re: Shark Bite Fittings

quote:

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Anyone have experience with Shark Bite connectors to copper pipe? Wanting to use them to connect new hoses to copper water supply for water heater.

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I keep a set for temporary fixes in case of a burst pipe. I do not use them for permanent work or work where failure means catastrophic damage inside of the house. They can work but their resistance to failure modes is about the lowest of all types and to get the best out of them you have to do nearly the same prep as you would a sweated joint. Very clean, burr free, perfectly round. I use F1960 PEX whenever I can, still sweat copper, and might get into a press system when I come across a good deal on the equipment but I will never use sharkbite fittings and call it "fixed".