Shark bite issue

 
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swyman
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Post by swyman » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 7:19 am

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.


 
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coaledsweat
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Post by coaledsweat » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 7:22 am

Don't have any sharkbites but notice a lot of stuff can dribble when shut down. Air vents, PRVs and such.

 
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swyman
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Post by swyman » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 7:42 am

coaledsweat wrote:
Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 7:22 am
Don't have any sharkbites but notice a lot of stuff can dribble when shut down. Air vents, PRVs and such.
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...

 
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Post by oliver power » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 7:47 am

coaledsweat wrote:
Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 7:22 am
Don't have any sharkbites but notice a lot of stuff can dribble when shut down. Air vents, PRVs and such.
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.

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?????

 
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Post by Qtown1835 » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 8:08 am

oliver power wrote:
Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 7:47 am
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.
I cant offer help on the leaking fittings but i agree with Oliver. Maybe the fittings have backed off from repeating heat/cool cycles?

 
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Post by Rob R. » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 9:29 am

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.

 
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Post by CapeCoaler » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 9:37 am

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


 
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Post by StokerDon » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 10:02 am

swyman wrote:
Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 7:19 am
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.
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

 
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Post by coalnewbie » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 10:02 am

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.

 
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VigIIPeaBurner
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Post by VigIIPeaBurner » 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?

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/

 
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Post by CapeCoaler » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 10:28 am

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...

 
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Post by Rob R. » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 10:30 am

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.

 
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Post by coalnewbie » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 10:31 am

Here's a link to a brand I hear more RVers refer to most often: http://www.rescuetape.com/
Another life saving invention for me in PVC water lines. Thx.

During my wasted youth a ladies nylon stocking was a good fan belt fix. Now we have new ideas.

 
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Post by Pauliewog » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 12:41 pm

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.
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.

But you can't beat that Rescue Tape to get you out of a bind. Used it once on a busted heater hose.

Paulie

 
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swyman
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Post by swyman » Mon. Feb. 19, 2018 12:55 pm

oliver 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?????
No, just in a couple spots


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