Water fittings

[daveinaz]

I replaced the diverter faucet in the shower, the bathroom sink faucet, and installed a sprayer for the toilet. Up here in MI and WI, none of the stores I’ve been to (Menards, Ace, True Value, RV places, & Fleet Farm) sell Flair-It fittings. They all gave me a blank stare when I asked if they had them. So I went with the only thing they sell up here, those push on fittings. UGH! ALL THREE OF THEM LEAKED!!!

The shower faucet went back on with the original connections so it had no problems. But on the basin faucet and sprayer I switched to flex faucet hoses, 1/2 inch female on each end. I used the 1/2” x1/2” push on fitting with male fitting to attach them to the PEX. EVERY ONE LEAKED AT THE PUSH ON SIDE! What a mess!

I ended up using the original screw on fittings and getting a 1/2” male to male fitting to attach the original fitting to the faucet hoses.

What a waste of time and money those push on fitting were! Maybe they don’t work since I have the older clear PEX instead of the colored stuff?

A better question is why doesn’t anyone up here carry Flair-It fittings? Guess I’ll have to order them online.

[1retired06]

You speak to push-on fittings. Are you talking about Sharkbites? I have used SharkBite fittings for years and have never had a leakage issue.

[mr68gts]

Dave,
if you used sharkbites and they leaked they most likely were not on all the way. I had that problem with a repair on our Jazz that I used a sharkbite on. Once I managed to push the line in the rest of the way in the fitting, it's been leak free!
Paul

[daveinaz]

You are right. I was looking at the fittings this morning and watched from the other end as I pushed in a small piece of PEX. I was stopping when I felt resistance as the PEX met the o-ring. I needed to keep inserting the pipe up past the o-ring until it seated at the end of the fitting. I was using the Watts quick connect fittings but the same thing applies as with the shark bites.

[jimcol]

I have used watts and shark bites for years and never had an issue. Glad you found the problem and really appreciate you posting it.