Plumber repaired burst water main; appears he... [updated 6/13: Fixing...]

[Jimzz]

Am I understanding these shark bite things properly? The o-rings are on the ouside of the pipes, right? Someone had mentioned them being a restriction...

I'm thinking the water pressure flow/delivery issue, as far as the whole house being low but the hose being good, is a function of this PEX repair coupled with the length of that 5/8" copper pipe.

Yea the O-ring is on the outside but there is a inner sleave that reduces the size of the pipe in shark bites.

I used one for a outside facuet once due to water in the pipe and not really caring about it as I coudl just cut the line and leave it dead if the SB failed. But the rest of the house I would not use.

I also re-did my house in Pex, even when my main line started to leak I replaced it with pex.

 

[Meghan54]

We used to think copper pipes were "the best", that is until we lived in a copper plumbed house for 2 years. After chasing down and fixing 4 pinhole leaks, PEX is the only way to go, esp. if you have hard water. Damn copper just corrodes too easily and the damn leaks always seem to happen at the most inaccessible spot imaginable.

 

[stormkroe]

OP, as to your temp question, your rim board (up above your frost wall, between your joists) is supposed to be insulated. Wood is a horrible insulator, so think of it as having 180 sq ft or more of wall space with no insulation in it. Also, not sure what the frost level is where you live but hopefully the new water main is below it... It looks kind of high.

 

[OutHouse]

i check mine a couple times a year with one of those gauges that screws onto a outside water faucet. my PSI is 45.

in texas its a whole other ballgame. my parents PSI was 80 and jesus christ it felt like you were getting sandblasted in the shower.

 

[CPA]

Not sure why some of you are bashing pex and sharkbite. I just redid my master bath. 1/2" pipe, installed two jets and a rainforest shower head using pex and sharkbites. I even used their new metal bend supports that smoothly bends the pex to 90 degrees. Left the sleeves inside. I'm working off a well and holding tank set at around 42psi. Have absolutely no issue with pressure.

 

[amdskip]

I would never plumb a house with sharkbites. They are good in a pinch or for something temporary but not as an in wall solution. They need to be used in serviceable locations. I'd much rather use my pex expander with the correct fitting and install it in a wall.

 

[Number1]

Am I understanding these shark bite things properly? The o-rings are on the ouside of the pipes, right? Someone had mentioned them being a restriction...

I'm thinking the water pressure flow/delivery issue, as far as the whole house being low but the hose being good, is a function of this PEX repair coupled with the length of that 5/8" copper pipe.

The water pressure is good pass the pex because you have good pressure outside. There is nothing wrong with that repair job.

There must be an obstruction in the line to the rest of the house.

 

[Humpy]

There is nothing wrong with that repair job.

Nothing wrong with it except that it leaks, it potentially bypasses a bonded ground, the HO perceives he is worse off for having it done, the plumber used questionable materials and did not follow best industry practice.

 

[Humpy]

Not sure why some of you are bashing pex and sharkbite. I just redid my master bath. 1/2" pipe, installed two jets and a rainforest shower head using pex and sharkbites. I even used their new metal bend supports that smoothly bends the pex to 90 degrees. Left the sleeves inside. I'm working off a well and holding tank set at around 42psi. Have absolutely no issue with pressure.

PEX is great. Sharkbites are great for DIY because there is less risk of injury or starting fires. Plus they are something the typical homeowner can use successfully while assuming some of their own risk.

A professional plumber (like the OP maybe thought he had hired) who pays for his own liability insurance, and can think a little more long term about his customers and his business, would rarely choose a fitting like Sharkbite. I also think that, in this case, most conscientious plumbers would have brought their torch and some copper down with them to make the new work fit better with the old.

 

[dartworth]

Isn't home ownership fun?

 

[CPA]

PEX is great. Sharkbites are great for DIY because there is less risk of injury or starting fires. Plus they are something the typical homeowner can use successfully while assuming some of their own risk.

A professional plumber (like the OP maybe thought he had hired) who pays for his own liability insurance, and can think a little more long term about his customers and his business, would rarely choose a fitting like Sharkbite. I also think that, in this case, most conscientious plumbers would have brought their torch and some copper down with them to make the new work fit better with the old.

I've had a professional plumber use them as well.

 

[PsiStar]

I have had 2 different profession plumbers use shark bites. One told me that he learned about them in one of the classes they attend for different certifications.

If pex is used, is there an alternative to shark bites?

 

[Jimzz]

I have had 2 different profession plumbers use shark bites. One told me that he learned about them in one of the classes they attend for different certifications.

If pex is used, is there an alternative to shark bites?

YES!!!

Sharkbites are lazy and they work but have not been around long enough to know how long their orings and teeth will hold.

Pex can be crimped (stainless steel ring or brass ring) or with PexA expanded. I used the expanded method but switched over to the Stainless ring due to finding it more local.

Rings

Tool for Stainless rings

 

[CPA]

YES!!!

Sharkbites are lazy and they work but have not been around long enough to know how long their orings and teeth will hold.

So efficiency is now considered laziness? jeez louise.

 

[Jimzz]

So efficiency is now considered laziness? jeez louise.

How is something that has not been long term proven, reduces flow, etc... efficient?

Do the job right the first time and you don’t have do it again will always be more efficient. I use to be a mechanic and saw that just about every day.

 

[phucheneh]

...Oetiker clamps?

Meh, I don't think I'd be inclined to do that, either...but if that's considered better than shark bites, why in the fuckity fuck shit would anyone ever use the latter? Why would they exist at all?

 

[CPA]

How is something that has not been long term proven, reduces flow, etc... efficient?

Do the job right the first time and you don’t have do it again will always be more efficient. I use to be a mechanic and saw that just about every day.

I'm referring to your comment about it being lazy.

Google around and you will see both professional plumbers now using them (hidden or not) and inspectors passing them. It's more efficient and it's considered "proven" by experts. And as far as flow, my 1 person test indicates that there was no reduction in flow.

 

[CPA]

...Oetiker clamps?

Meh, I don't think I'd be inclined to do that, either...but if that's considered better than shark bites, why in the fuckity fuck shit would anyone ever use the latter? Why would they exist at all?

Because you have non-experts giving their "expert" opinion.

 

[phucheneh]

Which are you referring to, as far as clamp vs sharkbite? I was saying clamp still seemed sub-optimal, but better.

edit: But that pex hose isn't going to generate the friction (in a good, preventing-leaking-kinda-way) that rubber or silicone hose does with a clamp. Also they don't put those on cars in placed with a lot of pressure. Cooling systems are ~15psi.

 

[Howard]

We used to think copper pipes were "the best", that is until we lived in a copper plumbed house for 2 years. After chasing down and fixing 4 pinhole leaks, PEX is the only way to go, esp. if you have hard water. Damn copper just corrodes too easily and the damn leaks always seem to happen at the most inaccessible spot imaginable.

Have you ever tested the water for anything that might corrode copper? Your issues don't seem to be very common.

 

[Fern]

Have you ever tested the water for anything that might corrode copper? Your issues don't seem to be very common.

I had the same problem and switched to PEX too.

I had the fed govt run a battery of tests on the well water and they said it was fine. I have no idea what was eating up the copper, but it was worse on the hot water line(s).

Fix your water or fix your pipes. I think the latter is easier.

Fern

 

[Howard]

Because you have non-experts giving their "expert" opinion.

Oetiker clamps require a special tool for crimping. I would also guess that they are not as widely available as Sharkbite fittings.

I think someone forgot to mention that Oetiker clamps need to be used over barb fittings.

 

[Meghan54]

Have you ever tested the water for anything that might corrode copper? Your issues don't seem to be very common.

Actually, from what we heard, it is a fairly common problem, hence the reason copper is being replaced with PEX. And our water wasn't that hard at all. Had it tested just before we sold the property a few months ago. Not bad water at all...Cape Cod.

 

[Number1]

Nothing wrong with it except that it leaks, it potentially bypasses a bonded ground, the HO perceives he is worse off for having it done, the plumber used questionable materials and did not follow best industry practice.

Nonsense, all the material used is certified and used in millions of houses.
The leak should not be there of course but the main whine from the OP is the lack of pressure in the house and this is not caused by the hardware the plumber used.

OP should call the plumber back to fix the leak and investigate the lack of pressure in the house instead of bitching in here.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

i would love to get 50psi here. mines closer to 40psi.