SharkBite fittings for Copper and PEX

Posted by fftt on October 11, 2009, 5:30 pm

> I always sweated copper, but I want to try PEX for my next upgrade.
> The cold water spigot at the front of the house is at street pressure,
> but the backyard spigot is after the PRV. I'd like to tab into the
> street pressure pipe and get the higher pressure in the backyard.
> All I need is 2 connections: a Tee and a coupling - along with about 35'
> of tubing.
> According to the video at this site (starting at about 4:15) SharkBite
> connections can be used with copper and PEX.
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DiwvAzcJpM0k
> So, assuming I have room to get this fitting into the existing pipe, is
> there any reason I shouldn't use the SharkBite Tee to tap into existing
> pipe?
> http://www.pexsupply.com/Cash-Acme-U362-1-2-x-1-2-x-1-2-Tee-4456000-p
> I know $8 for a Tee is expensive, but it's way cheaper than a crimping
> or clamping tool.
> Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

For a quick repair or modification or in difficult
spot.......SharkBites are the way to go.

They are perfect for adding PEX to an existing copper system.

Though I've never had the nerve to seal one up in a wall....... :)
which of course is a silly superstition.

Doing an entire system in SharkBites would really add up.
For more extensive PEX work I used the Wirsbo expander (hand)
imo, way better than crimp ring system. But the tools are spendy. :(

and pexsupply is where I get my stuff

cheers
Bob

Posted by SteveB on October 11, 2009, 10:50 pm

>I always sweated copper, but I want to try PEX for my next upgrade.
> The cold water spigot at the front of the house is at street pressure, but
> the backyard spigot is after the PRV. I'd like to tab into the street
> pressure pipe and get the higher pressure in the backyard.
> All I need is 2 connections: a Tee and a coupling - along with about 35'
> of tubing.
> According to the video at this site (starting at about 4:15) SharkBite
> connections can be used with copper and PEX.
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwvAzcJpM0k
> So, assuming I have room to get this fitting into the existing pipe, is
> there any reason I shouldn't use the SharkBite Tee to tap into existing
> pipe?
> http://www.pexsupply.com/Cash-Acme-U362-1-2-x-1-2-x-1-2-Tee-4456000-p
> I know $8 for a Tee is expensive, but it's way cheaper than a crimping or
> clamping tool.
> Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

I used them, and I liked them. The line I had to replace was UNDER a cabin,
and it would have a pure dee bitch to do with other means. The stuff is
easy to work with, just make sure you do a clean cut. I cut my tubing with
a hack saw. I had doubts, but tried it because of the location and the
inability to get in there and cut out the burst frozen section and sweat
together again without major risk. I like them.

Steve

Posted by DerbyDad03 on October 11, 2009, 11:59 pm

> >I always sweated copper, but I want to try PEX for my next upgrade.
> > The cold water spigot at the front of the house is at street pressure, =

but

> > the backyard spigot is after the PRV. I'd like to tab into the street
> > pressure pipe and get the higher pressure in the backyard.
> > All I need is 2 connections: a Tee and a coupling - along with about 35=

> > of tubing.
> > According to the video at this site (starting at about 4:15) SharkBite
> > connections can be used with copper and PEX.
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DiwvAzcJpM0k
> > So, assuming I have room to get this fitting into the existing pipe, is
> > there any reason I shouldn't use the SharkBite Tee to tap into existing
> > pipe?
> >http://www.pexsupply.com/Cash-Acme-U362-1-2-x-1-2-x-1-2-Tee-4456000-p
> > I know $8 for a Tee is expensive, but it's way cheaper than a crimping =

> > clamping tool.
> > Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

> I used them, and I liked them. =A0The line I had to replace was UNDER a c=

abin,

> and it would have a pure dee bitch to do with other means. =A0The stuff i=

> easy to work with, just make sure you do a clean cut. =A0I cut my tubing =

with

> a hack saw. =A0I had doubts, but tried it because of the location and the
> inability to get in there and cut out the burst frozen section and sweat
> together again without major risk. =A0I like them.
> Steve

Thanks all! SharkBite it is then!

Posted by SteveB on October 12, 2009, 12:39 am

> >I always sweated copper, but I want to try PEX for my next upgrade.
> > The cold water spigot at the front of the house is at street pressure,
> > but
> > the backyard spigot is after the PRV. I'd like to tab into the street
> > pressure pipe and get the higher pressure in the backyard.
> > All I need is 2 connections: a Tee and a coupling - along with about 35'
> > of tubing.
> > According to the video at this site (starting at about 4:15) SharkBite
> > connections can be used with copper and PEX.
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwvAzcJpM0k
> > So, assuming I have room to get this fitting into the existing pipe, is
> > there any reason I shouldn't use the SharkBite Tee to tap into existing
> > pipe?
> >http://www.pexsupply.com/Cash-Acme-U362-1-2-x-1-2-x-1-2-Tee-4456000-p
> > I know $8 for a Tee is expensive, but it's way cheaper than a crimping
> > or
> > clamping tool.
> > Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

> I used them, and I liked them. The line I had to replace was UNDER a
> cabin,
> and it would have a pure dee bitch to do with other means. The stuff is
> easy to work with, just make sure you do a clean cut. I cut my tubing with
> a hack saw. I had doubts, but tried it because of the location and the
> inability to get in there and cut out the burst frozen section and sweat
> together again without major risk. I like them.
> Steve

Thanks all! SharkBite it is then!

Reply: Do not forget to buy the little dollar or two "tool" (piece of
plastic) that allows you to disconnect the pieces. It will be worth it if
you need to take them apart, as I did, or down the line if you want to
modify. I was seriously skeptical, but I'd use them again in a heartbeat
after the guy at HD demonstrated them. Even my wife was skeptical, and she
could do it with the demo pieces. The only thing I did differently was use
a compression fitting T instead of a SharkBite T because it was about $7
cheaper. But then my buddy and I couldn't get enough force on the nuts to
get the compression fitting to close tight enough. We were up at the cabin,
and had limited tools, just a pair of big Channel Locks and a pair of Vise
Grip pliers. Two old farts were just not strong enough. We ended up
putting the Channel Locks in one of the holes of one of our car's rims FROM
THE INSIDE, and using that for enough of a stopper to get that last quarter
turn that closed off the water flow. It was one solid hour of Larry, Moe,
and Curly minus one. Hooking and unhooking, turning water on and off. That
is where the little plastic widget came in handy. Knowing that now, I'd
have spent the extra $7. We were both sore for two days afterwards pulling
like hell. I bruised the palm of my hand real good. ( I take coumadin.)

You're gonna love them. But, as the other person posted, get a REALLY
REALLY clean end. Use some aluminum oxide paper to get it right. The
better that O ring seals, the better the whole thing works, and if you have
one little burr, and cut the O ring ......................

Steve

Posted by on October 12, 2009, 12:52 am

wrote:

>> >I always sweated copper, but I want to try PEX for my next upgrade.
>> > The cold water spigot at the front of the house is at street pressure,
>> > but
>> > the backyard spigot is after the PRV. I'd like to tab into the street
>> > pressure pipe and get the higher pressure in the backyard.
>> > All I need is 2 connections: a Tee and a coupling - along with about 35'
>> > of tubing.
>> > According to the video at this site (starting at about 4:15) SharkBite
>> > connections can be used with copper and PEX.
>> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwvAzcJpM0k
>> > So, assuming I have room to get this fitting into the existing pipe, is
>> > there any reason I shouldn't use the SharkBite Tee to tap into existing
>> > pipe?
>> >http://www.pexsupply.com/Cash-Acme-U362-1-2-x-1-2-x-1-2-Tee-4456000-p
>> > I know $8 for a Tee is expensive, but it's way cheaper than a crimping
>> > or
>> > clamping tool.
>> > Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

>> I used them, and I liked them. The line I had to replace was UNDER a
>> cabin,
>> and it would have a pure dee bitch to do with other means. The stuff is
>> easy to work with, just make sure you do a clean cut. I cut my tubing with
>> a hack saw. I had doubts, but tried it because of the location and the
>> inability to get in there and cut out the burst frozen section and sweat
>> together again without major risk. I like them.
>> Steve

>Thanks all! SharkBite it is then!
>Reply: Do not forget to buy the little dollar or two "tool" (piece of
>plastic) that allows you to disconnect the pieces. It will be worth it if
>you need to take them apart, as I did, or down the line if you want to
>modify. I was seriously skeptical, but I'd use them again in a heartbeat
>after the guy at HD demonstrated them. Even my wife was skeptical, and she
>could do it with the demo pieces. The only thing I did differently was use
>a compression fitting T instead of a SharkBite T because it was about $7
>cheaper. But then my buddy and I couldn't get enough force on the nuts to
>get the compression fitting to close tight enough. We were up at the cabin,
>and had limited tools, just a pair of big Channel Locks and a pair of Vise
>Grip pliers. Two old farts were just not strong enough. We ended up
>putting the Channel Locks in one of the holes of one of our car's rims FROM
>THE INSIDE, and using that for enough of a stopper to get that last quarter
>turn that closed off the water flow. It was one solid hour of Larry, Moe,
>and Curly minus one. Hooking and unhooking, turning water on and off. That
>is where the little plastic widget came in handy. Knowing that now, I'd
>have spent the extra $7. We were both sore for two days afterwards pulling
>like hell. I bruised the palm of my hand real good. ( I take coumadin.)
>You're gonna love them. But, as the other person posted, get a REALLY
>REALLY clean end. Use some aluminum oxide paper to get it right. The
>better that O ring seals, the better the whole thing works, and if you have
>one little burr, and cut the O ring ......................
>Steve

I just used my adjustable wrench, closed down to the outside dia of
the pipe to push in the collar to release - I won't loose it as fast
as the special tool, and I already own several. (as well as a 5/8"
open end wrench that would also do the job))

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SharkBite fittings for Copper and PEX - Page 2