This has come up before so I thought I would add some first hand experience for DIY and those of us who find soldering difficult.
I replaced a water heater for my ex today with my son’s help. Lugging the WH up the stairs to the loft and into the attic is another story for another day, but I couldn’t be happier with Shark Bites and the copper pipe glue.
The attic was hot and dark and I would have had to sweat the pipe close to the valve twice. I used the glue ( sorry don’t remember the brand name ). You use 60 grit paper and don’t remove the particles. Sand the female and male and then apply circumferential lines of adhesive, push in and twist 360* and you’re done. The I used the Shark Bites to connect my 3/4 to 1/2, thus removing the need for a union for future disassembly. I left the disconnector tool up there for future use.
Couldn’t be happier although it felt like cheating.
Replies
It is cheating.
Solar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes
You know I should start a thread on how I can install a 12' 2x4 header on a load bearing wall.
How long does it have to last anyway ;-) <GD&R>
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” —Albert Einstein
You have a point about that, but IIRC these products have actually been around for more than a decade.
I posted because it seems common that some of us hate plumbing tasks ( second only to drywall ) and the topic of soldering comes up frequently as well.
An aside; I know people think plumbers are too expensive, but after lugging the WH up steep awkward stairs, thru the junk in the loft and into the hot attic then my hats off to you. This was a father/son character building experience as much as a good deed. I was just tickled to turn on the water and see no leaks.
But it's for his ex!
Could be part of the agreement.
It happens.
I know
You do know that the Sharkbite 25 year warranty requires installation by a "licensed professional contractor" right? Of course, their only obligation is to give you your $ for the fitting back. Gee, thanks.
Call me conservative, but soldering is a small price to pay for the insurance against an O-ring failing years down the road and flooding my house.
O-rings and failure are cozy bedfellows.
I used the glue ( sorry don't remember the brand name ).
FWIW, glue of any kind is specifically prohibited in the international plumbing code for copper joints.