Like to get one more confirmation on sealing this repair in the wall.

Are these fittings (Apollo brand) suitable? Or should I switch to the expand or crimp type while the wall is still open?

Haven’t a clue, but this is SIGforum, so three to seven true experts will be a long momentarily.

They look like shark bite style fittings and I would not seal those in a wall. I'd change them out to crimp connections.

I am no expert, but I've done some plumbing and I don't trust those things one bit. A few months ago I got to redo the entire plumbing job that my FIL did to his basement after he used those sharkbite fittings and a couple of them leaked. There's no way in hell I'd seal one in a wall.

Pex is easy (and cheap) enough to crimp properly, I'm not sure why somebody would feel the need to cut corners and use those things.

I have heard of both the crimp and slip on types leaking. I have replaced all the hot and cold pipes on my boat with pex and the sharkbite fittings and the only leaks were from my impatience and found as soon as water pressure was applied.

I’m no plumber, but have my perspective. I was in a hurry to get my bath remodel closed up so the drywaller could stay on schedule. Used several shark bites in the head wall of the shower, 17 years ago, with no problems (yet)!

I would’t use a shark bite behind a wall.
Just like I wouldn’t use a pro press either(they have an o ring that will likely die in 50 years or less) but pro-press is copper systems
I’d use a crimp ring system.

(Not a plumber-my dad was)

When properly applied (Squared-off deburred cuts, full depth press) SharkBite fittings are as good as compression fittings.

The bad reputation they get is from improper install causing failures.

Any plumbing I do is left pressurized for 24 hours before being sealed up. If it's not leaking in the first 24 hours, it's not likely to leak anytime soon.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I would’t use a shark bite behind a wall.
Just like I wouldn’t use a pro press either(they have an o ring that will likely die in 50 years or less) but pro-press is copper systems
I’d use a crimp ring system.

(Not a plumber-my dad was)

We developed a 12 story apartment tower in Phylidelphia about 10 years back and the plumber used Pro press.

Everything was good until we released the contractors Builders Risk policy as the job was done. Not a week later a 2” copper line on the 10th floor separated over the weekend and flooded over 120 units. Luckily, the building was lot occupied yet but it was a nightmare dealing with the insurance agencies to get the building fixed. Never again.

I agree with others, go with the PEX crimp. I have a shark bite splice in my house but it’s in an un finished basement where it can be monitored.

quote:

Originally posted by Gibb:
When properly applied (Squared-off deburred cuts, full depth press) SharkBite fittings are as good as compression fittings.

The bad reputation they get is from improper install causing failures.

Any plumbing I do is left pressurized for 24 hours before being sealed up. If it's not leaking in the first 24 hours, it's not likely to leak anytime soon.

The water has been on in that repaired line for a year. Long story for the wall repair delay. Involves Mother, broken hip, rehab, covid, assisted living, insurance, 120 mile trips, etc....

Sounds like the crimps are more favored. Do we mean the left solid rings, or the side squeeze on the right? With the proper tool of course.

I'd prefer not to wall one up. But from what I've seen at work, I'd trust them more than Pro Press. I've seen waaay too many of them leak. But he surely wasn't talking about Pro Press, unless he was going to spend a boat load of money to make one connection. lol

I have had a mechanical contractor rebuild copper shower pipes at a public pool. Size up to 2". They used the copper to copper squeeze fittings. With O ring inside. None have leaked in many years.

quote:

Originally posted by Hamden106:
I have had a mechanical contractor rebuild copper shower pipes at a public pool. Size up to 2". They used the copper to copper squeeze fittings. With O ring inside. None have leaked in many years.

Then you shouldn't worry about your sharkbite fittings.
A ProPress connection will fail before a sharkbite.

Since you have Quest Polybutylene piping, I'd probably leave the sharkbites.

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:

A ProPress connection will fail before a sharkbite.

I am no plumbing expert, but this is what my plumber has been using, no soldering anymore. You are telling me that a connection that is crimped with something like 500 pounds of force with a special tool is going to fail BEFORE a connection you pressed on with your fingers???

I've used several Sharkbite connectors, replaced every valve in the house with new Sharkbite 1/4 turns, 8-10 years ago, used their water heater connectors to install new water heaters at my home and my daughters, used a T to add a line to connect the ice maker in the garage.

Brass, Poly, Pex, it works with all of them.

The only one I had leak was my fault for not getting it properly seated, once they are on they are not coming off without cutters or the proper removal tool, which you can get at HD or Lowes.

If it's been in there a while and it's not leaking it's probably good to go as Excam Man said in that it's Poly piping you have.

If it concerns you, hire a plumber to come out, and inspect it, $150 is cheap insurance to make you feel good about closing it up.

Interesting comments from a plumbing company on push-fit fittings which are what Sharkebite is.

Link

I put Sharkbites on two hose bibs, the water heater, and the water softener more than ten years ago. No problems with any of them.

I don't have any behind a wall.

My house is Pex and I have the crimp tool, but haven't needed it yet either.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
bing expert, but this is what my plumber has been using, no soldering anymore.

We're drifting off topic, but... "time is money", in this case your money. A sweat fitting that costs .79 cents, the same fitting in Pro Press can be $7.00 , and when you get into other things and larger things it really gets nuts. (4" ball vales for $800+) Contractors don't care because it saves them tons of time, and the customer is paying the extra costs, not them. They're out the door and on the the next job. It's great for them, but in reality you're paying more money for less work.

The upsides to it where I work are a few. No hot work permits and getting the fire marshals involved. These old buildings don't have isolation valves, to you end up dumping and draining the whole building to do anything. You can work a lot more wet with the press than you need to to sweat pipe. And of course it's fast and you can get the buildings back up faster.

That said, they leak all the time. The companies will tell you that's due to poor prep, which in some cases it it. People too lazy / stubborn to prep the pipes right. Other times not. "We" find leaks from them all the time.
I would think the quality of your water and level of chlorination would play a big part in how long they o-rings will last. But I laugh at the predicted life spans.

Re: Pro press

quote:

Originally posted by cas:


That said, they leak all the time.

They do? I've got them all over my house going on 5 years now and not a single issue. Old house built in 1951 so it's all copper piping.

quote:

I would think the quality of your water and level of chlorination would play a big part in how long they o-rings will last. But I laugh at the predicted life spans.

But don't Sharkbites also have an o-ring?

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:

A ProPress connection will fail before a sharkbite.

I am no plumbing expert, but this is what my plumber has been using, no soldering anymore. You are telling me that a connection that is crimped with something like 500 pounds of force with a special tool is going to fail BEFORE a connection you pressed on with your fingers???

Yes.
Inside is an O ring that will eventually fail.
If you look at the crimping, it’s not round but has sides-almost like an octagon. Once the O ring fails water will leak out of the crimped area.

Shark bites also have an O ring, and eventually it will fail.

Plumbers use the Pro Press because it’s fast & they don’t have to drain to do hot work. The lifespan is advertised to be 25-50 years depending on environment.

Shark bites also have a similar lifespan.

PEX piping lifespan is 50 years..

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:

A ProPress connection will fail before a sharkbite.

I am no plumbing expert, but this is what my plumber has been using, no soldering anymore. You are telling me that a connection that is crimped with something like 500 pounds of force with a special tool is going to fail BEFORE a connection you pressed on with your fingers???

Sharkbites will outlast ProPress fittings, better?

Think what would happen if they manufactured plastic, push-on, glued fittings!

Maybe one should do a little research, BEFORE questioning other professionals in their line of work?