When to NOT use sharkbite? A question

Hi, If the shark bite will live in a place that's not hidden and to actually look there periodically, fine. If not, I'd avoid using one. If you take about an hour with some copper pipe and fittings, you can teach yourself to sweat copper. I'd watch some videos first, but it is really not such a difficult thing. The main thing people mess up is not cleaning the pipe and fittings enough, Second is overheating the joint.

Yours, Larry

There are places where Sharkbits are not just a good temporary fix (if the pipes are prepared well — square cuts and no burrs — they are a good bit better than temporary) but a perfectly valid permanent fitting.

I've use them, for instance, in settings where I am doing domestic water — and am MUCH too close to highly flammable wood to even consider heat, never mind a torch.

Propress, compression, flare.

While I am not a huge sharkbite fan I had a leaky solder joint on a new water heater install at my house many years ago, cut it out and replaced it with a sharkbite since I wanted it done quick and had the fitting. Told myself I would change it out when the sharkbite started leaking, it lasted longer than the tankless water heater it was hooked to.

Um… well… @Mad Dog_2 , I beg to differ on one count: You say "starting a fire" is a non-issue with a moderate level of skill with a torch. I just can't agree with that one. Perhaps in a modern house with poorly seasoned timber… but in the places I work on, the wood is a century or two old, completely dry, and even large pieces will light with a wooden match — never mind wooden lathe.

I might consider using a torch within six inches of a heavy timber, if I had no other choice — but I'd have a helper handy with a hose at all times, and keep a fire watch going for at least an hour after finishing…

Keep in mind that the most common cause of loss for historic structures is fire… during construction or renovation…

Both Propress and Sharkbite depend on the o-ring for the seal.

One is a crimp on, the other has a gripper ring. Both work and have a place.

We have seen pics of sweat, press and grip fittings push off in a freezing condition, so that argument doesn't hold water.

If you don't trust your solder skills, may as well use a grip.

Sand the tube, check for deep scratches, both with press and grip fittings.

I have used shark bites professionally (Maintenance man) and personally in my home for years where they were visible and have never seen a leak. I have even used them on 3/4 pnuematic lines with 120 psi and they have been there for more than fifteen years. My own sweat work and paid professional sweat work have leaked due to improper heat or fit. They show up months and years later. Fire and skill must be considered before sweating. These days, because my employer paid for it, I use a propress.

I would use Sharkbites behind a wall, and in fact, I just advised my brother to do so in his 120 year old home.

Just make sure your pipe is cut square, no burrs, no dirt and is seated firmly in the fitting.

I would NOT pay a plumbing company to do a job and expect them to use Sharkbites.

You could also rent a press gun, grab some Viega (only) fittings and press it.

You can also run pex, and rent a crimper, or buy a cheaper manual one at HD.
I'd probably do the pex over sharkbites if I were in your situation.

Or make friends with a plumber if you have something of value to trade with them.

Hi, I once had to sweat copper in a straw bale home. Took lots of precautions and all went well. Still, it was a bit nervous-making 😵‍💫

Yours, Larry

Paul...my "Data" is in the tens of thousands of homes and commercial buildings I've worked in since 1985. Millions a liner feet of Copper sweat joints (installed since the 1950s) that's 75 yr old "empirical Data." I still see galvanized screw pipe on domestic water installed over 125 yrs ago still working...no.leaks..And then there's lead.

Your "datum" is based on what? Your basement laboratory & internet research? You need to crawl through some Plaster & Lathe suspended ceilings in NYC museums and Courthouses, St Patrick's Cathedral, Crawlspaces of NYC Housing projects & 1870s Gold Coast Mansions of the North Shore of Long Island.

Stay with your position that they are fast & require no skills..I'll concur, but Sharkbites & Propress outlasting traditional pipe, fittings and joining systems?? Nolo Contendre....Mad Dog

and they were using blowtorches.

I like sweat. Propress I don't care for. Is it fast? Yes. Is it good when working wet? You can't beat it.

Propress is great on long runs. Where I don't care for it is if you have to replace something and/or the fittings are close coupled you end up scrapping a lot of fittings. Never used a shark bite.

Personally I wouldn't bury or conceal a shark bite.

I would love to know if shark bite is acceptable on a large scale new construction job. Maybe some of our Engineers here can chime it.

I would suspect that engineers may not be willing to stamp a set of plans using Shark Bite

i'm betting they are not approved for the larger building types

I see lots of mention of copper fittings leaking but not one mention of a sharkbite leaking. Which is the easier repair?

Can't make everything bulletproof but you can make it accessible to some degree, if not fully.

I sweat stuff at my house, but I'm old school and a little proud in the challenge. I feel unless going against what the fitting is designed to do, than do what you want.

you are if as a homeowner the leak is fixed with just a trip to HD. Especially if you consider late night or weekdays emergency plumbing service call. The large regionals anround here are just as likely to fix using a sharkbite vs. sweat or ProPress.

personally I avoid shark bites but I have a ProPress. I have used their refrigerator ice maker valves. Way better than than the needle saddle valves.

I braze copper tubing that's inches away from dry lumber in homes, it's easy to avoid starting a fire when you make the right precautions. Low temperature soldering is easy in comparison.

If avoiding the risk of starting a fire is the main concern I would use compression fittings instead of shark bites. Just my opinion, I feel like it's a better way to go. I've seen too many homeowners have leaks when the piping isn't perfectly straight or when any stress is out on the connection. Yes, I know leaks can happen in those situations with all types of connections but as a professional I view shark bites as something to avoid. Like @Mad Dog_2 I try to do everything the best way possible. Even if it's not the easiest, fastest or cheapest way to do it.

i mean yo could cite the code and standards that approve it for that purpose but unless someone somehow gets killed it is just going to be your insurance company arguing with their insurance company