Last Updated on November 18, 2021 by
To connect sharkbite galvanized to PEX, you will have to cut the PEX pipe completely. The cut has to be straight and sharp. The next step is smoothening out the edges of the cut part, preferably with a utility knife. Insert the pipe into the O-ring and ensure that every component is where it is supposed to be.
Sharkbite is a well-known fitting for connecting pipes. The process to follow when you want to connect sharkbite galvanized to PEX is simple. But, if you don’t know yet, there is no need to worry.
Continue reading for a detailed explanation.
What Is Sharkbite?
Sharkbite is a fitting used in plumbing that uses a push-to-connect mechanism to join two pipes. In recent times, plumbers have gone from using soldering torches and welding pipes together to using sharkbite in their work. A sharkbite installation is easy and quick. It saves a huge chunk of time in a day so the plumber can move on to another job instead of burning the entire clock in one spot.
What Do You Need To Use Sharkbite And Where Can You Use The Fittings?
PEX has dominated the plumbing industry for many years. It has made plumbing very easy and time-saving when compared to earlier alternatives. With sharkbite, all you need to do is cut the pipe at the leaking point, place the sharkbite fitting, and lay the piping back down.
You do not need clamping tools and soldering skills as sharkbite fitting demands basic cutting skills and knowledge.
The sharkbite fitting is used with copper, PEX, and some PVC pipes. The fitting can also be used to transition from either one of these to the other.
Three Quick Steps For Sharkbite Installation Onto A PEX Pipe
Using a sharkbite fitting is an easy task. There are, however, a few things you need to keep in mind. The fitting has to be kept clean at all times. Before unpacking the fit, you should keep it in a sealed container to ensure it doesn’t get any debris inside that might end up causing a leak.
Check for leaks inside the fitting, as it will render the sharkbite fit useless. Once you have checked out all these, you can now begin the installation process.
Before you start, you will need a couple of tools to ensure that your work is efficient and effective.
Tools required:
1. Rotary cutter/blade cutter
2. Deeper
3. Utility knife
4. Depth gauge tool
5. Go/no-go gauge
6. Clip ring
With all these tools in hand, you can begin the installation process:
Step 1: Cut The Faulty Pipe
The PEX pipe should be cut perfectly straight. Here is where the rotary cutter or the blade cutter comes into play. Using other cutting tools such as a hacksaw will damage the cut and cause a not-so-clean edge.
After the cut, there will be a sharp edge. The edge needs to be smooth to prevent any leaking after the fit is installed.
There will be an outside edge on the cut pipe; the edge should be smooth and clean. Use a deeper to smoothen it. For the inside edges, a utility knife does the job effectively.
Step 2: Preparation Of The PEX Pipe
After the cut, you will need to draw a mark on the PEX pipe to show the insertion level of the sharkbite fitting. It would help if you pushed the pipes to the right depth to ensure that the O-ring does its job,
The depth gauge tool is one of the required tools. Use it to mark the depth. If you are unsure about the depth, you can look at the sharkbite website for measurements.
Step 3: Finalize The Installation (Connecting The Cut Ends And The Fitting)
After you have done all the preparations, making the connection is the final stage. You need to insert a clip ring into the pipe. The clip ring should touch the mark you made earlier with the depth gauge tool or your fitting shoulder.
After that is done, you now have to position the clamp rings one-eighth inches from the shoulder of the fitting. It ensures that the clip ring is over the fitting barbs. The shark bite fitting is all set now, and you can use a go/no-go gauge to test the position of the fit and the pipes.
Benefits Of Using A Sharkbite Galvanized To PEX
1. The connection is the most simple and easiest way to fix a leaking pipe. Even for people with next to zero plumbing skills, you will be in a position to ace this installation.
2. The sharkbite fittings can be turned and rotated. When you need to alter something in your network of pipes, you do not have to reset everything as you can turn these fittings and have them sit how you wish.
3. The sharkbite fitting is not expensive. When compared to other plumbing system solutions, it comes out on top as the most pocket-friendly solution. This is especially for those who are looking to transition from one pipe type to another.
4. Sharkbite fittings are sturdy. When fixing a leaky pipe, they can withstand the pressure, and also, they are not affected when they get wet.
What Are The Risks Of Using Sharkbite?
Even though sharkbite is a revolutionary product, it has some risks.
These risks include:
1. There have been some concerns about sharkbites reliability when it comes to leaks. There have been some complaints of sharkbite fittings leaking when used to fix leaky and faulty pipes.
2. Sharkbites are reusable but only to some extent. After insertion of the pipes into the O-ring, it is lubricated to prevent it from rolling. However, this grease or lubricant wears off after the O-ring has been used three to five times. For this reason, some plumbers prefer compression over sharkbites.
Final Thoughts
As explained above, it is easy to connect PEX to sharkbite. It does not require too much work or experience to fix. Besides, the product is well-priced compared to the other available solutions to your plumbing problems. Connecting two pipes of different materials is also made easy for you when using the sharkbite fitting to join them.
