SharkBite Max 1/2" x 3/8" OD

[ole442]

I'm working on shut offs for bathroom sink and toilet supply lines. Years ago, I sweated on the cheap shutoffs and they are old and are hard to open close. I've decided to add ball valves to the supply lines where they come out of the wall. I'll have to heat up and remove the old fittings and sand the old solder off. While at one of the big box home improvement stores the older gentleman who works there said I should use SharkBite Max for the ball valve. He said they work real well and you just push them on the copper line. What are your opinions/experiences with these. Are they really reliable, leak proof and easy to install?? Sweat fitting is a bit of a PITA but I have done it before but this seems so easy if it works.

OLE442

 

[The Cobbler]

Im not a lover of sharkbite, nor am I opposed to them. but, if there's reasonable access, I would choose a solder connection ... but that's what I learned , it's tried & true, and I'm old

 

[ole442]

I would choose a solder connection ... but that's what I learned , it's tried & true, and I'm old

Kind of what I was thinking but then, I too am old! LOL!!

 

[Mr onetwo]

I think you will be fine with the Sharkbites. I don't trust other brand knockoffs though and Sharkbites only in an exposed situation like you described.Be super careful cleaning up the copper and make sure you don't cut the o-ring when you insert the pipe.

 

[housewolf]

It might be good enough, but it’s never the best for any application.

You’ll get replies that say “I’ve got two dozen of them in my house that have been holding for 8 years now, they’re good to go”. That’s a tiny, tiny, sample. In 45 years of plumbing I’ve seen 3 “unexplainable failures” and I haven’t been around that many myself. They have a higher failure rate than other processes, they’re expensive, and when they do fail it may not be a drip, it could be a flood. A flood is what I saw in the failures I’ve seen. It’s not something a good plumber would use on a job he’s being paid for but if a homeowner wants to accept the risks, be my guest.