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.VigIIPeaBurner wrote: ↑Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 10:16 amThis 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?
Shark bite issue
- swyman
- Member
- Posts: 2355
- Joined: Mon. Apr. 13, 2015 9:50 pm
- Location: Blissfield, MI
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman-Anderson 260M Leisure Line AA-220 Boiler (FOR SALE)
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Pea
- franpipeman
- Member
- Posts: 692
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 4:27 pm
- Location: Wernersville pa
- Stoker Coal Boiler: efm 520 stoker fitzgibbons pressure vessel
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: harman, russo
- Coal Size/Type: rice
- Other Heating: alpine propane condensing boiler radiant floor
Maybe a silicon grease would be better than Vaseline which is petroleum based O rings may not like the PETRO part
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
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.
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.franpipeman wrote: ↑Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 1:06 pmMaybe a silicon grease would be better than Vaseline which is petroleum based O rings may not like the PETRO part
-Don
- franpipeman
- Member
- Posts: 692
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 4:27 pm
- Location: Wernersville pa
- Stoker Coal Boiler: efm 520 stoker fitzgibbons pressure vessel
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: harman, russo
- Coal Size/Type: rice
- Other Heating: alpine propane condensing boiler radiant floor
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.
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.
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Whoops, sorry, you're right. I forgot about the O ring down in there.franpipeman wrote: ↑Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 3:09 pmhttp://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.
-Don
-
- Member
- Posts: 1805
- Joined: Thu. Sep. 28, 2017 10:57 am
- Location: Coal Township Pa
- Stoker Coal Boiler: K2- Keystoker
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Stoker Stove
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
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.
- franpipeman
- Member
- Posts: 692
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 4:27 pm
- Location: Wernersville pa
- Stoker Coal Boiler: efm 520 stoker fitzgibbons pressure vessel
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: harman, russo
- Coal Size/Type: rice
- Other Heating: alpine propane condensing boiler radiant floor
K 2 the actually pex pipe is leaking or the fitting in the pipe is leaking?
-
- Member
- Posts: 1805
- Joined: Thu. Sep. 28, 2017 10:57 am
- Location: Coal Township Pa
- Stoker Coal Boiler: K2- Keystoker
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Stoker Stove
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
The actual pipe itself is developing pin holes. One leak looked like it was along a seamfranpipeman wrote: ↑Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 8:26 pmK 2 the actually pex pipe is leaking or the fitting in the pipe is leaking?
. 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.