SharkBite plumbing fittings are push-to-connect fittings that create strong connections with a simple installation process. Plumbers in Toronto are replacing soldering torches with SharkBite types of fittings. They are ideal for repairing leaks, replacing copper fittings, or installing new plumbing systems, as they are resistant to high temperatures and can also be used to install potable water lines and radiant heat systems.
The SharkBite fitting is most commonly used in household plumbing where the fittings come in half-inch, three-quarter-inch, inch-and-a-quarter, as well as larger sizes. If the fitting is installed on CPVC or PEX, you can use it for water anywhere in your plumbing system and you won’t need special tools to install these fittings at home.
Installing SharkBite Fittings
It is important to understand all aspects of proper installation before you begin. The following instructions help explain how SharkBite’s locking system works to ensure the device is installed on the pipe without any damage.
- Cutting the pipe
The first step is to cut the tubing or pipe to the required length. Choose the right tubing cutter tool for the pipe material. When cutting a CPVC pipe, use a plastic-based tubing cutter. Use a PEX cutting tool for PEX.
When measuring the pipe for cutting, keep in mind that the pipe may extend around 1 inch inside the fitting.
- Reaming and deburring the pipe
Next, ream the end of a copper pipe and deburr it. When removing jagged and sharp edges that may remain after cutting the pipe, use the reaming and deburring tool. At the same time, the tool will ream the pipe from the inside and deburr it from the outside.
A reaming tool’s backside can also be used to ream the pipe. Deburr the exterior edge with sandpaper or emery cloth (fine-grit type). The edge should only be sanded. You should avoid sanding the wall of the pipe.
If there is a ridge around the interior edge of the CPVC pipe, then you can use fine sandpaper, emery cloth, or a utility knife to ream the inner edge carefully.
Remove any debris from within the pipe once it has been cleaned. Once the tubing or pipe has been cleaned, use a clean cloth or rag to wipe the surface.
Push-on fitting manufacturers sell deburring tools in various sizes. These tools are not only effective reaming and deburring tools but also as marking tools.
- Marking the pipe
Mark the tubing or pipe with a marker; do the same for the deburring tool (depth gauge option). Markings should indicate the fitting’s full depth. Place the gauge tool over the pipe end and slide it over it until it stops. Using the marker, trace a smooth line along the tool’s edge.
Tape measures can be used if you don’t have a gauge tool. Mark the tubing or pipe according to the manufacturer’s depth specification. This will allow for a perfect fit.
- Installing the fitting
The push-in fitting should now be pushed over the pipe end. Alternatively, push the tubing or pipe until it stops going forward. Ensure that the push-on fitting ends are aligned with the pipe depth marking that you made.
When aligned with the marking, it indicates that the piping or tubing is fully inserted. If necessary, you can rotate the push-on fitting or pipe 360 degrees after installation. Make sure that the water supply is connected and inspect your work.
The Advantages of Push-to-Connect Fittings
- A push-fit fitting’s biggest advantage is the speed at which it connects. With a push-fit fitting, you can quickly cap or repair a pipe in an emergency.
- Pipe connections can be made using push-fit fittings without soldering, clamps, unions, or glue.
- Push-fit fittings do not require perfectly dry pipes, as opposed to CPVC and PVC (which must be bone-dry before solvent gluing), or copper pipes (which must also be dry before soldering).
- Different types of push-fit fittings are available in different materials. All pipe types have corresponding push-fit fittings.
- Push-fit fittings are available in a variety of sizes, suitable for just about any application.
- It is easy to remove push-fit fittings so they can be repositioned as needed. When the connection is temporary, the fitting can be used and then easily removed.
What if your push-to-connect fittings leak?
The SharkBite push-to-connect fittings have a ring of teeth that grip pipes and tubing to prevent leaks. Nevertheless, if these fittings leak, check the following:
- Uneven tubing. A clean, straight cut is required for the tubing to seal tightly with the O-ring.
- Improper installation. Make sure the tubing is pushed into the quick-connect fitting far enough to depress the O-ring and seal it.
- Pressure leaks. Leaks can occur if the fitting is strained or too much pressure is placed at an odd angle. Creating a bend or corner in the tubing will cause the components of the fitting to move.
- O-ring problems. As quick-connect fittings age, O-rings deteriorate and small drips sometimes develop due to O-ring damage. Water chemicals, such as chloramines, can erode O-rings and cause leaks.
Uneven Tubing Can Cause Leaks
Tubing can become damaged if it is used too many times. Grooves will form on the tube if you frequently connect and disconnect the fitting. Tubes with deeper scratches will be less likely to create a strong enough seal with the O-ring to stay watertight. Leaks can occur if the tube has any imperfections or notches.
Also, make sure the outer diameter (OD) of the tubing matches the size of the fitting. Fittings with a 3/8 push-in size can accommodate tubing with a 5/16 OD easily. An incorrect size may not be immediately apparent when the difference is so slight. The fitting will leak everywhere as soon as water runs through it.
Improper Installation Leads to Leaking
Most, if not all, issues arise from improper installation and use. It is true that push fittings are quick, convenient, and easy to use, but they also have certain limitations, as do any plumbing components. Ensure that the tubing has been pushed into the quick-connect fitting far enough to compress the O-ring and seal it. However, If problems still arise during the installation, consider calling a plumber in Toronto.
High Pressure
As with any other system, installed push fittings must be pressure-tested before use. When a fitting is stressed or subjected to excessive pressure at an odd angle, leaks may occur. Bending or cornering the tubing will cause the fitting’s parts to move. The torque in the tubing moves the collet to the side and stretches out the O-ring.
O-Ring Damage
O-ring leaks can occur when a tube is pulled sharply to one side during installation. Over time, the o-ring flattens and leaks. When a quick-connect fitting leaks, there is usually no need to replace the entire fitting. The O-ring can be replaced more easily and at a lower cost, and you don’t have to remove the fitting from the unit to replace the O-ring.
Practical and Permanent Plumbing Solutions
Compared to compression fittings, push-to-connect fittings are easier to use. In general plumbing applications, they are more practical than solvent-gluing CPVC and PVC pipes or sweat-soldering brass pipes with a torch. Despite being hidden behind panels or other enclosed areas, these fittings provide highly reliable connections.
It’s easy to see why SharkBite push-fit fittings are becoming increasingly popular among plumbers. The advent of plastic PEX pipes, coupled with easy-to-attach connectors, has enabled household remodel plumbing to become accessible and essential.
