First time I’ve used the shark bite fittings on my boiler under the cement slab I could not get the crimper in the hole so the shark bite fitting was the only option. I plan to test it before winter incase I need to redo it. Next job in the fur shed is the wall heating elements. Pex has a bunch of Pex to thread adapter fittings with lots of possibilities.

Not sure. When I read the description for it at Home Depot and Lowes, it doesn't say either way.

A fittings go over the PEX
B fittings go inside the PEX

That doesn't look like a typical shark bite fitting. Like stated already, I would never use one in a wall or any exterior applications especially underground.

Pex b is what I use. Copper crimp rings and a different flange than posted above. Clamp tool is easy cheesy. Honestly for underground I would prefer poly pipe and brass fittings, or PVC all the way, galvanized ( though current upc prohibits galvanized underground) pex just seems too soft and susceptible to vermin.

wrong , that is how you make them fail it is like they guy who puts one strap on a load and slaps it and says thats not going any where

famous last words when the strap shift comes off and then you have nothing

Sharkbites are rated for 25yrs of service. Not long enough to be covering them up, imo.

Copper pipe is the best if you wipe off the flux, otherwise 10-20 years and the flux eats through the pipe and problems occur all over the house, little time bombs all over.

There's a reason no connections are allowed under slab.

That is called a Sharkbite "push to connect" fitting, and is actually the ONLY 1" pex to 1" PVC adapter that our local Lowe's sells.

Tomorrow we will go to the next city over to buy an Apollo fitting similar to the one Hobbie Trapper posted above but with the different Pex B flange you mention, at Home Depot, as I've since figured out that's what we have/use.

Interesting, but not sure that's correct. I was looking at photos of both today, and both appeared to go inside the pex.

25 years underground I would have been fine with. less than 3 , not so much.

Yote trapper, what you need is a PVC male or female iron pipe thread ( fip/ mip) fitting on the end of your PVC. It doesn't matter which, female splits, male snaps. Whichever you prefer. Then a brass fitting of the appropriate gender on the iron pipe thread side and a male pex b on the other. Buy the smallest pack of crimp rings you can, rent a crimp tool from your hardware store. Fix it up and done.


Pex a and pex b are 2 different diameters. I have never set my hands on pex a pipe. But I have a bunch of worthless pex a fittings that I can't bring myself to throw away.

This ^

and then ^. Great advise.

The plumbers I work with all consider Sharkbites a temporary fitting. I know the manufacturer warrants them for 25 years but my plumbing subcontractors won't use them.

They are approved for underground use only if wrapped with a silicone wrap/tape.

I used them in my place once over ten years ago because I had a pinhole leak in a very difficult spot to reach. The push-to-connect fitting made the repair a lot easier. It's still holding.

Talked to a few people who didn't trust them and that was enough for me

Will never use one

I personally don’t like sharkbites, but thats just me.

Pex a and pex b are two different animals.

Pex a, typically sourced from a company named upnor, uses an expanding pipe installation.
The fitting is usually a larger diameter. You use a special plastic crimp fitting on the pipe and expand it with a special tool.
Once expanded, you insert the fitting and the pipe contracts back around the fitting and provides a solid, lifetime garrantee that it won’t fail.

With a pex b, typically sold at home improvement places, the hose does not expand when being installed. You simply push the slightly smaller diameter fitting into the hose and clamp the fitting onto it with a copper ring that gets crimped down over the fitting. You get less water flow because of the smaller diameter fitting.

You want pex a.

Metal PEX fittings corrode. Use plastic. I use the expansion-style fittings, made by Sioux Chief. You can buy the fittings and expansion tool at Menards. They perform better in possible freezing conditions. You have to use PEX-A though, PEX-B won't work, it doesn't expand and shrink well enough.

Learn something new every day. Thanks. If you can rent a pex a tool, that sounds more durable than a copper crimp ring. I'm sure the tool is very expensive, especially considering it would only be used on a hand full of occasions at best.

Well I did some research. There is pex a pipe and there is pex b pipe.
Pex a is more flexible. Pex b more Ridgid.
Apollo brand you can use pex b fittings on pex a but not pex a fittings on pex b.

just curious, was the fitting wrapped for underground applications?