Sharkbite plumbing fittings.

Are these Sharkbite fittings now considered legit and safe to use? They’ve been on the market in the US 20 years now and it’s hard for me to believe if they are dodgy and leak-prone, they’d still be on the market and carried almost everywhere.

The MIL has an toilet angle stop leaking and it’s in mission impossible position between the toilet and the tub. There’s about 1/197th of an inch of space available to swing a wrench to get the old compression stop valve off but getting a new one back on there and tight without removing the entire toilet and then reseating it just won’t be possible. So that turns this into a much bigger job and I don’t even want to get into my batting average with getting toilets to seat on the first try. Needless to say I come armed with more than one wax ring.

Sharkbite makes exactly the angle stop I need. Snap it on and done. What could be easier?

Are these things legit and safe to use now?

I have used them when replacing my water softener a few years back as well as my outdoor spigot and have had zero issues with them. It doesn’t get much more convenient.

Same. Used them for the last 15 years with my softener. When we replaced the softener the Culligan dude said they are great for DIY stuff.

The brass ones are approved for in wall and underground, not as cost effective for big jobs but for difficult areas they definitely are a great option.

Used them for years, wouldn’t use anything else.

I wouldn’t hesitate to use them for your application.

I take it that it’s copper pipe coming out of the wall?

Agree with what others have said. I’ve used them a few times and they’re going strong with zero issues. The only thing I’d add is follow the directions and don’t skimp (ie: cut your pipe square etc). Worked in commercial construction trades all my life and most failures of these types of things were usually shortcuts on the proper use/installation. I grew up in the “copper is king” era and learned that sometimes there is a better mousetrap.

Thanks for the feedback guys. That’s what I was hoping.

The crappy thing is that If they had put the stop on the other side of the toilet there would be 3 feet of open space to get at it.

Nodakk wrote:

I take it that it’s copper pipe coming out of the wall?

Yes. Good old 1/2 inch copper.

I have a few in my basement plumbing for the softener and water heater – never had an issue.