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
I noticed when my system temp drops to ambient temp (as in a shutdown) the shark bite fittings start leaking. Is there a fix for this.....other than run the system year around? Anyone else have this issue? Mine does it at 3 different locations.
- coaledsweat
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 13767
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
Don't have any sharkbites but notice a lot of stuff can dribble when shut down. Air vents, PRVs and such.
- 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
When I shut down the bran loop for a few days I went out there and the shark bites were leaking pretty bad in 2 places. And the time I can home to a cold boiler from the draft safety switch the shark bites were leaking in 2 places also. Trying to figure it out...coaledsweat wrote: ↑Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 7:22 amDon't have any sharkbites but notice a lot of stuff can dribble when shut down. Air vents, PRVs and such.
- oliver power
- Member
- Posts: 2970
- Joined: Sun. Apr. 16, 2006 9:28 am
- Location: Near Dansville, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: KEYSTOKER Kaa-2
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93 & 30-95, Vigilant (pre-2310), D.S. 1600 Circulator, Hitzer 254
Coaldsweat, You took the words right out of my mouth..... When I shut down, I close a ball valve at each side of boiler's primary loop, and feed water. If not, hard dribbling occurs. The following year, when things are back up to temp, dribbling disappears...... Won't dribble again till shut down.coaledsweat wrote: ↑Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 7:22 amDon't have any sharkbites but notice a lot of stuff can dribble when shut down. Air vents, PRVs and such.
I'm not a fan of shark bite, or any other "Quick Fix" method of plumbing. You might want to pull the shark bites out, and sweat the copper together. If it's at the boiler, add a couple ball valves.
Oh Nooooo, You didn't use shark bites through out all your plumbing, or did you?????
-
- Member
- Posts: 705
- Joined: Sat. Nov. 08, 2014 11:47 am
- Location: Quakertown, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker '81 KA4 (online 1/16/17)
- Coal Size/Type: WAS Lehigh Rice (TBD)
- Other Heating: EFM SPK600
I cant offer help on the leaking fittings but i agree with Oliver. Maybe the fittings have backed off from repeating heat/cool cycles?oliver power wrote: ↑Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 7:47 amI'm not a fan of shark bite, or any other "Quick Fix" method of plumbing. You might want to pull the shark bites out, and sweat the copper together. If it's at the boiler, add a couple ball valves.
- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 18004
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
Are you certain the fittings are seated correctly?
I have a few Shark bite fittings in my system that have been in service for 8 years. I have never observed any leaks over the summer, or any other time. I suspect you either got defective fittings, or the pipe was dirty or scratched.
I have a few Shark bite fittings in my system that have been in service for 8 years. I have never observed any leaks over the summer, or any other time. I suspect you either got defective fittings, or the pipe was dirty or scratched.
-
- Member
- Posts: 6515
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 3:48 pm
- Location: Cape Cod, MA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: want AA130
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine BS#4, Harman MKII, Hitzer 503,...
- Coal Size/Type: Pea/Nut/Stove
We have a shark bite problem on The Cape...
And they do dribble a bit...
When the water is red...
Get out of the water...
LOL
And they do dribble a bit...
When the water is red...
Get out of the water...
LOL
- 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
I agree with Rob. 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.
-Don
-
- Member
- Posts: 8601
- Joined: Sat. May. 24, 2008 4:26 pm
- Location: Chester, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: LL AnthraKing 180K, Pocono110K,KStokr 90K, DVC
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Invader 2
- Baseburners & Antiques: Wings Best, Glenwood #8(x2) Herald 116x
- Coal Size/Type: Rice,
- Other Heating: Heating Oil CH, Toyotomi OM 22
Take it from a three left handed old fart and the vast experience of two weeks and three easy to get to fittings. For small stuff - Propress rules. I don't like Sharkbite.
- VigIIPeaBurner
- Member
- Posts: 2579
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 10:49 am
- Location: Pequest River Valley, Warren Co NJ
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker Koker(down)
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Casting Vigilant II 2310
- Other Heating: #2 Oil Furnace
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?
What I pondered could happen is corrosion at the internal shark bite o-ring and pipe joint. If the water is corrosive and goes through a number of seasonal use cycles, couldn't it corrode the copper pipe exposed to the water beyond/inside the shark bite fitting? Maybe this is why it happens to some (with corrosive water?) and not others, IDK. Then again maybe Rob is right and there was a bad batch sold.
I've been reading about RVs a lot lately and they keep a roll of self-fusing silicon tape handy. I've read it's good above boiler loop water temperatures. Perhaps a few wraps of this would stop the weeping problem for a long time. Here's a link to a brand I hear more RVers refer to most often: http://www.rescuetape.com/
What I pondered could happen is corrosion at the internal shark bite o-ring and pipe joint. If the water is corrosive and goes through a number of seasonal use cycles, couldn't it corrode the copper pipe exposed to the water beyond/inside the shark bite fitting? Maybe this is why it happens to some (with corrosive water?) and not others, IDK. Then again maybe Rob is right and there was a bad batch sold.
I've been reading about RVs a lot lately and they keep a roll of self-fusing silicon tape handy. I've read it's good above boiler loop water temperatures. Perhaps a few wraps of this would stop the weeping problem for a long time. Here's a link to a brand I hear more RVers refer to most often: http://www.rescuetape.com/
-
- Member
- Posts: 6515
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 3:48 pm
- Location: Cape Cod, MA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: want AA130
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine BS#4, Harman MKII, Hitzer 503,...
- Coal Size/Type: Pea/Nut/Stove
Self- fusing tape is a nice quick fix...
2 years later still holding...
Pinhole leak on water main...
Just above our shut off...
But requires street main to be closed...
Good thing neighbor works for the water department...
LOL...
2 years later still holding...
Pinhole leak on water main...
Just above our shut off...
But requires street main to be closed...
Good thing neighbor works for the water department...
LOL...
- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 18004
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
I am using a few Sharkbites in copper to copper connections, and copper to Pex.
I cleaned the copper really well with steel wool and made sure it was smooth prior to installing the fittings.
I cleaned the copper really well with steel wool and made sure it was smooth prior to installing the fittings.
-
- Member
- Posts: 8601
- Joined: Sat. May. 24, 2008 4:26 pm
- Location: Chester, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: LL AnthraKing 180K, Pocono110K,KStokr 90K, DVC
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Invader 2
- Baseburners & Antiques: Wings Best, Glenwood #8(x2) Herald 116x
- Coal Size/Type: Rice,
- Other Heating: Heating Oil CH, Toyotomi OM 22
Another life saving invention for me in PVC water lines. Thx.Here's a link to a brand I hear more RVers refer to most often: http://www.rescuetape.com/
During my wasted youth a ladies nylon stocking was a good fan belt fix. Now we have new ideas.
- Pauliewog
- Member
- Posts: 1824
- Joined: Mon. Dec. 02, 2013 12:15 am
- Location: Pittston, Pennsylvania
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Alaska 140 Dual Paddle Feed
- Baseburners & Antiques: Fame Rosemont #20, Home Stove Works #25, Glenwood #6, Happy Thought Oak, Merry Bride #214, Sunnyside, Worlds Argand #114, New Golden Sun , & About 30 others.
- Coal Size/Type: Stove, Chesnut, Pea, Rice / Anthracite
I never had luck using them to replace those new fangled serpentine belts. Seems the clearance is to tight for the garder straps to clear.coalnewbie wrote: ↑Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 10:31 am
During my wasted youth a ladies nylon stocking was a good fan belt fix. Now we have new ideas.
But you can't beat that Rescue Tape to get you out of a bind. Used it once on a busted heater hose.
Paulie
- 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
No, just in a couple spotsoliver power wrote: ↑Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 7:47 am
Oh Nooooo, You didn't use shark bites through out all your plumbing, or did you?????