What are SharkBite Fittings and How do They Work?

A SharkBite fitting creates strong connections with simple installation. SharkBite push-to-connect fittings grip pipes and tubing with a ring of teeth to seal connections and prevent leaks.
John Woodard, our Master Water Specialist, answers whether or not SharkBites are reliable and where to use them
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0:00 Introduction
0:12 What are SharkBite fittings?
0:36 How do SharkBite fittings work?
0:58 Are SharkBite fittings reusable?
1:24 How do you install and disconnect a SharkBite fitting?
3:25 Are SharkBite fittings rated for water and air use?
3:37 Can you use SharkBite fittings underground?
4:13 What kind of tubing can SharkBite fittings be used with?
4:47 How can SharkBite fittings be used?
5:33 Are SharkBite fittings supposed to spin?

[@mastax1234]

I have a love hate relationship with sharkbite fittings. They work great and are very quick to connect two pipes but I have had so many times where they just won't come back off the pipe even with the removal tool so I'd had to cut the PVC pipe in many cases and put a entirely new fitting on. I'd rather just use the typical compression fittings instead of dealing with a sharkbite again.

[@BenGilmartin]

Thanks, great video, you managed to do this fast and with an engaging tone of voice, not boring like some videos of this kind - a star in the making! Just had a small pipe to an outside tap leak and was wondering about these connections, thx. I know more now!!

[@michaeldavis4746]

My home in California had copper sweat soldered stub outs coming from all water outlets under sinks, the water heater... wherever you saw the plumbing coming from the wall. Before buying the newly built home for $473K, I inspected it myself and was convinced that the home was plumbed in all copper. Boy was I fooled (and that was the plumbing contractor's intention I'm sure). To fool the average technical person into thinking that the whole plumbing system was done in time-honored, difficult to work with, total copper and sweated unions done by real plumbers. After buying the home and living there for 6 years, I heard a hissing sound coming from behind the water heater. A hole was in the drywall spitting out water vapor. I called a plumbing company and they inspected it and said all the plumbing hidden behind the walls was plastic pipe. I said to him what about the copper stub-outs? He just shrugged his shoulders and said the plumbing would all have to be replaced the "right way" in sweated copper. That many of the plastic pipes were much cheaper and there were many, many problems with leakage. He put together a detailed quote to fix it RIGHT with copper and it amounted to around $53K for the two-story dwelling. All the drywall had to be opened. I agreed to pay their company and they completed the work in copper done the old-fashioned, time-consuming way. My home was a total wreck for around 5 weeks with dust everywhere. Would I trust ANY plastic or O-Ring seals to work in ANY plumbing long term? Absolutely not, it's not for me. I know of no O-rings that will last hundreds of years.

[@Xzen808]

Thanks for the informative video!

[@yd1792]

Looks like for every action with sharkbite you need a "special tool" which not cheep. Plus damage from teeth will prevent to reuse connection in most of cases. Plus if your copper tube will start corode and getting green specially in summer time when cold water and worm inside give condensation on copper pipes. That green oxidation will destroy good seal between rubber oring and copper. will start dripping more and more. Also Conversely, cold/hot temperatures may cause o-ring shrinkage that results in leaks

[@BruceAlanR]

I laughed out loud when he said, “… and they’re pretty reliable.” I like reliable better.

[@yannipapadopoulos9531]

Me too 🤣

[@michaeldavis4746]

I would not chance plastic or O-rings in any home in the future that I would be willing to purchase. I have already been through that mess!

[@markc2152]

I’ve slowly come to love these fittings

[@sherluck271]

What size shark bite do I need for my mobile home gray pipe any idea? Thx

[@deniseaustin9932]

Thanks for info

[@jmf2274]

hi can you put a sharkbite valve on the mainline coming in your house

[@John-ev3rm]

Still does not explain the physics of how exactly they work

[@VolksdeutscheSS]

You're right, John. I was hoping for that "physics" explanation too.

[@bigdaddy19821111]

They are reliable on copper.

[@michaeldavis4746]

They do this with plastic pipes and fittings using o-rings to use unskilled labor (NOT real plumbers) to do the plumbing. The Contractor makes all the money and can have 20-30 migrant workers work for cheap rock bottom labor rates. Meanwhile, the "honest" Contractor sits back and laughs all the way to the bank. It is likely you will have problems with the plumbing like I did. NOTHING BEATS SOLDERED COPPER for longevity!

[@thehellasketchshow3066]

A shark bit his arm

[@teajelmore]

Hope these work 😬

[@FappinSteve]

I don't see how they'd last. You're scratching and marring up the surface and expecting an o-ring to seal tightly. Seems sketchy.

[@teajelmore]

@@FappinSteve I've had these on my lines for 6 days and they are holding up.

[@FappinSteve]

@@teajelmore Well I certainly wish you the best of luck. I hope you don't get your walls put back up, just for it to fail!

[@teajelmore]

It's only temporary 👍🏼

[@jostrander71]

@@FappinSteve Been using these and John Guest fittings for decades.

[@appleztooranges]

PLumbers hate these. It takes away their jobs!

[@paulsilva1357]

It’s not that we hate them, I guess some may for the reason you provide, it’s just they are pretty big and don’t always work in tight places.

[@dodothebird2199]

This isnt a roblox game

[@gailremp8389]

Seriously?