Main water line entering house is connected with Sharkbite...

[allinon72]

My house was built in 2018 and has a 1" pex line coming into the basement. Immediately after entering the house, the plumber put a Sharkbite 1"x3/4" 90 union, for whatever reason, which then goes on to feed the rest of the house. I purchased the house after it was built so I didn't get a chance to step in and have it changed. Now, I am NOT a Sharkbite hater, they have proven themselves to be reliable enough and have their uses (in my opinion), although it would not be my first choice. However, I can't help but be concerned that the very first fitting coming into the house is a Sharkbite fitting, and if for some reason it fails, I'll have full 1" GPM flooding the house. It's also located in my crawl space that is somewhat suseptible to being jostled around. Swapping it out would require the water co. to come out and turn the water off at the street. Should I prioritize getting this changed out or am I overreacting?

 

[readhead]

My only thought is that my brother had the same issue at his house and the clean up bill was $33,000 and he was home when it happened. No more shark bites at his house.

 

[Wrench97]

Do you have a shut off valve somewhere in the house?
If not have the water company shut it off and install one at the 1" line.
Is it pex a or pex b?

 

[russ455]

can you add a moisture detector? something web based to give immediate warning notification to your phone?

 

[Firebrick43]

Are you sure you cant' shut off the water yourself at the street yourself? Some water systems have a valve after the meter that they let the home owner or plumber shut off. Of course most places you need the long curb key/ tee handle to reach the valve, a set of 10" plierwrenches deals the pentagon cover bolt

 

[JohnX14]

Where is the water meter? After the shark bite? The water supply would have to have a shut-off at it's entrance point, if it were my decision. Mine comes in from the street in copper, with a ball valve before the meter. Built 2013

 

[readhead]

In my brothers case there was a valve but it was after the shark bite. He thinks the fitting was installed during the building of an addition. The inspector only looked at the rough in in the addition. If he had seen the shark bite he would have failed the inspection. Shark bites are not allowed in permitted work in our county. My brother never noticed it because it was buried among some other pipes and electrical work in the floor joists.

 

[cherrybomb]

At my house,the city has a 5 point socket head in the terrace,marked blue at ground level.I purchased my own socket,added a 4 inch extension to a breaking bar.I painted a small line on the sidewalk, and clean off the valve in the winter.I store these tools in my garage,50 feet away.As a homeowner, I try to prepare.Oh ,my socket is a Williams brand

 

[carlaisle]

Nothing to lose sleep over, but I would definitely replace it at my earliest convenience. If that blew off while you were on vacation the water bill would cost more than your vacation. I would also put some effort into identifying the plumber who did that so I would know who never to call.

 

[The Cobbler]

a 5 point socket head

they are called buffalo cover sockets

 

[Jay__Dub]

I have a couple shark bites installed. Been several years, in the basement, no problem. They are in the open. I've always read you should not put them behind drywall, or anywhere you can't inspect them easily. If we are going to be away for 8 hours or something, I shut the water off. I'm kinda paranoid that way anyhow.

 

[rd65]

You should be able to shut water off at the meter. I work in Public Works and we will check out the tool/key to shut off water at the curb stop but if you break it, you pay to fix it. Probably should be replaced with a more permanent piece. From what I hear, most consider Sharkbite fittings to be a short term band-aid fix.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

I used to shut mine off at the meter all the time. First time, I called the city to come out and do it and I watched. From then on, I did it myself. That 5 sided bolt wasn't very hard to turn nor was the valve. Only needed channies and an adjustable.

 

[allinon72]

I'll admit that I have no idea where my outside shutoff is, or the meter for that matter. I know my neighbor has an obvious metal casting in his yard marked as the water shutoff, so I'm guessing mine has been grown over by grass. Is it common to have an outside meter pit for residential stuff? Seems like that would be a fairly large and obvious thing out in the yard somewhere.

 

[manwithtools]

Is it common to have an outside meter pit for residential stuff? Seems like that would be a fairly large and obvious thing out in the yard somewhere.

Yes, it's almost always done this way in residential single family homes. It very well may have become overgrown with grass. Look in your yard a similar distance from the street as your neighbors meter is. Typically the connection from home to city water is the shortest, straightest path from the point the water line enters the house to the street.

Could have the water department come locate it for you. Many of the meters today are wireless, so the water department does not have to physically see the meter to get a reading.

 

[DGersic]

I'll admit that I have no idea where my outside shutoff is, or the meter for that matter. I know my neighbor has an obvious metal casting in his yard marked as the water shutoff, so I'm guessing mine has been grown over by grass. Is it common to have an outside meter pit for residential stuff? Seems like that would be a fairly large and obvious thing out in the yard somewhere.

It seems to vary a lot for different parts of the country. Two that I know of. My house has a shut off valve in the front yard, under a 4” cast disc cover, meter is in the house in the basement behind the washing machine. My beach cottage in New Jersey has a pit in the street, about 16” diameter, more than 24” deep, with meter and shut off valve in it.

From reading here on GJ, other places have the meter located a long way from the house.

 

[allinon72]

It seems to vary a lot for different parts of the country. Two that I know of. My house has a shut off valve in the front yard, under a 4” cast disc cover, meter is in the house in the basement behind the washing machine. My beach cottage in New Jersey has a pit in the street, about 16” diameter, more than 24” deep, with meter and shut off valve in it.

From reading here on GJ, other places have the meter located a long way from the house.

I'll probably end up calling in locates - meter is out there somewhere although definitely not in an obvious place. It isn't indoors.

 

[Fav Onefour]

There is no single answer to the main line shutoff and meter location.
We have quite a few properties in various jurisdictions and almost as many different configurations. It is a bit shocking that there isn't something a little more uniform.
Our buildings in cold climate do have one thing consistent. They have indoor meters. Most of those have valves on both sides and an additional street shutoff.
Street, or city shutoffs vary a lot. Here is a short list of what I deal with,
1. Most common - curbside buried shutoff in the yard. They have removable cast caps at ground level.
2. Outdoor valve under a cover in the street.
3. Building without it's own dedicated valve. (That is shut off using a one block zone valve).
4. Street shutoff under manhole cover and an additional "private" shutoff buried in front of the building.

@allinon72 , You are on the right track by calling. I have had great response when asking. Ask where it is located and how it needs to be closed. I would also ask who shuts off the street valve. Some are done by the city and some are my responsibility. I like to know those things in case of emergency.
I'll also add this, don't worry so much about the "sharkbite" valve. There are tons of those things used in that exact situation. Protect it a little if you are banging boxes etc off the line. Otherwise, I wouldn't let it keep me awake.

 

[rd65]

I'll admit that I have no idea where my outside shutoff is, or the meter for that matter. I know my neighbor has an obvious metal casting in his yard marked as the water shutoff, so I'm guessing mine has been grown over by grass. Is it common to have an outside meter pit for residential stuff? Seems like that would be a fairly large and obvious thing out in the yard somewhere.

You can call your provider or they may have an online map that will show you the general area of your meter. We dont have a heavy frost or snow issue here, Seattle area, so your setup may be different. You have a newer house so you should have a shut off inside. Sounds like sharkbite may be on city side of shut off though. You should be metered. We had to meter every house in Everett, a lot of older homes were just on flat water fee. Feds made city install meters to account for lost water.

 

[no704]

As others have said you should be able to shut off at the curb your self. No way in hell I would keep a 1” sharkbite in a basement unless I wanted an indoor pool.

 

[bluedog225]

No way I would not know where my water shut off was. Well worth your time to do some investigation and figure out how that works.

 

[readhead]

I recently spent an hour and relocated my shut off right inside the basement door. I also have a water key to shut the water off at the meter.
Every home owner or renter should know how to turn off the water in case of an emergency. Even if someone in the house can’t physically do it at least they can tell someone who can.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'll admit that I have no idea where my outside shutoff is, or the meter for that matter. I know my neighbor has an obvious metal casting in his yard marked as the water shutoff, so I'm guessing mine has been grown over by grass. Is it common to have an outside meter pit for residential stuff? Seems like that would be a fairly large and obvious thing out in the yard somewhere.

It's not unusual for them to be buried under the grass in the yard, sometimes an inch down sometimes 4" down.

Look at the curb for a blue painted stripe or it's remains.

I believe some of the big box stores sell water keys, or I believe that Menards did at one time.

 

[75gmck25]

One quick answer would be to call "Miss Utility" (or whatever it's called in your area) and ask them to mark your front yard for buried pipes. Then follow the blue paint lines. It's normally a free service.

However, I also agree that the street shutoff should be very visible and easy to see. You need the right kind of key (some use a very simple crowfoot end), but then it's easy to turn off.

The plumber that replaced one of our bathroom fixtures told me that the city doesn't want homeowners shutting off water at the street, and they will stop you and ask to see a permit and/or plumbers license if they see you working there. However, I doubt they really pay that much attention.