Disclosure: SharkBite sponsors the Tools In Action channel. Our opinions are our own.
Say “SharkBite” around a group of plumbers and somebody will tell you those fittings won’t last and won’t hold. So we tried it. In this short, we push a SharkBite fitting onto copper pipe, hang a bucket of bricks from it, add more weight, and then have Eric hang on the pipe. The results surprised a lot of people. This is one of our most-watched SharkBite videos across all platforms.
What It Is
SharkBite push-to-connect fittings join pipe without solder, glue or crimping. You push the pipe in, and the fitting grips and seals it. SharkBite’s current version is called SharkBite Max. On sharkbite.com, SharkBite says Max fittings have a newly designed stainless-steel retainer, are compatible with copper, PEX, CPVC, PE-RT and HDPE SDR-9 pipe, and carry a 25-year warranty when properly installed with PEX, copper, CPVC and PE-RT pipe. SharkBite also says Max fittings can be used behind the wall without access panels.
We used a SharkBite push-to-connect fitting on copper pipe for this test.
What the Video Shows
We start with the most important step: prep. Make sure the pipe is clean and prepped before the fitting goes on. Then we push the fitting onto the copper and make sure it’s on tight. That’s the whole install.
Next we hang a bucket from the pipe and start loading it up. We get to 16 bricks. We didn’t weigh them, so we’re not going to guess at a number. Then we raise the setup higher so the whole load hangs from the connection.
Then it gets more serious. Eric, who says he’s easily a couple hundred pounds, grabs the pipe and gets his feet off the ground with the bricks still hanging on it.
Something does let go, but it isn’t the fitting. The bucket handle breaks. The bricks drop, and the SharkBite connection is still on the pipe.
At the end we show the other side of the story: getting a fitting off. You can buy a removal tool, or you can do what we did and use a 5/8-inch wrench to push the release collar. Once a SharkBite is on, it’s harder to pull off than it is to push back together. That’s exactly what you want from a plumbing joint.
Takeaways From the Video
What stood out:
- A properly prepped push-to-connect joint held 16 bricks plus a full-grown man’s weight without pulling apart.
- The weak link in our setup was the bucket handle, not the fitting.
- The install takes seconds and needs no torch, solder or press tool. Our Instagram caption puts it this way: “No solder, no $3000 tools needed.”
- Removal is straightforward with the right tool, and SharkBite says its brass fittings can be disconnected with a disconnect clip, tongs or its pro disconnect tool.
Things to keep in mind:
- This is a pull-out demonstration, not a pressure test. It shows grip, not how a fitting performs under water pressure over time.
- Most SharkBite horror stories come down to installation. A burr on the pipe, a pipe that isn’t pushed in to the proper depth, or a dirty pipe can all cause problems. Deburr, clean and mark your insertion depth every time.
- Check SharkBite’s pressure and temperature ratings for the specific fitting you buy. SharkBite lists a temperature range of 34°F to 200°F for SharkBite Max.
Who It’s For
This one is for the skeptics. If you’re a homeowner who has a leak and wants a fast, solder-free repair, this video shows the fittings grip much harder than most people expect. If you’re a pro who has seen SharkBite fittings fail on callbacks, it’s worth asking whether the fitting failed or the prep did.
SharkBite fittings make the most sense for repairs, tight spaces, and transitions between pipe types, like copper to PEX, where firing up a torch or bringing in a press tool isn’t practical.
Watch the video above and tell us in the comments: what should we hang on a SharkBite next?
Where to buy: SharkBite Max push-to-connect fittings
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