Sharkbite

[Mar3232]

Never used these quick fittings before -- not a sharkbite but used another brand. No leaks but I'm amazed the (copper) pipe can turn ? So to keep it steady in a clamp, some strong tape or something ?

These things actually work ? Had mine installed for 24 hours now -- just 35 lbs of pressure.

 

[CountryBumkin]

No need to keep it from turning - regarding maintain the seal. The sharkbite fitting uses O-rings to make the seal.
Unless you have another reason for keeping pipe from moving (like something attached to pipe) you can leave it alone.
Personally I don't trust the fitting to last (however I have no data to suggest it won't last). I don't like the idea of an o-ring seal on a "slip over pipe" connection.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Mar3232]

Ok. Yes I have a shutoff on the pipe so need to stabilize it.

 

[Jadnashua]

If you need t0 stabilize things, a fitting like that isn't a great choice! You might get lucky if you can find a place to use a support clamp. Plus, they cost usually at least 10x more than a soldered joint, but that assumes you have the tools and do not have to buy them, or if you don't, you feel you can use them again later to help spread the cost. It doesn't take many joints soldered together to pay for the torch, solder, flux, and some emery cloth or a pipe/fitting cleaner tool.

 

[Gary Swart]

I can not imagine where I would use a sharkbite. soldering a joint is so quick and easy, and so secure that using an expensive shortcut just doesn't make sense. I you don't know how to sweat a joint, it would only take 10 minutes to learn and practice with a few fittings and pieces of pipe.

 

[Jadnashua]

There are places you really don't want to put a torch...there are places where you can't always get all of the water out to then solder things, or if you could, it would take a very long time that is problematic. But, the vast majority of the time, it's just a quicker, but expensive option.

Keep in mind that since the seal is by an O-ring, you must make sure the end of the pipe doesn't have any burrs on it before you push the fitting on, or you can slice the O-ring and not get a good seal.

 

[Craigpump]

They're better than you would think. I have seen submersible pumps hung on Pex with sharkbite connectors.

 

[Mar3232]

I had to use it because the pipe was wet and would have taken forever to drain. So far so good. Certainly easy to use. I put some VHB tape on the inside of a clamp to keep it steady.