SharkBite fittings...have you guys used these?

2porscheguy · 2porscheguy's Garage

My hot water heater line has begun leaking and thus needs replacement. I've seen these at Home Depot and was thinking about giving them a try. I can't find any negative reviews online so I'm asking you, the PPOT brains, ...what's been your experience especially wrt hot water heater line installation?

Thanks in advance to all who respond!

john walker's workshop · 10-31-2018, 09:57 AM

Fixed my copper water pipe in a hard to get at location just fine.

tevake · 10-31-2018, 10:00 AM

Hey Alex, If you are asking about fittings for Pex hose, I've used them with good results. More pricy if you are doing a lot of connections than the clench rings. But very handy for a quick repair and seem to last well.

Cheers Richard

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

Yes. Used them on my last water heater install (about 5 years ago). Worked great. Fast and easy.

onewhippedpuppy · 10:48 AM

Yup, used them many times. My father in law is a contractor, he uses them as well and has never had an issue. Not cheap, but really handy when making a repair or modification where it's hard to dry out the pipe to solder it. The only trick is to make sure you clean the pipe ends really well with emery cloth or a wire brush designed for copper pipe, the only time I've even had a tiny leak was when I had a less than clean pipe.

Baz · Baz's Garage

Hey Alex....good to hear from you.

Yes, I used them for a repair to my 3/4" copper domestic water line coming into the house which was pulled up when I reconfigured the front grade into terraces.

In my case, I got a couple of the "copper to PVC" adapters and ran PVC in between the two ends. I did this so I could plumb in some tees for extra hose bibs outside.

I also used a ball valve shark bite fitting as an extra isolation valve.

They make all kinds of different fittings and I plan on re-doing my hot water heater with these too at some point.

I really like them and so far mine are holding up just fine.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

They are expensive. I’ve used them in hard to get at places and they worked well, but if I can get a torch in I sweat the pipes together. It’s a matter of a few cents vice $$ per joint

2porscheguy · 2porscheguy's Garage

Thanks guys! It just seems way to easy to me!..... but if I don't need to get the old soldering torch out? = I'll give 'em a try!

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Make sure to clean and deburr the pipe.

Jolly Amaranto · 10-31-2018, 11:04 AM

I used them to join PVCP to Pex and have not had a probem.

Jims5543 · 11:15 AM

My Hot water heater went south last winter. I was too busy to deal with it so I called a local plumber to do it, he was too busy referred me to a 2nd one, same deal too busy referred to 3rd one, he said he could be there in 3 days and it would cost $1200..... gulp..

I scheduled an appointment, that evening I took a cold shower. Cursed and went to Home Depot, bought a hot water heater and started to buy all the fittings I was going to need along with solder and a propane torch. I have sweated pipes a lifetime ago so I was just going to do it again.

Then I saw these great flex hoses hanging right next to the hot water heaters, they have shark fittings at one end and proper screw in fittings on the other end that match up to the hot water heater.

They had 90° turn off handles built right in too.

I bought those, the hot water heater and headed home.

30 minutes later I was done.

This was almost a year ago, not a hint at a leak. Total cost was under $600.

Just as some have said make sure to clean up the pipes real good make sure there are no burrs on them and you will be good to go.

Good video to watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E8X1VawLeE

scottmandue · 10-31-2018, 11:30 AM

Used on my copper main, I was skeptical but been fine for a few years now.

sammyg2 · 10-31-2018, 11:30 AM

Why do you guys have heaters to heat up hot water, isn't it hot enough already?

Sorry, too easy.

scottmandue · 10-31-2018, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jims5543

I scheduled an appointment, that evening I took a cold shower. Cursed and went to Home Depot, bought a hot water heater and started to buy all the fittings I was going to need along with solder and a propane torch. I have sweated pipes a lifetime ago so I was just going to do it again.

Then I saw these great flex hoses hanging right next to the hot water heaters, they have shark fittings at one end and proper screw in fittings on the other end that match up to the hot water heater.

I saw these on my last trip to HD, cursing that they didn't have them a few years back when I changed out my WH.

Jims5543 · 10-31-2018, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I saw these on my last trip to HD, cursing that they didn't have them a few years back when I changed out my WH.

Yeah, I was not in the mood to cut copper pipes, work out the fittings and then sweat it all in place.

I was elated to see this hoses all made up for me. Worth every single penny, and probably cheaper than buying everything I needed to fit copper together.

I just found a pic of it installed.

Jims5543 · 10-31-2018, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Why do you guys have heaters to heat up hot water, isn't it hot enough already?

Sorry, too easy.

In the summer I take cold showers here in Florida the water out of the tap is cool and refreshing.

In the mild winter, it is a little too cold. of course that is when a Hot Water Heater will always choose to fail.

vash · vash's Garage

My last home. Complete recopper job using them. No issues. Besides me being nervous.

Gogar · 10-31-2018, 01:04 PM

I like em; they are expensive for sure.

Gretch · 10-31-2018, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Yup, used them many times. My father in law is a contractor, he uses them as well and has never had an issue. Not cheap, but really handy when making a repair or modification where it's hard to dry out the pipe to solder it. The only trick is to make sure you clean the pipe ends really well with emery cloth or a wire brush designed for copper pipe, the only time I've even had a tiny leak was when I had a less than clean pipe.

/\/\ This. did my cabana water heater this past September....... easy peasy.

rfuerst911sc · 10-31-2018, 01:13 PM

I've used them a few times with success each time . I know when they first came out it stated on the package ( in very tiny print ) that they were NOT to be used behind a wall . Don't know if that was just covering their butts or not and I also don't know if they still say that .