I've seen SharkBites hold up surprisingly well long-term, actually. Had a customer who DIY'd their basement bathroom about 8 years ago, and I was skeptical when I first saw those fittings behind drywall—figured I'd be back for repairs in no time. But when I checked it recently for a different issue, everything was still bone dry and solid. Honestly surprised me.
Compression fittings are decent too, but they can be finicky if you're not careful with installation. If you're comfortable soldering, that's still the gold standard behind walls for me. But if soldering isn't your thing, SharkBites aren't necessarily a ticking time bomb either. Just make sure the pipes are clean and deburred properly, and don't skimp on checking your connections thoroughly before sealing everything up.
At the end of the day, it's all about what you're comfortable with. I've learned never to underestimate the convenience factor... as long as you're careful and thorough.
I've had similar experiences with SharkBites holding up surprisingly well, but I still hesitate to use them behind drywall. Has anyone seen how they perform in areas with significant temperature swings or vibration—like near laundry machines or exterior walls? Curious about long-term reliability there.
I've had SharkBites near my washer for about two years now, and no leaks yet, even with all the shaking during spin cycles. But I'm still not totally convinced—anyone seen how they handle extreme cold, like exterior wall plumbing in winter?
"anyone seen how they handle extreme cold, like exterior wall plumbing in winter?"
Honestly, SharkBites are decent, but extreme cold? I dunno...had one pop off in my unheated garage during a nasty cold snap last year. Maybe stick with soldered joints if you're worried about freezing temps? Just my two cents!
I've used SharkBites a bunch, and they're usually solid, but yeah... extreme cold can be tricky. Couple winters back, had a client with SharkBite fittings on an exterior wall line. Temps dropped way below zero for days—pipe froze solid, fitting held up fine though. But another job, similar setup, fitting leaked after thawing out. Not a full blow-off, just enough to cause headaches.
Honestly, if you're dealing with exterior plumbing in harsh winters, I'd lean toward soldered copper or even PEX with proper insulation. SharkBites are handy for quick fixes or tight spots, but long-term reliability in extreme conditions? Not always guaranteed. Better safe than sorry when it comes to water damage...
