I've had SharkBites hold up pretty well so far. About two years ago, I had a stubborn leak under my bathroom sink and decided to give SharkBite fittings a shot. I made sure to deburr carefully and pushed it fully onto the pipe as recommended—no shortcuts. It's been solid ever since, no drips or issues yet. I'd probably still hesitate to use them behind drywall, but for easily accessible spots they're definitely convenient and reliable enough in my experience.
"I'd probably still hesitate to use them behind drywall, but for easily accessible spots they're definitely convenient and reliable enough in my experience."
Good call on that—I've seen SharkBites hold up pretty well too, especially when installed carefully like you described. Still, I wonder about their long-term reliability behind walls... probably smart to stay cautious there.
SharkBites are handy, no doubt, but personally I'd never put them behind drywall. Seen too many cases where they held fine for a few years then started leaking out of nowhere. If you're already opening up walls, might as well sweat some copper or use PEX with proper crimp fittings—takes a bit more effort upfront but saves headaches down the line. Just my two cents from fixing plenty of DIY "quick fixes"...
I've had mixed experiences with SharkBites too. They're great for temporary fixes or quick repairs in accessible spots, but behind drywall? Nah, I wouldn't risk it either. I've seen a couple fail randomly after holding up fine for years—no warning signs, just sudden leaks. Sweating copper or using PEX crimps is definitely the safer bet if you're already opening walls. A little extra hassle now beats tearing things apart again later...
I've mostly switched to PEX crimps myself—less hassle and fewer worries. Curious though, anyone tried those push-fit fittings specifically rated for behind-wall use? Wondering if they're any better...
