Tips & Tricks: How to Install Push Connect or Sharkbite Fittings

In this short video i show you the basic steps to install push-connect also known as sharkbite fittings

My name is Tony, I have been a master plumber for over 30 years! Due to a plumber shortage nationwide, it is the mission of this channel to help others learn the trade. We will be uploading tutorials on popular plumbing needs as well as tips & tricks. Like, comment, and subscribe to our channel!

Important Disclaimer:
Master Flow Plumbing Services and this YouTube channel are not responsible for anyone attempting anything shown in these videos. Plumbing repairs should always be performed by a license plumber, even the simplest plumbing repairs can cause damages in injury to you or others.

[bettypetitpas]

❤ Love this clip! No stories, no explaining, and no extra crap. Clean, concise, and gets the job done at a fast pace. Just how I need it! Thank you so much! 😊

[eliasreyes]

Plumbers are afraid that we don’t have to pay them $300 for a 10 min job anymore. THAT is why they hate shark bites. But for homeowners, these products are blessing to many.

[azbrunner]

You are the first person I've seen who knows the plastic insert is for pex!!! I can't tell you how many sharkbite failures I've fixed where the insert was left in on copper pipe and didn't seat correctly! Tipped sideways. This video should be mandatory for every maintenance man in my town!!!

[devinwaters]

That orange marking tool also deburs the pipe as well....

[Smokeyy]

Is that red piece a quick measuring tool to mark how far the pex or goes In the sharkbite?

[Zekeratt]

What’s that insert that you put in the pex? I’ve never seen that before.

[Bizzair]

I always leave the insert in even on copper? I get what theyre for but they still work lol

[victormartinez]

If you install a connector, how do you prevent it from turning?

[charliebrownakakickstand]

I've use them so.e are over 10 years in service. I use lube for easier fit

[jessemack]

Do you
Have to have the plastic insert.I just bought the piece and it didn't come with them

[markdivento]

Did you come up with that idea all by yourself you must be a rocket scientist

[donaldbaker]

Are you supposed to pull the plastic piece out or is that just a personal option

[larryvaughn]

You have my gratitude, sir; I've done this but never knowing what I was doing

[ryanbard]

great for temporary connections or garage projects but I would never use it on anything that matters

[ADHDsquirl]

You know why people hate these and talk shit about them? Because you don't have to be a puzzle artist "professional" to do your own plumbing. No torches, no soldering, no flux, no tools.

[andonlysushant]

Here are the CORRECT instructions how to do this DIY procedure.

Example. Let's say you have a copper or Pex pipe.

Close the MAIN water supply valve.

1. Now cut this pipe at a given location on this pipe (i.e. where you want to place the shark bite) and let the water drain in some bucket.

2. The next Very important thing to do is, NOT to "mark your pipe with a pen" about the depth of pipe that need or should insert inside the pipe (after you post the pipe in shark bit end), ...BUT.... TO actually find out, how much pipe you should cut "IN BOTH DIRECTIONS" from the cut you already made. So, for this, look step 3.
3. Now you, look at your shark bite and place the shall bite's center point, at the first cut you made on the pipe. Now mark, "both edges/ends of shark bite" sitting/aligning on the pipe. Let's call it, left mark and right mark on the pipe. Between these 2 marks you just did, there will be the first CUT you made on the pipe.
4. Now, you use the shark bite depth tool (orange color which has all the sizes 0.5" to 1.5") and insert left end of the pipe to the left side of the shark bite and see how deep it is. Mark this on the left pipe (after first cut) i.e. now it will be marked INSIDE between the LEFT MARK you did in step 3. Let's call it INNER-LEFT-DEPTH mark (i.e mark between the LEFT MARK from step 3 and the cut on the pipe). Do the same procedure, on the right side of the pipe, using right side of the pipe, by inserting it into the right opening of the Shark bite. After inserting that, you will now get INNER-RIGHT-DEPTH-MARK i.e. a mark between the cut of the pipe and the RIGHT MARK you got from step 3.

5. Now, USING a Scale/measurement tape, find what's the depth/measurement of "INNER- LEFT-DEPTH -to-> the cut" ... note down this number/value as LEFT VALUE. ... Let's assume this left value was 1 inch.

Do the same procedure by measuring, "cut -to- INNER-RIGHT-DEPTH mark". Note this value as RIGHT value. Lets assume this right value was also 1 inch.

6. Now wipe the INNER left and INNER right marks using a wet cloth or something.

7. Go to LEFT mark (that you made in step 3) and measure "left value" from that left mark and mark it. This "new-inner-left-depth" mark is now measured from the LEFT MARK (i.e. not from the cut/center of the pipe).

Do the same procedure, i.e. mark "new-inner-right-depth" mark measuring from the RIGHT mark (you did in step 3).

8. Now, use the cutter, and cut the pipe AT exactly on the "new-inner-left-depth" mark and cut the pipe AT exactly on the "new-inner-right-depth" mark. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, I THINK NO OTHER VIDEO EXPLAINED AND it really trumps people while putting a shark bite on any plumbing pipe.

9. Using that orange tool that Shark bite company sells for finding depth of shark bite ends (i.e. how much pipe you should insert), it also has a smoothner/cutter in it, i.e. if you insert the end of pipes in that tool and rotate clockwise as listed on the tool, then it will SMOOTHEN the edges of pipe, for the new-left/right-depth end points of the pipe. Basically, what you have to do is, smoothen the edge of the pipe end points which will go inside Shark bite openings and touching the RUBBER washer/seal.

10. Now, ensure if your shark bite has any DRAIN value (that you open and let water fall down especially during winter time for sprinkler water clearing etc) you place the shark bite acc. so the drain value is always down facing. Actually shark bite can rotate 180° on the pipe after fitting it ( so that should not be a problem ). ALSO, check there is no dirt or debri inside the shark bite, after doing all this nano engineering work today first time by you.

Well by now you just put the left pipe on left shark bite opening and right side of the pipe, into the right side of the shark bite opening. While inserting, the pipe will go exactly upto the left and right mark, you did in step 3.

IMPORTANT: the pipes should be straight if possible like a straight line after you insert both ends in shark bite. Avoid getting any angle more than 5° i.e. after installation, the pipe with shark bite should look like 1 straight pipe, not bending unnecessarily like a bow. Basically there should NOT be any hard tension between shark bite and pipe (that you inserted inside shark bite) giving it any reason to leak water due to a bad angle and high water pressure can leak water from such bad angle.

NOW have a bucket ready next to you, open the main water valve slowly, turn on water and see, if the shark bite installation was successful. Is it leaking any water from the end of the shark bite or not.

If not, you just saved both TIME AND $$$$ And learned something new today.

[jusguido]

Always mark the pipe. I see the kids at work not do it and tell me they know that the pipe is all the way in but that's not the only reason to Mark the pipe. If anything were to go wrong and there was a leak in the future and there is no markings the company is no longer liable.

[ip]

On my experience, will ONLY use shark connectors on copper pipe, maybe and just temp for PVC but never ever ever on PEX

[roberthein]

Why mark each one when they only going so far?

[noebriones]

Tengo conocimiento básico en plomeria pero mi sueño es estudiar a nivel profesional primeramente Dios