Sharkbite Fittings: Why I Don't Use Them on My Plumbing Jobs

Today I'm telling you why I don't use Sharkbites and why I don't let my plumbers use them either. I know many plumbers use Sharkbites and swear by them, and many home builders use them as well. There are also a lot of plumbers like me who will never use Sharkbites on our plumbing work. Here's why.

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Thanks for watching! I'm Roger Wakefield, The Expert Plumber, and welcome to my channel. On this channel, it's ALL about plumbing. We play games, we experiment, and we have FUN here, talking and learning about all things plumbing!
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[SixGunTodd]

Shark bites cost me big time to the tune of $2500 for my liability deductable then higher rates for the next two years. Independant labs (as in two of them) both found that I installed the cap 100% properly on cleaned prepped pipe and the fitting failed damaging a historic home. $18000 in total damages and remediation....insurance went after Shark Bite, they lawyered up, and guess who was stuck with the bill. Never never never use Shark Bite....be a professional and do it right.

[clintmehling]

I am a licensed water treatment operator and plumber who has used SB or push tight fittings where copper or cpvc has failed. The only time I have occasionally seen issues with these fittings when the pipe isin't prepped and or the fitting has been installed incorrectly. The pipe must be cut straight and sanded down with all sharp edges removed that can cut into the SB's O-ring. The SB also can have issues just as any other neoprene ring or gasket in a house with higher chlorine levels (why toilet manufacturers put labels inside toilet tanks warning not to use bowl cleaning drop-in tablets inside toilet tanks because they wear out the gaskets) or possible filter/softener systems using salt pellets for example. I have had county inspectors pass these SB fittings on a rare occasion I needed one on a remodel job with a pulled permit as well. Correct me if i'm wrong but these fittings have to be approved for use to sell/install by ANSI or CSA, and I believe this is shown on the package. I have used and installed a lot of copper, CPVC, and Pex in all aspects of residential, commercial, and industrial places. Now to answer your question why I use these SB fittings instead of soldering a new copper fitting to repair a pipe. First, sometimes I actually do BUT, Installing a new copper coupling to repair a leak sometimes is extremely hard to reach safely with a flame, or safe in certain areas of a house such as in a joist or a wall or under a sink. Using a torch even with heat shield blankets is still risky to burn or damage the area you are working in and or possibly start a fire. Sometimes on service repairs, copper can be extremely hard to get a solder joint to hold if you can't get the water completely out of the pipe. Inside a wall at certain businesses, you have to actually perform a 3 hour flame watch if you perform any solder repair, in case of any possible wood left with a smoldering unseen ember. As we plumbers know sometimes time is money and customers expect a fast, safe, and reliable repair. Now on a side note, I usually ask older school plumbers who stand by copper, why? Copper costs substantially more, takes longer to install, is harder to install which creates higher risk of a joint that didnt take and still leaks. Not to mention copper is less resistant then CPVC or Pex to freezing hazards or situations that may arise. I have also been to so many houses on well water that have copper eat up with pinholes. Perhaps if you're not a fan of SB fittings for service repairs, maybe using brass compression couplings or a copper Pro Press tool as an alternative to the SB? I myself hear Pro Press is reliable but haven't used it myself, I'll stick to my Pex and comp couplings or an occasional SB but to each their own. Thank you for your videos, I enjoy them but I feel this topic is one of opinion and personal preference.

[davidrussell]

They are approved as a permanent fix according to codes i just don't bury them or use them in a spot That's hard to get to

[FindersKeeper]

As a home owner DIY I support sharkbites. They’re a bit pricey but not as pricey as the plumber that will do a DIY job for you lol. I’ve used them on almost everything in my house and it’s been over 10 years and they’re still holding🤷🏽‍♂️The day it leaks I’ll put and update here👍🏽

[prorityfeed]

Shark bites reduce the demand for over priced professional labor unions. But I'm sure that's just a coincidence.

[gilgosseyn]

step 1) hire dummies and ex-cons, step 2) they cut the pex improperly, at an angle, with a hacksaw, leaving burrs on the tube, step 3) have them improperly shove the misshapen, improperly cut tubing in to push fit sharkbites, step 3) blame the fittings when it leaks

[citizeng]

I’ve used them a lot and never had a problem. That said, I don’t think I would use them behind walls.

[MatthewQuinton]

I'm a general contractor and have never had anyone call back about a failed sharkbite. I have had them at the cutoffs in my home for close to 10 years.

[TheHtrs]

Sharkbite is awesome. It’s been a couple years and zero leaks. Plumber wanted to charge me $700 to replace a valve in my shower. Did it myself with Sharkbite and cost me $70 for new valve and Sharkbite fittings. Maybe that’s why plumbers hate Sharkbite.

[joshcowart]

They’re great for a temporary cap when remodeling

[williamarmstrong]

Only time I ever use sharkbite fittings, minus emergency stop gap, are temporary installations of water coolers on job sites.

[jeffrepass]

Rodger, interesting commentary. I’ve always been a little Leary of shark bite, but have used quite a few, I have also soldered quite a few as well. In my experience there have not been many failures with either technique and most have been because the prep work was not done right. I’m not a licensed professional, but when I saw the title of your video I was curious and am always trying to listen to the “trained professionals”. I was a bit frustrated with your video, and to be frank you did not give any good reasoning for not using shark bite fittings either from personal experience or industry standard. Even worse you admitted not knowing much about the fittings themselves. You touted being an “old school trained professional” and it was unprofessional to use shark bite. No logical or concrete evidence as to why. I did not learn anything about why shark bite is no good or why it’s unprofessional to use them. I get that guys with your kind of training are a dying breed and are talented in copper soldering, using pex and shark bite threatens that skill. If you are trying to educate us aspiring plumbers, who can solder and desire to do things professional, give us a concrete, educated and knowledgeable tutorial. Thanks man

[appledroplarry]

Shark bite fitting =$15. Plumber fixing 1 copper pipe = $900. Shark bites are for home owners that arent rich but still need water running to their home. Shark bites are a good quick fix.

[ericlewandowskivlogs]

I've been using them since they've been available for certain situations. I've only had one that was defective in that time. I wouldn't use them for a new install, but in some repair situations, they are a life saver. I repair more bad solder joints than anything.

[richyp]

I've used shark bites on my water heater, bathroom and kitchen faucets. Going on 10 years and not a problem one. Love them and recommend them to everyone.

[Neosum]

As a homeowner, I've got shark bite fittings on most of my kitchen/bath stop valves. So far so good for about 10 years. I would recommend them for applications where you have quick and easy access to such as bathroom and kitchen stop valves.

[rayray]

7:40 After telling you at the beginnings of the video he’s an ‘old school’ plumber he now wonders why anyone would argue with him about today’s plumbing, lol. Imagine if an ‘old school’ electrician wired your house with knob and tube.

[mjordan]

Homeowner "handyman" here. I used them when replacing a gate valve with a ball valve to an outside hose bib. The fitting is in plain sight in my laundry room and has behaved itself for the past 10 years or so. But if it doesn't, I'll know almost immediately. If I have a fitting where I can't see it, I'm digging out the torch & solder.

[thangrom]

plumbing hate sharkbite because mostly people fix at home use sharkbite

[djchrisoakcliff]

Here in Dallas, Texas due too the freezing temperatures hot and cold copper pipes lines busted under pressure were soldered together, but shark bites from the water heater still intact thus far. Will solder the pipes back together, but there should be a pressure valve to solve this problem during freezing temps. Note these are pipes in the garage.