If you’ve decided that your plumbing system requires replacing, or you might have a leaky system, you’re bound to have come across shark bite fittings.
If you’re undertaking the job yourself, good on you, but what type of connection are you going for, and what do they look like?
You want to ensure that your connections have the right fit, and should you have to remove them, you know how to do so.
This article outlines what these fittings look like and their purpose and explains the easiest ways to remove them using minimal tools and technical knowledge.
Read on further to find out more about how you can improve your plumbing system for the better.
What Is A Sharkbite Fitting?
These fittings are a push-to-connect type of connection produced in different sizes ranging from ¼ inch to 2 inches in diameter.
These connections can be used in PEX, CPVC, PE-RT pipes, or any combination of these, where you might have PEX which is more flexible and is a standard replacement for galvanized steel type piping.
Some types of PEX, such as PEX-A piping, have been tested to withstand more than 1,000 hours of intense temperature and pressure ratings.
With this, you can find some fitting variations such as connect couplings, connect elbows, connect caps, connect tees and connect transition.
You might find some connections, such as push-to-connect manifolds, which can have significant uses in commercial or residential properties where you might want to have central water control.
If you’re wondering what all these connections are and how they work, we’ve broken down each fitting in the next section.
What Types Of Fitting Are There?
You might be looking for a simple fitting for your system, or you might want to connect hot and cold water supply lines.
Or you could look for ends that prove to be quicker in installation time.
Whichever you’re looking for, we’ve explained each below.
Push-To-Connect Fittings
These fittings will fit with just about any standard piping you have and can be used in underground and behind-the-wall applications.
You can find variations such as connecting elbows in case your piping runs at an angle or is placed in a tight spot, and you can find male and female adapters for threading for the outside and inside, respectively.
You’ll find that the cross tee fittings can support multiple types of piping that can connect to it, and you could get a ball valve that can shut off the supply, which is great for those who might not have a fitting like this.
Push-To-Connect-Valves
These valves are a more pronounced version of the ball valve from our earlier example, and this one allows you to regulate your water flow much more quickly.
You can get ball valves that can be fitted for any service or repair job and have freeze protection and slip ball valves allowing 2 inches of CPVC pipe to be cut out of an existing line.
These connections can extend to outdoor valves, which can regulate water flow for back garden use with anti-corrosion properties.
Push-To-Connect Water Heater Connectors
You can use these connectors or couplings that can go from your water heater all the way to an existing water line, and the variety with ball valves works best with piping that doesn’t quite line up.
These fittings are approved for use on electric or gas water heaters that have a flue vent.
Push-To-Connect Manifolds
These fittings are a more specialized way of distributing cold and hot water flow to certain areas of your house and can do this faster than a conventional connector valve.
Another benefit of these valves is that they have fewer fittings which means less number of joints, so there isn’t as much risk of your piping becoming strained or weakening when water flows through them.
How To Effectively Remove And Replace A Fitting
There are more fittings and parts that work with the open and shut-off valves, but the above list is generally what fittings you would find in a residential system.
The system of removing your piping might be a cause for concern as you don’t want to weaken or damage the system while removing your fittings.
Below is a step-by-step guide to ensure an easy way to remove and replace your fittings.
Step 1
Place your Sharkbite or any effective brand of disconnect clip around the pipe with the non-branded face against the release collar.
Whichever brand you use, you want the logo to be placed, so it’s surrounding the pipe, and the other end should be around the neck of the fitting.
Step 2
Push the clip against the release collar and pull the pipe with a twisting motion to release the pipe.
You want to ensure that you’re squeezing the tool with one hand to make the release of the pipe easier and prevents any damage caused to the piping.
Step 3
You can now check both the fitting and pipe end for any signs of damage, and it should be free of any foreign objects.
If you notice any damage or marks o the piping, simply cut and use a new section of pipe, and for fittings, you can just do the same with any other piping connected to it.
Make sure you have a tight fit with your piping to reduce the chance of a build-up of pressure which can weaken your system over time.
Conclusion
When you’re looking around for a fitting, it may be best to visit your local hardware store as an assistant can point you in the right direction by asking what type of system you’re using.
If you can explain where your fittings are located and what piping you use, you can then find a fitting that is going to be useful for you.