Thanks for the tips. Good info. I'm just a DIY home owner and have had the joy over the years of replacing leaking polybutylene fittings many times. For years I used Quiktite type fittings which will work on on Copper, CPVC and Polybutylene. After PEX became commonly available I switched to using PEX for those repairs. I do not use Sharkbite or similar type fittings for much of anything. They're just stupid expensive. I get why some commercial installers like them because of the time savings, but I will stick to using PEX push on fittings with crimp rings almost exclusively and have never had a leak. Errata: I will acknowledge that some Sharkbite type fittings have become more affordable but many are really costly compared to other types fittings. In short: I love the engineering but hate the expense. Can't help it.
Thank you !! I put a shark bite coupling in a Quest line that was already installed in our home that had pin hole leak, starting dripping, believe I did few of these mistakes, gonna go back and reinstall with new fitting, Thanks for info !!!
Thanks! I had a slow drip after a shut off Valve, I had to saw the pipe and didn’t make a 90° cut, got a pipe cutter and the Debur tool and viola! No more leak
Been a year now and so far ,so good! These are too easy to use. I love them! I (so far) got very lucky 🍀. Still dry , no leaks👍 Thanks for update and now I will start doing it the correct way 😊
One clarification; the reaming tool doesn’t help the o-ring seal better. What it does is, the tool removes the sharp outer edge of the pex pipe, which can damage the o-ring during insertion.
You can buy EPDM O-Rings to replace warn out ones. I get some silicone based lubricant and soak the O-ring in that for a bit, then use an oring removal tool and remove the old o-ring and replace it with a freshly lubricated new one. It works great for me.
I used a total of 6 shark bite fittings for my water heater and they do just fine. Part pex piping and the other copper. Just make sure you cut the pipe the right way and that it's clean. Haven't had a leak since I installed them.
one major problem of sharkbite connection is the pipe can turn after pushed into the connector, if the other end is a quarter turn stop valve, then you may be turning the pipe instead of the stop valve.
When I turn off a stop valve I always hold the valve with one hand and turn the valve handle with the other. It is pretty easy to tell if the handle is pointing to the supply line or 90 degrees from it.
Very important. The pipe CAN spin in the connection. This may cause problems down the line. Some connections should not be made with Sharkbite then. Good note.
The hatred in the comments is hilarious. I paid a plumber 1k for pex and copper ring fittings lasted less than 4 years. In fact I used a shark bite on the very same area that started leaking. No issues in 5 years so far.
Biggest help: make absolutely sure everything is prepped before inserting the pipe. One chance, imho. These things are spendy and only to be used in cases where nothing else will do the job.
Plumber here with 52 years experience and I've never ever had a soldered fitting leak on me. I used 2 Sharkbite fittings today and they didn't fill me with any confidence. Time will tell...
How many years/decades can a Sharkbite fitting be expected to last? I've read conflicting opinions; some people say they use them only as temporary solutions. If it were only a fitting between two pipes not subject to mechanical stresses, I assume it could last for decades without leaking. But when it's part of a shutoff valve, the operation of closing or opening the valve will cause some force on it. And if it's a shutoff valve located below a sink, it would be at risk of being bumped. Would either of these scenarios cause enough mechanical stress to be significant? How gentle must the residents be on these, to have confidence they will last for decades without trouble? Also, how confident can we be that Sharkbite will still be in business manufacturing replacements decades from now?
I've put Sharkbite fittings in my plumbing and many have worked leak free for more than 5 years; including a sharkbite valve that I installed as my main shutoff valve.
SharkBite fittings carry a 25 year warranty from manufacturing defects. Any plumbing fitting, SharkBite or others, always has the potential to fail if not properly installed. Soldered copper or PEX clamps can fail too. Here's the SharkBite FAQ page that has more answers: www.sharkbite.com/ca/en/resources/faq/push-to-connect-fittings-faq
>upgradeyourhomediy : A careful reading of the 25 year warranty reveals loopholes, since it's only for manufacturing defects... in other words, they have an incentive to blame a leak on improper installation or abuse. How will you prove it was due to a manufacturing defect? It would help to hear from DIYers who have filed warranty claims, about their experiences with the warranty service. To file a warranty claim, you can't remove the Sharkbite fitting from the pipe. You instead need to cut the pipe so that a section of the pipe is still inserted in the fitting you send to them for evaluation. That means you won't be able to fix a leak by simply replacing the Sharkbite fitting; you'd also need to replace the cut-out section of pipe. The coverage on damage caused by a leak is limited to 10 years AND requires proof that the installation was performed by a licensed professional plumber. That's bad news for DIYers. It's also a warning to be careful when hiring a restoration contractor after major damage (fire, flood, etc). It's important to verify the kind of fittings they will install, verify that they will hire a licensed professional plumber to install them, and obtain documentation that can prove a licensed professional plumber did the installation. In my limited experience (a single restoration company after an asbestos abatement company demolished my condo's kitchen) the company uses unlicensed handymen for plumbing and electrical work, and due to their meager plumbing skills they can only do easy solutions (like Sharkbite), not necessarily the best long term solutions.
Viega propress has a 50 year warranty, copper soldered could last 100+ years. Shark bites id use them if you need to shut the water off but other than that it's more reliable to hard pipe it, if using PEX a crimp fitting is more reliable. Like anything though you can make a ghetto repair like taping a waste line with electrical tape and it could hold for many years.
>joeb5829 : The Viega warranty doesn't cover damage, it covers only the repair or replacement of the Viega part. Also, the 50 year period is for fittings, and for Viega valves it's only 5 years.
Proper plumber's cloth is a wildly unhelpful bit of info, WHAT GRIT???? For Buna N O'Rings you should go as fine as you have patience for. A polished mirror surface is not too fine. no one will do it but it's a great surface against which to seal. I use a woodworking hand plane (small block plane) to put the chamfer on the end. If I were doing a whole house or as a vocation, I'd buy the specialty tool. Depth of fit ? I just measure the inside of the fitting.
The reasons sharkbites leak or fail people get in a hurry to move to the next job. If properly done you will not have an issue at all. I’ve used sharkbites for almost 5 years and absolutely zero issues. Finding someone to properly sweat copper these days you have a better chance of wining the powerball
Don't sand copper pipe when using shark bite fittings, or if you must use something really fine grit. Better yet just avoid the stupid things all together.
Haters gonna hate... If Sharkbites didn't work for MOST people who use them, they wouldn't be on the market for 20 years AND approved by the UPC and IPC. You losers just need to admit you made one or all of these same mistakes. lol Excellent video, sir!
I'm glad you found the video helpful. As someone else commented, this video isn't for professional plumbers. It is for us homeowners who want to tackle a plumbing project and want to do it without having to learn sweating copper, etc.
Unfortunately even if you do everything correctly these things are going to fail/leak at some point because the O-ring rubber is going to break down. I certainly would not close any connections in a wall where you have to tear stuff out to fix the leak 😒 For this reason I would steer people away from using them.
Why not just sweat the fittings like real plumbers did years ago, they last a long long time. If you aint sweating your not a plumber. you are just a helper.
unfortunately making these mistakes means you didn't even bother reading and abiding by the direction that are very clear from Sharkbite.... maybe best to let someone else do the work...... just saying.... I'm not a contractor, but am building my own home as an owner - builder... it is important to follow directions.....
Lol its important to understand them, but ive found that following them is not always the best. However, you should definitely know and read the instructions carefully before deciding to do it a better way. Most times it is the best way, just sayin it's not always the best way
@@chrishernandez9277 I've been a plumber for nearly 30 years. I really don't care what a homeowner does to their own house, but as a professional, I would never use something that is "decently" reliable and risk a call back or damage to property due to a sharkbite fitting. It's not worth the few dollars saved. Remember the fittings Home Depot used to sell a few years ago that already had the solder in them? Yeah, they aren't around anymore because they failed. To each his own!
Thank you !! I put a shark bite coupling in a Quest line that was already installed in our home that had pin hole leak, starting dripping, believe I did few of these mistakes, gonna go back and reinstall with new fitting, Thanks for info !!!
I used a total of 6 shark bite fittings for my water heater and they do just fine. Part pex piping and the other copper. Just make sure you cut the pipe the right way and that it's clean. Haven't had a leak since I installed them.
Same, copper from the wall into plastic no leaks. I've not done half these steps. I do use sandpaper to smooth the cut. Even when I didn't it held true. PS, if you have a cigar cutter to hand try it, fast straight cuts.
Thanks for the tips. Good info.
I'm just a DIY home owner and have had the joy over the years of replacing leaking polybutylene fittings many times. For years I used Quiktite type fittings which will work on on Copper, CPVC and Polybutylene. After PEX became commonly available I switched to using PEX for those repairs. I do not use Sharkbite or similar type fittings for much of anything. They're just stupid expensive. I get why some commercial installers like them because of the time savings, but I will stick to using PEX push on fittings with crimp rings almost exclusively and have never had a leak. Errata: I will acknowledge that some Sharkbite type fittings have become more affordable but many are really costly compared to other types fittings. In short: I love the engineering but hate the expense. Can't help it.
Thank you !! I put a shark bite coupling in a Quest line that was already installed in our home that had pin hole leak, starting dripping, believe I did few of these mistakes, gonna go back and reinstall with new fitting, Thanks for info !!!
About to tackle a project with Shark Bite fittings and glad I saw your video first! Thanks.
I'm glad you found the video helpful. Good luck with the project!
Thanks! I had a slow drip after a shut off Valve, I had to saw the pipe and didn’t make a 90° cut, got a pipe cutter and the Debur tool and viola! No more leak
Great to hear the tips worked for you!
Been a year now and so far ,so good! These are too easy to use. I love them! I (so far) got very lucky 🍀. Still dry , no leaks👍
Thanks for update and now I will start doing it the correct way 😊
I'm glad you've found SharkBite fittings a good solution.
One clarification; the reaming tool doesn’t help the o-ring seal better. What it does is, the tool removes the sharp outer edge of the pex pipe, which can damage the o-ring during insertion.
Thank you, it is very helpful.
I'm glad you found the video helpful.
Good tips. Thanks
Glad that mistakes I've made could help you out
Grow up
Thanks
I'm glad you found the video helpful.
Love sharkbite only issue is longevity we’ll see how long it’s last
Thank you for sharing
I'm glad you found the video helpful.
Great video. Saved the day yesterday.
I'm glad you found the video helpful.
You can buy EPDM O-Rings to replace warn out ones. I get some silicone based lubricant and soak the O-ring in that for a bit, then use an oring removal tool and remove the old o-ring and replace it with a freshly lubricated new one. It works great for me.
Thanks for sharing what works for you. I am sure others will find it helpful.
I used a total of 6 shark bite fittings for my water heater and they do just fine. Part pex piping and the other copper. Just make sure you cut the pipe the right way and that it's clean. Haven't had a leak since I installed them.
THANKS FOR THE TIPS
I'm glad you found the video helpful.
one major problem of sharkbite connection is the pipe can turn after pushed into the connector, if the other end is a quarter turn stop valve, then you may be turning the pipe instead of the stop valve.
When I turn off a stop valve I always hold the valve with one hand and turn the valve handle with the other. It is pretty easy to tell if the handle is pointing to the supply line or 90 degrees from it.
Very important. The pipe CAN spin in the connection. This may cause problems down the line. Some connections should not be made with Sharkbite then. Good note.
The hatred in the comments is hilarious. I paid a plumber 1k for pex and copper ring fittings lasted less than 4 years. In fact I used a shark bite on the very same area that started leaking. No issues in 5 years so far.
You can use muriatic acid to remove corrosion on copper.
Biggest help: make absolutely sure everything is prepped before inserting the pipe. One chance, imho. These things are spendy and only to be used in cases where nothing else will do the job.
Pex pipe does not come in just coils. It comes in 4ft and 8ft lengths at home depot
There are two types of Pex pipe, A and B. I believe Pex A is more flexible and comes in rolls while Pex B comes in straight lengths.
I have always purchased my pex B in 100ft coils.
Plumber here with 52 years experience and I've never ever had a soldered fitting leak on me. I used 2 Sharkbite fittings today and they didn't fill me with any confidence. Time will tell...
Sounds like a cheap solution for a short term fix?
How many years/decades can a Sharkbite fitting be expected to last? I've read conflicting opinions; some people say they use them only as temporary solutions.
If it were only a fitting between two pipes not subject to mechanical stresses, I assume it could last for decades without leaking. But when it's part of a shutoff valve, the operation of closing or opening the valve will cause some force on it. And if it's a shutoff valve located below a sink, it would be at risk of being bumped. Would either of these scenarios cause enough mechanical stress to be significant? How gentle must the residents be on these, to have confidence they will last for decades without trouble?
Also, how confident can we be that Sharkbite will still be in business manufacturing replacements decades from now?
I've put Sharkbite fittings in my plumbing and many have worked leak free for more than 5 years; including a sharkbite valve that I installed as my main shutoff valve.
SharkBite fittings carry a 25 year warranty from manufacturing defects. Any plumbing fitting, SharkBite or others, always has the potential to fail if not properly installed. Soldered copper or PEX clamps can fail too. Here's the SharkBite FAQ page that has more answers: www.sharkbite.com/ca/en/resources/faq/push-to-connect-fittings-faq
>upgradeyourhomediy : A careful reading of the 25 year warranty reveals loopholes, since it's only for manufacturing defects... in other words, they have an incentive to blame a leak on improper installation or abuse. How will you prove it was due to a manufacturing defect? It would help to hear from DIYers who have filed warranty claims, about their experiences with the warranty service.
To file a warranty claim, you can't remove the Sharkbite fitting from the pipe. You instead need to cut the pipe so that a section of the pipe is still inserted in the fitting you send to them for evaluation. That means you won't be able to fix a leak by simply replacing the Sharkbite fitting; you'd also need to replace the cut-out section of pipe.
The coverage on damage caused by a leak is limited to 10 years AND requires proof that the installation was performed by a licensed professional plumber. That's bad news for DIYers.
It's also a warning to be careful when hiring a restoration contractor after major damage (fire, flood, etc). It's important to verify the kind of fittings they will install, verify that they will hire a licensed professional plumber to install them, and obtain documentation that can prove a licensed professional plumber did the installation. In my limited experience (a single restoration company after an asbestos abatement company demolished my condo's kitchen) the company uses unlicensed handymen for plumbing and electrical work, and due to their meager plumbing skills they can only do easy solutions (like Sharkbite), not necessarily the best long term solutions.
Viega propress has a 50 year warranty, copper soldered could last 100+ years. Shark bites id use them if you need to shut the water off but other than that it's more reliable to hard pipe it, if using PEX a crimp fitting is more reliable. Like anything though you can make a ghetto repair like taping a waste line with electrical tape and it could hold for many years.
>joeb5829 : The Viega warranty doesn't cover damage, it covers only the repair or replacement of the Viega part. Also, the 50 year period is for fittings, and for Viega valves it's only 5 years.
I use steel wool to clean the pipe.
Speaker volume barely audible
Use sharkbite tools and thier installation process n boom!
Presenting a good argument for not using SharkBites. Soldering copper pipe is always the best.
Improperly soldered fittings can fail also.
@@cy0mrb58 Then learn how to solder them correctly.
@@georgebaumgardner5280 You can also learn how to properly do sharrkbite connections, which is what he did. Not that you care...
Most plumbers will charge a ridiculous price for soldering I used shark bites and still holding 20 year ago
I can't hear you
Proper plumber's cloth is a wildly unhelpful bit of info, WHAT GRIT???? For Buna N O'Rings you should go as fine as you have patience for. A polished mirror surface is not too fine. no one will do it but it's a great surface against which to seal.
I use a woodworking hand plane (small block plane) to put the chamfer on the end. If I were doing a whole house or as a vocation, I'd buy the specialty tool.
Depth of fit ? I just measure the inside of the fitting.
No point doing the job if it ain't done right
All plumbing will fail and leak everything can fail under pressure
The sun will implode in 6 billion years too.
I just don’t trust these connectors. Pex crimps or soldering copper is what gets me to sleep at night.
I agree, especially after watching this video
Too much installation mistakes that can happen with sharkbite.
Lifetime guarantee if done correctly. Your feelings are not evidence.
The reasons sharkbites leak or fail people get in a hurry to move to the next job. If properly done you will not have an issue at all. I’ve used sharkbites for almost 5 years and absolutely zero issues. Finding someone to properly sweat copper these days you have a better chance of wining the powerball
Don't sand copper pipe when using shark bite fittings, or if you must use something really fine grit. Better yet just avoid the stupid things all together.
You still have to clean the copper when you make connections
@@user-aq4vk2sc8f Clean, yes. Just need to avoid any kind of deep scratches to prevent weeping. Circular motion would be best.
Haters gonna hate... If Sharkbites didn't work for MOST people who use them, they wouldn't be on the market for 20 years AND approved by the UPC and IPC. You losers just need to admit you made one or all of these same mistakes. lol Excellent video, sir!
I'm glad you found the video helpful. As someone else commented, this video isn't for professional plumbers. It is for us homeowners who want to tackle a plumbing project and want to do it without having to learn sweating copper, etc.
Unfortunately even if you do everything correctly these things are going to fail/leak at some point because the O-ring rubber is going to break down. I certainly would not close any connections in a wall where you have to tear stuff out to fix the leak 😒
For this reason I would steer people away from using them.
No doubt u are a plumber mad cause you're losing work from DIYers. I have sharkbite going on 7 years no leaks so your statement is falss
@@robertthomas6043
Nope not a plumber just a guy with a leaking shark bite
@Tinmania-m8u You should take some notes on the video then.
the first mistake is using sharkbite fittings. do any quality plumbers use them? i vote no. avoid at all costs
Why not just sweat the fittings like real plumbers did years ago, they last a long long time. If you aint sweating your not a plumber. you are just a helper.
This video is not for plumbers; it is for homeowners.
unfortunately making these mistakes means you didn't even bother reading and abiding by the direction that are very clear from Sharkbite.... maybe best to let someone else do the work...... just saying.... I'm not a contractor, but am building my own home as an owner - builder... it is important to follow directions.....
Most of these packages have no instructions. Thats why I ended up here. Just the fitting in a bag.
Why so many dots? 😂
We all make mistake, this dudes learning from his and teaching others.
“Maybe best to let someone else do the work”
No. Maybe best to read the directions and watch a few videos.
Lol its important to understand them, but ive found that following them is not always the best. However, you should definitely know and read the instructions carefully before deciding to do it a better way. Most times it is the best way, just sayin it's not always the best way
do it, not talk a lot like that....working on that.....not talk like that.....
Your volume is horribly low.
Mistake #1: Using Sharkbite fittings in the first place.
It’s a cheap quick fix for home owners and they’re decently reliable. Plumbers just hate bc it takes the skill out of it
@@chrishernandez9277 I've been a plumber for nearly 30 years. I really don't care what a homeowner does to their own house, but as a professional, I would never use something that is "decently" reliable and risk a call back or damage to property due to a sharkbite fitting. It's not worth the few dollars saved. Remember the fittings Home Depot used to sell a few years ago that already had the solder in them? Yeah, they aren't around anymore because they failed. To each his own!
@briana3544 Sorry you can’t charge 400 bucks anymore for something a homeowner can do for 10 bucks and it last longer than your crappy solder 😂
@@chrishernandez9277 plumbers love them because they lead to emergency service calls 🤑
Better than you monkeys charging alot..
I can't understand what you're saying because the volume is way too low!
😢
Thank you !! I put a shark bite coupling in a Quest line that was already installed in our home that had pin hole leak, starting dripping, believe I did few of these mistakes, gonna go back and reinstall with new fitting, Thanks for info !!!
I'm glad you found the video helpful.
I used a total of 6 shark bite fittings for my water heater and they do just fine. Part pex piping and the other copper. Just make sure you cut the pipe the right way and that it's clean. Haven't had a leak since I installed them.
Same, copper from the wall into plastic no leaks. I've not done half these steps. I do use sandpaper to smooth the cut. Even when I didn't it held true.
PS, if you have a cigar cutter to hand try it, fast straight cuts.