Mitchell-DIY-Guy
Well-Known Member
If you are going to use SharkBites or similar in your basement location my suggestion is treat them AS IF you were going to solder. That is, clean the pipe ends, and don't forget to buy the $10 tool to ream the ends properly and set the depth. Also, some of the push fittings have a sleeve. On some of them, the fitting is supplied OUTSIDE the fitting and they want you to use it if you are using the push fitting for PEX or other plastic tubing. In other cases the sleeve is kind of permanently inside the fitting for use with ALL tubing, and if you are not careful to ensure that the sleeve goes into the pipe, you can damage the fitting. I damaged at least one fitting with a little carelessness on the sleeve issue, and also learned quickly about the tool. If you don't feel comfortable soldering it's a good solution for your situation. I just used a simple brass swing check valve, nothing special, when I had to replace mine. Again, my system worked perfectly for 27 years. Some plumbers don't understand physics and think its impossible, but it was a plumber that installed mine in the first place. My supply pipes were ¾" copper and the return line was 1/2" copper.
I cannot speak to the problem of heat trap nipples but the if the pros don't like them, don't use them.
I cannot speak to the problem of heat trap nipples but the if the pros don't like them, don't use them.