On Nov 26, 7:22*pm, wrote:
On Thu, 25 Nov 2010 04:50:52 -0800 (PST), brassplyer

wrote:
I needed to replace an outside spigot, was hoping for find one that
used a compression fitting, *the guy at Home Depot was trying to sell
me on these Shark Bite pipe fittings.

Seeing that the crucial interface pieces appeared to be some kind of
PVC and an O-ring I was leery, wondering what the long term
dependability of it would be compared to time-tested compression
fittings or soldered joints. "Quick and easy" doesn't inspire trust.
Okay, it works for now, but how's it going to hold up 5, 10, 15 years
from now? You obviously don't want it degrading and springing a leak
inside a wall, perhaps undetected for an extended period while it
causes water damage.

Any experiences or opinions?

Are you talking about those plastic fittings where the outer shell is
pushed forward to install the pipe, and snaps back when the pipe is
inserted? *If this is what you mean, I used several of those on a Pex
job when I re did my bathroom. *I never wanted to use the PEX in the
first place. *The whole house is copper, but several years ago I was
out of town when the toilet pipe froze and I had to hire a plumber,
and he ran some PEX up to the bathroom. *I intended to rip it out and
put in all copper but the driod at the store told me that PEX is the
best and did his best to sell me on that crap. *When I found out the
cost of the tool to put on the rings, I bought those snap on
connectors (which I believe is what you mean). *

For the last year since I re-did the bathroom, everytime someone used
the shower there was water dripping in basement under the tub. *I
caulked and recaulked around the tub suround and bitched at everyone
in the house about spraying too much water on the walls. *Last month I
finally ripped out the wall behind the tub in the room behind it, and
found that snap together connector leaking by the shower head. *The
floor under it was getting bad and moldy. *I looks like everytime
someone adjusted the shower head, that elbow fitting moved until it
was halfway off the pipe. *I relaced the divereter to shower head pipe
with copper and have not closed up that wall yet, because I am going
to replace all the PEX with copper. *I should have listened to myself
and not that droid in the first place. *I wont be using any more of
those connectors or for that matter, PEX. *

For the past 60 years of my life, plumbing meant solid pipe, not hoses
(which is what PEX is). *I'll keep it that way from now on. *Copper
costs more, but compared to the cost of those fittings, I would have
spent the same amount if I had done what I wanted in the first place,
and would not have had to rip open a wall and deal with bad boards and
mold inside the wall. *Live and learn !!!! *Newer don't always mean
better.....

"Are you talking about those plastic fittings where the outer
shell is pushed forward to install the pipe, and snaps back when the
pipe is inserted?"

I'm not sure what fittings you are describing, but these are the ones
the rest of us are talking about:

http://www.sharkbite.com/