SharkBite fittings for Copper and PEX

[DerbyDad03]

I always sweated copper, but I want to try PEX for my next upgrade.

The cold water spigot at the front of the house is at street pressure, but the backyard spigot is after the PRV. I'd like to tab into the street pressure pipe and get the higher pressure in the backyard.

All I need is 2 connections: a Tee and a coupling - along with about 35' of tubing.

According to the video at this site (starting at about 4:15) SharkBite connections can be used with copper and PEX.

So, assuming I have room to get this fitting into the existing pipe, is there any reason I shouldn't use the SharkBite Tee to tap into existing pipe?

I know $8 for a Tee is expensive, but it's way cheaper than a crimping or clamping tool.

Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

[RicodJour]

I started using the Sharkbite fittings a couple or three years ago. I now have an assortment in my plumbing fittings case. They work great and are far faster than anything else out there. They are particularly useful for applications where you might be testing or modifying the supply lines, as they are easily removed and reused.

I'm pretty good at sweating pipe, and have a crimping tool, but I still turn to the Sharkbite fittings for many installations. You can, of course, get cheaper connections, but you're already saving money by switching to PEX - how low do you want to go?

R

[DerbyDad03]

Can I assume you use them for both PEX and copper, as I plan to do?

[RicodJour]

Yep. I just used some in a _very_ tight space where there were two ancient and leaking shutoff valves that had to be replaced. Getting a crimp tool in there would have been next to impossible, and a torch would have removed the rest of the house.

The only caveat is to make sure you debur and smooth the end of the pipe so you don't beat up on the EPDM O-ring.

R

[clare]

I've used SharkBite fittings in applications where soldering would have been extremely difficult, and they work a real treet. I used them strictly on copper, but they work the same on PEX..

At $8 per, they were a CHEAP solution to a difficult problem.

[fftt]

For a quick repair or modification or in difficult spot.......SharkBites are the way to go.

They are perfect for adding PEX to an existing copper system.

Though I've never had the nerve to seal one up in a wall....... :) which of course is a silly superstition.

Doing an entire system in SharkBites would really add up. For more extensive PEX work I used the Wirsbo expander (hand) imo, way better than crimp ring system. But the tools are spendy. :(

and pexsupply is where I get my stuff

cheers Bob

[SteveB]

I used them, and I liked them. The line I had to replace was UNDER a cabin, and it would have a pure dee bitch to do with other means. The stuff is easy to work with, just make sure you do a clean cut. I cut my tubing with a hack saw. I had doubts, but tried it because of the location and the inability to get in there and cut out the burst frozen section and sweat together again without major risk. I like them.

Steve

[DerbyDad03]

Thanks all! SharkBite it is then!

[SteveB]

Thanks all! SharkBite it is then!

Reply: Do not forget to buy the little dollar or two "tool" (piece of plastic) that allows you to disconnect the pieces. It will be worth it if you need to take them apart, as I did, or down the line if you want to modify. I was seriously skeptical, but I'd use them again in a heartbeat after the guy at HD demonstrated them. Even my wife was skeptical, and she could do it with the demo pieces. The only thing I did differently was use a compression fitting T instead of a SharkBite T because it was about $7 cheaper. But then my buddy and I couldn't get enough force on the nuts to get the compression fitting to close tight enough. We were up at the cabin, and had limited tools, just a pair of big Channel Locks and a pair of Vise Grip pliers. Two old farts were just not strong enough. We ended up putting the Channel Locks in one of the holes of one of our car's rims FROM THE INSIDE, and using that for enough of a stopper to get that last quarter turn that closed off the water flow. It was one solid hour of Larry, Moe, and Curly minus one. Hooking and unhooking, turning water on and off. That is where the little plastic widget came in handy. Knowing that now, I'd have spent the extra $7. We were both sore for two days afterwards pulling like hell. I bruised the palm of my hand real good. ( I take coumadin.)

You're gonna love them. But, as the other person posted, get a REALLY REALLY clean end. Use some aluminum oxide paper to get it right. The better that O ring seals, the better the whole thing works, and if you have one little burr, and cut the O ring ......................

Steve

[clare]

I just used my adjustable wrench, closed down to the outside dia of the pipe to push in the collar to release - I won't loose it as fast as the special tool, and I already own several. (as well as a 5/8" open end wrench that would also do the job))

[SteveB]

wrote

I figgered as much, but I was up against a time deadline, and I did not want to be making trips up and down the mountain, so I just grabbed one.

Steve

[DerbyDad03]

re: The only thing I did differently was use a compression fitting T instead of a SharkBite T because it was about $7 cheaper. I'm seriously confused. I must be missing something.

First you said you used a SnakeBite under the cabin, not you say you "The only thing I did differently was use a compression fitting T instead of a SharkBite T". Please explain.

re: "But then my buddy and I couldn't get enough force on the nuts to get the compression fitting to close tight enough."

If 2 guys, even "old" guys can't wrench a compression fitting tight enough, then there must have been something else wrong.

What am I missing?

[RicodJour]

A number of the fittings I've bought recently came with the C-shaped removal tool. They may have been Tee fittings.

R

[SteveB]

re: The only thing I did differently was use a compression fitting T instead of a SharkBite T because it was about $7 cheaper. I'm seriously confused. I must be missing something.

First you said you used a SnakeBite under the cabin, not you say you "The only thing I did differently was use a compression fitting T instead of a SharkBite T". Please explain.

re: "But then my buddy and I couldn't get enough force on the nuts to get the compression fitting to close tight enough."

If 2 guys, even "old" guys can't wrench a compression fitting tight enough, then there must have been something else wrong.

What am I missing?

reply:

Being there. We had Crescent wrenches, but the ones we had would not open up enough to grip the nuts. Had we had big enough Crescents, or pipe wrenches, the thing would have been a breeze. What we had was barely adequate for the job at hand. We had no vise to help us.

I don't know what was wrong with the tee or our fitup. I have put them on, and had to torque them far less. Hey, it works, and holds water. What can I say?

It is not important that you totally comprehend our experience. The important thing is that I have used the Sharkbite connectors, I like the SharkBite connectors, will buy them FROM NOW ON, and would recommend them to anyone who has an install where safety, access, or other factors make sweating difficult.

HTH

Steve

[RicodJour]

Sounds like you had no problem sweating in that crawlspace... ;)

R

[DerbyDad03]

re: HTH

Sure does! Thanks!

[SteveB]

Sounds like you had no problem sweating in that crawlspace... ;)

R

[SteveB]

Sorry, brain fart. Actually, it was in the 60's, and very cool.