Sharkbite

**Chuck** · 07-01-2007, 07:24 AM

I was in Home Depot last night picking up some odds n ends, and noticed that they're now carrying "Sharkbite" fittings. Cash Acme - Products - SharkBite® Connection System

these are the "push on" fittings that can connect cpvc, copper, or pex...similar to the "sea-tech" fittings that many have used.

they're a little spendy, but from what I could tell, not much out of line compared w/ sea-tech/watts. The do look more rugged...they've got at least some metal in them.

They had a neat little display with a "tee" fitting and short lengths of each pipe material that you could install and remove w/ the little removal tool. very quick and easy to connect.

anyway, just thought I'd post a heads-up. always good to have another option available.

Alumatube · 07-01-2007, 07:47 AM

That's very good to know--thank you for the evaluation and report! We're going to have to do some plumbing work in our 310 and this stuff could be helpful, depending on what we find.

Susan

Fyrzowt · 07-01-2007, 09:37 AM

I used sharkbite earlier this year when changing out my water heater. It works on either copper or PEX, so it makes a great transition between the two. They are a little pricey. They work well, great for tight areas with limited access such as the bottom of a closet behind the water heater. :-)
I have removed them and re-installed them with no problems and if I recall, are rated for 200#.
Dave

FreshAir · 07-01-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fyrzowt

I used sharkbite earlier this year when changing out my water heater. It works on either copper or PEX, so it makes a great transition between the two. They are a little pricey. They work well, great for tight areas with limited access such as the bottom of a closet behind the water heater. :-)
I have removed them and re-installed them with no problems and if I recall, are rated for 200#.
Dave

I have just completed the same installation. I could barely get my arms into the space available to make the water connections and probably would be still out in my coach cursing had I were using a wrench. The best advantage was when leaks kept appearing in the wrench-up connection to the tank. To retighten those it was a very simple disconnect of the Pex/Shark Bite to allow the repair. Pricey, yes. A happy connection, priceless.

Neil.

Fyrzowt · 07-01-2007, 10:14 AM

Along with the lack of access in there, probably the best reason for me to use sharkbite was that I didn't have to stick a soldering torch in there and risk burning my trailer down around my ears.
Dave

lewster · 07-01-2007, 10:46 AM

I use them all, and I have tried the Sharkbite. Very similar to the Sea-tech, but more of a pain to remove. I have concentrated my inventory on the Sea-Tech as they are more available to me in the quantities that I need ( I don't get them from HD) and on occassion, I need to R & R fittings, so they are the one of choice for me.

Either is a HUGE improvement over any of the others.

whitelight · 07-01-2007, 11:16 AM

Would love to use the shark-bite type fittings. . . . BUT, our 75' 22' Argy seems to have a non-standard (by today's standards) copper piping . . . the I.D. of our copper fresh water plumbing is 5/8" . . . . the shark-bite 1/2" connectors are tooo small, 3/4" toooo large!

We have to replace our pressure regulator, plus a section of piping that has a break . . . .

Any suggestions for a 1/2" to 5/8" adapter . . . .

(and it's way too tight in the corner to even attempt soldering!)

retronotold · 07-01-2007, 11:45 AM

I am guessing that your pipes have frozen at some time in the past, without bursting. The pipes get enlarged and the fittings won't fit. I had the same problem in my Caravel (although I had a split in the pipe) - couldn't just cut out the bad area due to the swollen pipes.

I wanted new plumbing throughout anyway . . . .

retronotold · 07-01-2007, 11:48 AM

Whitelight, I didn't read carefully. Your situation with the broken section is exactly what I had. Even though I had only one split area, all of the copper in the system had swollen.

whitelight · 07-01-2007, 03:58 PM

retronotold, thanks for this info . . . your'e right, that's exactly what may have happened to our trailer's copper plumbing . . . that's one of the great things about this forum . . . discovering others have had similar experiences! (and our trailer wasn't orginally plumbed with 5/8" copper pipe!)

yes, looks we're in for new plumbing as well . . . did a temporary fix for the vintage rally next weekend . . . . cut out the section with the split, then used a piece of reinforced PVC food grade hose . . . inserted between the two open ends of copper pipe, hose clamped in place. Works well when we use our internal water system.

FreshAir · 07-01-2007, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitelight

. . . . cut out the section with the split, then used a piece of reinforced PVC food grade hose . . . inserted between the two open ends of copper pipe, hose clamped in place. Works well when we use our internal water system.

I would use 2 clamps on each end of the PVC. You might not get a 'round tuit' and get comfortable with the temp repair. Those hose clamps loosen with time.

Neil and Lynn.

**Chuck** · 07-02-2007, 08:01 AM

and even better than that...you can get compression fittings that are 1/2" on one end, and pipe-thread on the other...into which you can insert a 1/2" pipe thread>hose barb. clamp the tubing onto the barbs...it'll hold better.

my water pump intake line was "as described" above...just a hose clamped onto a short stub of copper pipe. The only reason it held was because its a suction line. hoses clamped to copper pipe won't hold pressure for very long. but they will, if clamped to a barb.
anyway, I changed it over as I described...compression fitting (no room to solder in there! barely room to swing a wrench, either), and a hose barb. Even though it wasn't leaking before, I feel much better about it.

rickandsandi · 07-02-2007, 08:35 AM

Was wondering where to find sharkbites withpout having to order on-line. Just ran the first line in the TW this weekend to start mapping the layout of the new plumbing. Took quite a bit of work to get the old copper out but it's all gone now! Seeing that the PEX tool is $100 and doesn't give a lot of room for using in tight spots I might have to go to HD. Not a place I like to go to but if they got them then so me it. The only thing I was not happy with when I was on the website is that there shut off valves are very, very pricey! A few of those and I could buy the crimping tool!

**Chuck** · 07-02-2007, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickandsandi

... The only thing I was not happy with when I was on the website is that there shut off valves are very, very pricey! A few of those and I could buy the crimping tool!

what website were you on? I couldn't find them listed on the HD site....and I'd like to see a price list, to do a side-by-side comparison w/ the sea-techs...which are carried by Lowe's, btw. or at least, something that looks an awful lot like them, and is made by Watts, which bought sea-tech. funny thing there...they have a "sea tech" sign/brochure up in their plubming department...but nothing that actually "says" sea-tech on the label. whatever. they have expensive, plastic, snap-on fittings that will join copper, pex, or pvc.
just working from memory, it seems that the prices between the 2 are comparable. I think there was a larger variety of fittings with the sharkbites.