Shark bites for plumbing

[ocean_bound]

Has anybody use shark bites in their motorhome in the plumbing system And how well are they holding up I just used two of the push on shark bites in the bathroom fixture made the job a lot Easier Just curious how they hold up in a motorhome or trailer

[T18skyguy]

I'm 68 years old so I may not outlive any Shark bite. I think their especially good in close clearance area's where you can't fit a tool. But if you have a bigger project and you need lots of them, it can be spendy enough it might make it worth it to buy the pex tools. There are guys who have done their whole house with Shark bites. A good review of all the pex tools and different fittings is on youtube by a plumber named "the old kid" He's used them all and shows their strengths and weaknesses.

[Bill_Satellite]

The Shark bite connections are not "yet" 25 YO but my coach is. No leaks. No worries.

[time2roll]

Have seen plenty of copper failures within 25 years. Nothing lasts forever.

[RLS7201]

T18skyguy wrote:
Shark Bites's are only guaranteed for 25 years. What about you guys who keep your rig longer than that? 🙂 Would that be anybody?

Guess I'm on the edge of 25 years.

Richard

[T18skyguy]

Shark Bites's are only guaranteed for 25 years. What about you guys who keep your rig longer than that? 🙂 Would that be anybody?

[crawford]

KD4UPL wrote:
I haven't tried them in an RV but I have used them a couple times in home plumbing. They often leak in my experience. I only use them in an emergency or as a last resort. If at all possible I use the "real" connector appropriate for the pipe.
Last time I used on I was trying to save time. I had to install it 3 times and it still leaked so I finally just sweated on a crimp fitting to connect the copper and pex. I should have just done that to begin with. It would have saved time and aggravation.

Then you have no Ideal how to use them correctly. maybe not the right tool or sizing them right but if done right they don't leak.....

[RLS7201]

Rather than SharkBite, try Flair-it fittings for those Pex problems. Simple to use, durable and low cost.
Pex is not tubing it is pipe. Thus SharkBite works on both copper pipe and Pex pipe.
When using SharkBite, make sure and bevel the edges of the pipe so as not to knick the "O" ring seal.

Richard

[garry1p]

The key to Shark Bites is to use a cutting tool to make darn sure the cut is prefect with no angle then listen for two (2) clicks when you push them together.

I have never had one leak but know of occasions when people say they always leak.

[ford_truck_guy]

chuckftboy wrote:
There is a reason that the industry uses Pex tube with a Pex clamp. If you have a choice buy the Pex tool and clamps. Way more secure.

Yea there is a reason.... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The industry would not use the more expensive shark bites...

[chuckftboy]

There is a reason that the industry uses Pex tube with a Pex clamp. If you have a choice buy the Pex tool and clamps. Way more secure.

[Dutch_12078]

Two keys to success I've found over the years with any of the push-on fittings are to make sure the end of the tubing is cut square and especially with copper tubing, that the cut is fully deburred so the O-rings aren't damaged on insertion.

[4x4van]

I've used them several times over the years, on copper (in the S&B) and PEX (in the MH). Never had one leak.

[KD4UPL]

I haven't tried them in an RV but I have used them a couple times in home plumbing. They often leak in my experience. I only use them in an emergency or as a last resort. If at all possible I use the "real" connector appropriate for the pipe.
Last time I used on I was trying to save time. I had to install it 3 times and it still leaked so I finally just sweated on a crimp fitting to connect the copper and pex. I should have just done that to begin with. It would have saved time and aggravation.

[garry1p]

Yep many times even used a shark bite shut off valve on the water line when installing a new toilet.