Shark bite issue

 
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swyman
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Post by swyman » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 1:00 pm

VigIIPeaBurner wrote:
Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 10:16 am
This is the first time I've read about dribbling shark bite fittings but it's why I've held off using them. Rob stated his haven't leaked in 8 years. Could those that have cold leakage under stagnant conditions please post up how long their fittings have been in use? Are we talking PEX or Copper?

Copper to PEX. When I was finishing up my system, Menards was out of 1" copper barbed fittings on a couple occasions so I just went with these so I could get up and running. Lowes around here doesn't have much for 1" pex....guess I could order online but at the time I wanted to burn coal ASAP. Will try the Vaseline method when I shut down.

 
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franpipeman
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Post by franpipeman » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 1:06 pm

Maybe a silicon grease would be better than Vaseline which is petroleum based O rings may not like the PETRO part

 
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Post by StokerDon » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 1:48 pm

swyman wrote:
Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 12:55 pm
No, just in a couple spots
Again,
I have never seen a sharkbite leak if it was installed properly. I have seen them leak if the plastic insert doesn't seat into the PEX when you connect it. This will cause a leak when that zone cools down.

You need to pop the connection apart and make sure it goes together properly. A little Vaseline on the plastic insert will help it slide into the PEX. Horizontal connections are particularly susceptible to this.
franpipeman wrote:
Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 1:06 pm
Maybe a silicon grease would be better than Vaseline which is petroleum based O rings may not like the PETRO part
Sharkbites don't have O-rings and you shouldn't put much Vaseline on there. Also, you only need to do this with the sharkbites that are giving you problems so there should not be enough Vaseline to hurt anything else.

-Don


 
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franpipeman
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Post by franpipeman » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 3:09 pm

http://www.sharkbite.com/resources/faqs/fittings/

respectfully, the shark bites i have used have pre placed o rings in the fitting , you never need to handle them are hard to see. They are seated in the fitting and do come with a clear gel.

 
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Post by StokerDon » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 5:57 pm

franpipeman wrote:
Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 3:09 pm
http://www.sharkbite.com/resources/faqs/fittings/

respectfully, the shark bites i have used have pre placed o rings in the fitting , you never need to handle them are hard to see. They are seated in the fitting and do come with a clear gel.
Whoops, sorry, you're right. I forgot about the O ring down in there.

-Don

 
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Post by k-2 » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 6:38 pm

Iv never had sharkbite fittings leak , but I do made sure there are no sharp edges to tear the O-rings. They can be reused a few times but after a few times you have to relube the O-rings with plumbing lube. I do have pex pipe leaks popping out the pipe seams close to the boiler. Im about to change back to copper if I have any more.
Last edited by k-2 on Tue. Feb. 20, 2018 12:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.


 
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franpipeman
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Post by franpipeman » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 8:26 pm

K 2 the actually pex pipe is leaking or the fitting in the pipe is leaking?

 
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Post by k-2 » Tue. Feb. 20, 2018 12:12 pm

franpipeman wrote:
Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 8:26 pm
K 2 the actually pex pipe is leaking or the fitting in the pipe is leaking?
The actual pipe itself is developing pin holes. One leak looked like it was along a seam
. Never had much trouble with connections. When they do develop a drip I usually just recrimp and it takes care of it. My son told me some brands of pipe were recalled. I use lot of this stuff in rehabbing homes. Some of these pipes and connections are inside walls so this could be a big deal.

 
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Post by k-2 » Tue. Feb. 20, 2018 12:15 pm

I use regular plumbing lube you can buy at the hardware store in a tube.

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