Working with Sharkbite Fittings: A Step-by-Step Guide

When it comes to installing and working with sharkbite fittings, especially on frost-free silcock systems, there are several important tips and considerations to keep in mind. In this article, we will go through a detailed step-by-step guide on how to work with sharkbite fittings, including the importance of tilting the silcock to ensure proper drainage.

Tiling the Silcock for Proper Drainage

One of the most critical aspects of working with sharkbite fittings is ensuring that the silcock is tilted down at an angle. This tilt is crucial in preventing water from freezing inside the silcock and causing a multitude of problems. The recommended angle is between 5 to 8 degrees, depending on the specific installation requirements. By tilting the silcock down, water can flow freely out of the system, reducing the risk of freezing and subsequent damage.

Securing the Sharkbite Fitting

To secure the sharkbite fitting onto the copper pipe, it's essential to apply Teflon tape to the threaded end of the fitting. This helps create a watertight seal and ensures that the fitting is securely attached. Once the Teflon tape is applied, screw the sharkbite fitting onto the copper pipe by hand, then use channel locks to tighten it down another half turn.

The Importance of Alignment

To ensure a proper fit, it's crucial to align the sharkbite fitting with the mark made on the copper pipe. This will guarantee that the fitting is flush with the mark and provides an airtight seal. Use your finger to make the second mark on the copper pipe, then shove the sharkbite fitting into place until it's absolutely tight and flush with the mark.

Using Shims for Proper Angulation

In addition to tilting the silcock, using shims can help ensure that the system is properly angled. By placing shims in the hole underneath the frost-free sillock, you can create an upward angle of approximately 5 degrees. This will allow water to drain out of the silcock and prevent it from freezing inside the system.

Testing the Fittings

Once all the fittings are installed, it's essential to test them to ensure they are functioning properly. Check for any signs of leaks or water damage, and make any necessary adjustments to the sharkbite fittings or shims as needed.

Conclusion

Working with sharkbite fittings requires attention to detail and a thorough understanding of the installation process. By following these steps and considering the importance of tilting the silcock, securing the fitting, aligning it properly, using shims for proper angulation, and testing the fittings, you can ensure a successful installation that will provide years of reliable service.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enso here is the frost-free silcock and I'm gonna put a sharkbite fitting on it now the one end of the sharkbite fitting is threaded and I put some teflon tape on the other end of the silk hawk so I'm gonna screw this on I'm gonna tighten it down by hand as much as I can and I'm gonna take some channel locks and tighten this down maybe another 1/2 turn that's pretty easy to do now one big tip I want to share with you with the silk Hawk is when you go to install it you want to make sure that it's tilted down by maybe about 5 degrees because you want the water to run down and out you don't want it to stay within the silk hawk because otherwise air can get up in here and freeze this water and cause a lot of problems so make sure that when you install this into your house it's tilted down by maybe about five six seven eight degrees so that's one big tip that you should take into consideration okay I made a second mark on this copper pipe here right here where my finger tip is and I'm gonna shove that into the sharkbite fitting until it's absolutely tight and flush with that mark okay so once that's the case I know that the sharkbite fitting is nice and tight on there and it's not going to leak so it's almost flush with this mark and I know that my sharkbite fitting is on there and all I need to do now is test and make sure that the all the fittings that I put together on this phosphorous Silcock are good to go so that's how easy it is to work with sharkbite fittings one other thing I want to point out is that I put shims I broke off some shims and I stuck them in the hole underneath the frost-free silk lock because I want it to be angled up so that it actually points down about 5 degrees I want the water to drain out of this Silcock I don't want it to rest in here on in between this wood plate and the brick otherwise the water that is in there could get frozen by cold air that comes in through the faucet itself so I want to angle this up as much as possible so that it points down and allow and allows the water to drain out of the faucet so that's why I put these wood shims hereso here is the frost-free silcock and I'm gonna put a sharkbite fitting on it now the one end of the sharkbite fitting is threaded and I put some teflon tape on the other end of the silk hawk so I'm gonna screw this on I'm gonna tighten it down by hand as much as I can and I'm gonna take some channel locks and tighten this down maybe another 1/2 turn that's pretty easy to do now one big tip I want to share with you with the silk Hawk is when you go to install it you want to make sure that it's tilted down by maybe about 5 degrees because you want the water to run down and out you don't want it to stay within the silk hawk because otherwise air can get up in here and freeze this water and cause a lot of problems so make sure that when you install this into your house it's tilted down by maybe about five six seven eight degrees so that's one big tip that you should take into consideration okay I made a second mark on this copper pipe here right here where my finger tip is and I'm gonna shove that into the sharkbite fitting until it's absolutely tight and flush with that mark okay so once that's the case I know that the sharkbite fitting is nice and tight on there and it's not going to leak so it's almost flush with this mark and I know that my sharkbite fitting is on there and all I need to do now is test and make sure that the all the fittings that I put together on this phosphorous Silcock are good to go so that's how easy it is to work with sharkbite fittings one other thing I want to point out is that I put shims I broke off some shims and I stuck them in the hole underneath the frost-free silk lock because I want it to be angled up so that it actually points down about 5 degrees I want the water to drain out of this Silcock I don't want it to rest in here on in between this wood plate and the brick otherwise the water that is in there could get frozen by cold air that comes in through the faucet itself so I want to angle this up as much as possible so that it points down and allow and allows the water to drain out of the faucet so that's why I put these wood shims here\n"