Postcards from a Dog

Guess what I did today ….

Every once in a while someone invents something that should get the person sainted. SharkBite plumbing connections fall into that category.

Once I had my travel trailer set up it was time to test the plumbing. I filled the fresh water holding tank and turned on the pump. I was greeted by the sound of a happy little waterfall somewhere in the wall behind my shower. Closer inspection reveled a broken connections to the shower faucet. Closer inspection also revealed that the hoses in a travel trailer are crimped on in a fashion that can not be duplicated by someone other than the factory. And of course as trailers go, everything is happening in extremely tight quarters. The waterfall from the back of the shower emptied straight into the kitchen drawers.

Broken Fitting

I removed the drawers and took a nice closeup photo. I figured the friendly man at the hardware store would make more sense from a photo than from anything I tried to explain. Good move, it turned out. Wayne at Ace Hardware gave it some thought and introduced me to SharkBite Push Fittings.

Allow me to quote from their website:

“SharkBite is the push-fit connection system that’s really taking hold. It’s the easiest way to join copper, CPVC or PEX pipe in any combination – with no soldering, clamps, unions or glue. Just insert the pipe and the stainless steel teeth bite down and grip tight, while a specially formulated O-ring compresses to create a perfect seal.

Disassembly is just as fast using the simple disconnect tool, so fittings and valves can be easily changed and reused. They can even be rotated after assembly for easier installation in tight spaces. Get SharkBite, and get a grip on your next plumbing project.”

SharkBite Fittings, Hose, Removal Tool

And that in a nutshell covers it: IT WORKS.

The product pushes easily onto the rigid hose and just as easily comes apart with the special tool (which I highly recommend purchasing – it ran about a dollar or so).

I cut off the broken connection with a few inches of pipe. Then I inserted a piece of replacement pipe with ShrakBite fittings on both ends. A straight connector at the bottom and a Corner Fitting with threads to fit the shower faucet at the top.

SharkBite straight connection

Since the hose is rigid, the trick to the assembly was to cut the replacement piece pretty exact, insert both ends into the SharkBite fittings and then turn the Corner Fitting directly connected to the shower into the final position. That pushes the hose on both ends into the fittings and tightens everything up.

What did not work was the faucet installed in the travel trailer. It had a plastic base and the SharkBite corner fitting is slightly tapered at the threaded end. There was no way to screw that fitting onto the plastic threads. Though the size was the same, that metal and that plastic could not be joined.

But the shower assembly was old and grody anyways. I ordered an new one with metal backing/threads from CampingWorld, and installed it.

Bingo! 15 Minutes to perfect plumbing.

SharkBite 90 degree connection with thread on one end

Finished repair

New Faucet

New Shower Head