Disclosure: SharkBite sponsors the Tools In Action channel. Our opinions are our own.
When most people hear “SharkBite,” they think of push-to-connect fittings. That’s only part of the story. In this reel we’re back in Kenosha with Bill, a local plumber, and this time he’s using SharkBite expansion fittings on PEX-A in the middle of a winter job.
What It Is
Expansion is a way to join PEX-A pipe. You stretch the end of the pipe, along with an expansion sleeve, using an expansion tool. Then you slide the fitting in, and the PEX shrinks back down around it.
On sharkbite.com, SharkBite describes its expansion line as F1960 brass and poly fittings for joining PEX-a pipe. SharkBite says its expansion fittings are third-party tested and certified to ASTM F1960, comply with NSF 14 for corrosion resistance, and comply with NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 for drinking water and lead-free requirements. The lineup includes couplings, elbows, tees, adapters, plugs, sleeves and valves, including a Brass Expansion Ball Valve.
In the video, Bill is installing a SharkBite 1/2 in. expansion valve.
What the Video Shows
Bill slides the expansion sleeve onto the PEX and expands it with his battery-powered expansion tool. Then he slides the valve right in. The pipe shrinks down around the fitting, and you’ve got a sealed connection.
Then we ask what the crew is doing in the neighborhood. It’s a big job:
- They’re running about 2,400 feet of water pipe to the trailers on site.
- They’re redoing the sewers and all of the water lines, too.
- They’re on phase one, with another phase coming and about 55 more units to go.
- Because some of the pipe will be exposed to the elements under the units, it’s getting heat tape.
Bill’s take on SharkBite: it holds up like no other product.
Then he opens his orange SharkBite case. He’s had it for almost 20 years. It holds all his expansion fittings, his other SharkBite fittings, and a depth gauge so he knows how far to push his pipe in and can mark it properly. He also shows us what the old SharkBite fittings used to look like next to the newer ones.
Takeaways From the Video
What stood out:
- Expansion is a pro method. Seeing it on a 2,400-foot job shows SharkBite isn’t only for quick DIY repairs.
- One brand, several methods. Bill keeps his expansion fittings and his other fittings together in the same SharkBite case, so he can pick the right connection for each spot.
- Long-term trust. A plumber who has carried the same SharkBite case for almost 20 years says a lot about the brand.
- It works in the cold. We shot this one in the snow, and the work kept moving.
Things to keep in mind:
- Expansion fittings are made for PEX-A (SharkBite also lists PE-RT for its sleeves). Don’t use them on PEX-B or other pipe unless the manufacturer says it’s compatible.
- You need an expansion tool and the right sleeves for your pipe size.
- Exposed lines in cold climates need freeze protection. That’s why Bill’s crew is adding heat tape.
Expansion vs. Push-to-Connect vs. Press
Each SharkBite method has its place:
- Push-to-connect needs no tools, works on several pipe types, and shines for repairs and tight spaces.
- Expansion is a common choice for PEX-A installs. The pipe shrinks back onto the fitting, and the fittings come in brass and poly.
- Press, including SharkBite’s newer PEX Press line for PEX-a and PEX-b, uses a press tool and a sleeve that’s crimped down.
Bill’s case is a good example of how a working plumber mixes these methods depending on the job.
Who It’s For
This video is for plumbers and serious DIYers working with PEX-A, and for anybody who thinks of SharkBite as only a push-to-connect brand. If you’re planning a bigger PEX-A project, SharkBite’s expansion line is worth a look.
Watch the reel above, and thanks again to Bill and his crew in Kenosha.
Where to buy: SharkBite PEX-A expansion fittings
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