.
in Denmark, we primarily use Press fittings, everything is usually covered in Isolation (20mm-30mm) even Tap water.
I’m a home owner/DIYer and I used a 1 inch shark bite hoses push to connect my water softener in my new pre plumped home. So far so good. Now granted the pipes are outside the dry wall. I plan on redoing with uponor fittings eventually but so far they are holding up just fine. That also being said I would never use these type of fittings on an area that is hidden or behind a wall or that is not quickly accessible.
deburr but don't sand the pipe
you'll be okay
I have one Sharkbite fitting in my house, on the cold water line to a bathroom vanity. It's been there for 11 leak free years. (Now, where's some wood to knock on?) :-)
I've fixed more leaks on copper fittings than sharkbite by far
Time will tell!
I’ve fixed more bursted pipes on copper than CPVC. So that means CPVC is better and more reliable than copper!
always someone in the comment section being contrary for the sake of being contrary.🙄
I used them on my Hot Water heater replacement that I did. I can soldier, the thing is you need to clean the fittings well and it's not in the wall and they go to stainless braided hoses to the hot water tank. I got them on copper. hmmm the size you got me there, now i might change stuff out because I know how too. But then again I'm okay with the hot water tank.
We use Shark Bites, Wyatt's has a good quick connect as well. Video touched on good points concerning the use of quick connects. Thanks for sharing!!!
I love sharkbites. Use them all the time and will keep doing it. No issues ever.
This guy needs to get called out. As you stated, Sharkbites a great reliable product. The only time they ever leak, is from improper installation. Somebody didn't cut the pipe right or prep it before install. Aside from bad luck of an individual defective Sharkbite, there's no issues with this product. He just doesn't like the fact that these Sharkbites allow do it yourself jibs to be easier. It probably costs him some jobs.
@@keitht24 The rubber will fail over time!
@@mrdan2898 No it doesn't.
@@keitht24 All rubber seals in plumbing products fail! Just because you have not seen one fail does not mean they don't fail. I have seen them fail!
@@mrdan2898 Yeah after decades of use. Like any product subjected to regular usage. Wear & tear will occur over time. But this isn't fault product.
As a flipper, I can definitely see the low quality Installation when I find Shark Bite fittings that are leaking. The two plumbers I use typically remove them and add on a press fitting to Pex, or solder the copper and glue the rest. The good thing is, here in the Greater New Orleans area, a majority of the houses are raised, to getting to the pipes under the house is a bit easier than digging.
Again, if properly installed this is not much different than a car coolant housing or actual copper, only the Sharkbite types have an o ring. I have not actually seen one fail. Yet! But I am only at about 23 years testing on a rental property. I did see one of my crimped pex joints start to drip......For whatever reason it seems like copper is failing more now days. Maybe it is the lower lead solder or thinner copper or caustics in the water supply. I am not sure? I am open to comments on why this could be the case. I have also notice that Galvanized threaded water supply lines don't seal very well. I usually have to use tape and thread sealant. For sure many US companies sold their worn out gear over seas. Looser tolerances with worn out gear? FYI *Update some plumbers are saying pipe with recycled copper are leading to more copper fails. I know my house was re plumbed about 12 years ago. My plumber used pex and switched to high quality copper just before service points to help stiffen things. The only thing that has failed for me is copper so far. Luckily I fixed with minimal drywall mess.
If you remove the plastic insert before using it on the 3/4" copper, would it be 3/4" or 1/2" sized?
I'm a carpenter, not a plumber. But I carry 1", 3/4", and 1/2" sharkbite quarter turn valves, in my plumbing disaster kit along with tubing cutters and pvc shears, so I can get the water stopped and minimize damage until the plumber gets there.
Honestly I don't know much about plumbing except what I've learned from Roger here but I will say the only time me and my friends have ever used SharkBite fittings and PVC push to connect plumbing parts is when we've tried to fashion a pipe or a bong out of plumbing parts.
4:20 Roger, you are purposely deviving the people. The id of a coupler is the same size +/- as the od of the pipe. And your 3/4 shark bite has the pex sleeve in it. Remove the pex sleeve before you make the comparison.
Yea the soft pipe sleeve in the push to fit couplers is the same as using PEX crimp fittings. If you use PEX with any crimp fittings then it's reduced just as much
@@williamwright3735 I was thinking this the whole time while watching.
I used a sharkbite fitting to repair an easily accessible pipe. Hasn't leaked in 4 years. I understand that as a professional it's not the best repair. But as a home owner as long as you install the sharkbite correctly it won't leak. I wouldn't install it behind a wall though. Overall a great video I like your content.
Thanks for the great video. As with a lot of the comments I think the biggest issue is doing good prep work and using the proper tools. I think that these fittings work great for certain situations and especially hard to access repairs.
A crescent style adjustable wrench, is a great removal tool.
Sharkbites are great for repairs that are on systems that may not to fully stop the water on. Especially systems that may have old pipe and your looking at doing an emergency repipe.
If you can't get the water off get a jet-sweat
@@robertkordingjr8835
Not always practical.
Especially when your dealing with an older system that needs to be replaced and you lack the room to use the jetsweat.
Sometimes the best option at the moment, is not the favorite option.
Lmao this is kinda off topic but when it comes to smartphones, I like to think of the iPhone as the SharkBites of the phone world & Samsung as a good 'ol classic solder
As a property manager on small (2-3 unit) older buildings in the northeast, I've used them to fix leaks. They are invaluable. I probably spend too much time on prep, because I don't want to have a leak. But when responding to a leak and never knowing what to expect when you get there, to be able to get the plumbing back up and running as soon as possible, move on to clean up, and scheduling follow-up later with a plumber later if needed, I think/hope the tenants (I call them customers) appreciate it.
My main coming in is 3/4" copper.
Both the cold/hot sides of my tank water heater are also 3/4" copper.
Once hot water goes back up to meet the supply lines, it turns to 1/2".
Myth: “SharkBite fittings are only good for short term repairs and need to be replaced by permanent connections.”
Fact: SharkBite fittings are approved by the Uniform Plumbing Code and International Plumbing Code for permanent installation.
This guy is never going to let facts get in the way of his agenda. He approached sharkbite for a sponsorship deal and they said no. Now he spends all his time pooping on sharkbite.
@@benburnett8109 That's true
I'm a master plumber and solder, press, compression, and glue. Shark bite fittings have never given me any issues - I don't use them unless I have to but they are very handy sometimes. I don't know anyone personally that has used one correctly and it failed. I think they are expensive but do a good job. Lots of unwarranted hate on them. I think if you use them incorrectly then you'll have issues.
Ever any issues with compression?
@@szargos yeah every once in a while I'll have a leak on a compression stop. I've had probably 3 in 3 years. It is what it is with that. Plumbing is plumbing anything can happen just have patience and work through it. 😁👍
@@-Enrico Makes sense, thanks!
I defenely agree 👍 with you
Not all pex fittings have flow restriction. Expansion pex is the only pex I'll use. As for shark bite, use them in very limited use case as you mention.
Im work in homeservices with my dad and he relies too much on these. I recently bought some soldering equipment to step our game up and save big bucks.
I'll just say I've had great luck using Shark Bites with pex, much better than the original compression fittings - and thanks to all the more experienced plumbers for pointing out their pitfalls so I don't overuse them.
It's not luck, its properly installing. This guy is just blowing smoke. Sharkbites work perfectly fine & aren't an issue if installed properly.
Punishment for using sharkbites for permanent repairs should be to repipe your entire house using nothing but cpvc and sharkbite fittings
With one right over your bed on the cold water line :)
There's a "plumber" in Fl with his Masters that has like 5 repipes under his belt in full pex and sharkbites. To this day the thought gives me.mad anxiety
I second this
My house is entirely piped with cpvc and shark bites, and has been for the last 10yrs. no issues.
@@MrFsantora jinxed it now
We Inherited a camp in the Adirondacks. Unfortunately it hadn’t been winterized properly and as soon as I primed the pump 😮 water spraying everywhere. It was pouring out of the dropped ceiling in basement and half a dozen other places. Those Sharkbites saved the day. The burst pipes were mostly 1/2” and some 3/4” copper tubing. I used cpcv plastic and Sharkbites after cutting out the bad sections. Luckily the damaged pipes were easily accessible. We had the place for 10 yrs after that and no leaks. I did learn to solder tubing but as it was a vacation place that was four states away, other maintenance took priority. I definitely made sure it was winterized properly though.
I say 10 yrs but it wasn’t like the water was in constant use, not even close.