A Sharkbite Out of Your Plumbing!

Anyone currently in the plumbing business is very fond of this one particular fitting. Can you guess which thing that might be? How about the fat guy in the back? You are correct sir, the shark bite! Now they’re a couple manufacturers on the market that currently are designing these type of fittings.

These fittings are basically is a brass push on fitting with a rubber O-ring on the inside. Obviously, the O-ring will stop any water from trying to expel from the connection between the shark bite fitting and copper, CPVC, Poly, or Pex pipe. Now the interesting part about these settings is the small metal teeth like pieces of metal that adhere the pipe to the fitting. To me, the whole setup of the setting itself reminds me of those old Chinese finger traps I used to play with as a kid

Now the style of fittings, as far as 45s 90s, couplings, check valves, Ball valve’s, etc. there are more than I’d like to sit here and list. I have to say from everyday use. When you need one. You definitely need one. Their new technology on the market, not many people will have been exposed should, as of yet. But from a professional point of view. I can easily see this technology, making it easier for homeowners and contractors to remove the necessity of plumbers in many situations.

I think many people are little bit too suspect of the shark bite fitting. They are generally fairly easy to use. Like said above, the type of pipe absolutely matters. You have to be working with pipe sizes that are CTS, also known as copper tube size. All of this means is that the outside diameters of the pipes will be uniform. When you cut the pipe, make sure you have at least an inch of pipe to reconnect the shark bite to before it hits any type of glue spots or saw her trips on the pipe itself. Much less fitting, that’s not possible now, is it. Now we go to push a piece of pipe in to the shark bite you have to make sure it’s clean first. Then push the shark bite on. Don’t be worried that the fitting spin freely on the pipe should work if done properly. Make sure it was pushed on, at least an inch. It should feel like it goes on, a little more of the flesh and the fitting will bottom out.

The shark bite line of fittings is definitely something to be looking forward to in the future as the renovating the professional as well as homeowner friendly aspect of water pipe repair.