Had a super annoying drip from my backyard faucet last weekend...you know, the kind that slowly drives you nuts. Figured I'd give fixing it a shot myself before shelling out cash for a plumber. Saw some YouTube vids and grabbed some SharkBite fittings at the hardware store. Honestly, I was skeptical at first—like, no soldering, just push it on and it's good? Seemed too easy to be true.
But man, it actually worked pretty well. Took me maybe 20 mins tops, and so far no leaks (fingers crossed). Only thing is, the fittings aren't exactly cheap, but I guess you're paying for convenience. Wondering if anyone else has used SharkBite outdoors long-term and how they've held up over time? I'm kinda worried about weather exposure and stuff like that.
I've used SharkBite fittings outdoors for about three years now—mostly on a garden hose line I rigged up. They've held up surprisingly well through winters and summers, no leaks yet. But I did wrap mine with some insulation tape just to be safe.
"Only thing is, the fittings aren't exactly cheap, but I guess you're paying for convenience."
Yeah, that's the trade-off. Curious though, did you add any extra protection or just leave them exposed?
I've done a couple of outdoor SharkBite setups myself—mostly sprinkler lines. Didn't add insulation tape, but I did slip some foam pipe insulation sleeves over the fittings. Figured it'd protect them from UV rays and freezing temps. Couple years in, no leaks or issues yet. I'd say it's worth the extra few bucks if you're looking for peace of mind outdoors...
I've been using SharkBite fittings outdoors for my rain barrel setup, and I went a bit overboard with insulation, haha. I wrapped them in insulation tape first, then added foam sleeves on top. Maybe it's because I'm overly cautious after dealing with a burst pipe a few winters back—trust me, that's not fun to wake up to. Anyway, it's been about three years now, and everything's still holding strong, no leaks or UV damage that I can see.
One thing I'd add from experience: make sure the foam sleeves are sealed up tight. I had one sleeve slip down slightly, and the exposed fitting started looking a bit weathered after just one summer. Fixed it quick enough, but it made me realize how important proper sealing is if you're aiming for long-term reliability.
Good call on the insulation—I didn't think about UV damage at all. My SharkBite fittings have been outside for about a year now, exposed to sun and rain, and they're looking alright so far, but I might give them a quick wrap before winter hits. Honestly, the ease of installation makes it worth the price for me, especially since soldering outdoors is a pain I'd rather avoid. Guess I'll see how they hold up long-term.
