The push-to-connect fitting has come to light in the plumbing system in recent days. Well, it’s an easy replacement for soldering the connectors in the plumbing system. However, among the renowned push to connect fittings, Tectite and Sharkbite have been having neck-to-neck competition in the marketplace.
Now what to choose between Tectite Vs Sharkbite? Well, Sharkbite is suitable for different pipes and comes with an integral liner that protects the fittings from damage. While Tectite has a warranty of 50 years and tube liners are provided separately. So you can insert them according to need.
Thus, both Tectite and Sharkbite are good with some slight differences. To get a more precise idea, you can follow the article. After that, you can have a more broad vision of what to choose.
Table: Comparison Between Tectite And Sharkbite
Let’s go through the key differences between the Tectite and Sharkbite fittings.
| Parameters | Tectite | Sharkbite |
| Tube liner | A separate tube liner is provided for inserting | An integral tube liner is present |
| Grabbing teeth | No such teeth present in the grab ring | In the grab ring, small sharklike teeth are placed |
| Maximum operating temperature | 180- 250 Fahrenheit | 200 Fahrenheit |
| Warranty | 50 years | 25 years |
| Direct application | CPVC, PE-RT, and Copper pipes | PEX, PB, CPVC pipes |
An In-Depth Comparison Between Tectite And Sharkbite
In the above table, all the key differences between Tectite and Sharkbite are included. However, to provide a more precise view, further comparison is given below.
Tube Liner
Tube liner generally provides a stronger connection of the pipe to the O-ring. Here, in the Sharkbite, it has an integrated tube liner inside the fitting. On the other hand, Tactite does provide the tube liner but it is not integrated.
So, while installing the PEX pipes, you need to separately use the tube liner in the Tactite fitting. Consequently, it becomes a bit time-consuming and bothersome to proceed.
Grabbing Teeth
Inside the Sharkbite, there is a grab ring consisting of angled teeth. This is made of stainless steel and is also called ‘grabbing teeth’. Mainly, the teeth get pushed inside when the pipe is inserted into the fitting. Thus, it holds the pipe in the proper place and prevents displacement.
On the other hand, the Tactite does not contain such teeth for better holding of the pipe.
Maximum Operating Temperature
Tactite can operate at a temperature range of 180 to 250 Fahrenheit. This means it can tolerate a high temperature of about 121 Celsius and is resistant to high heat.
On the other hand, Sharkbite can tolerate up to 200 Fahrenheit or 93 Celsius, which is not less as well. This makes both of them suitable for installing a water heater.
However, the damage to the fittings becomes prominent when the temperature is low or around the freezing temperature.
Warranty
In the case of warranty, Sharkbite gives a 25 years warranty while Tectite comes with a 50 years warranty. Still, the longevity of the push to connect fittings is questionable. As there is always a higher chance of getting damaged in comparison to soldered fittings.
Direct Application
As Sharkbite comes with an integrated tube liner, it is suitable for PEX, CPVC, and PB pipes for direct insertion. Furthermore, it can also be used while installing copper pipes. But it requires removing the tube liner, which can be done by Sharkbite disconnect tools.
Meanwhile, CPVC, PE-RT, and Copper pipes can be easily inserted through the Tectite fittings. But in the case of PEX pipes, using tube liners is a must. Moreover, polybutylene tubes are not suitable for use with Tactite fitting.
Which Is Better: Sharkbite Or Tectite?
Both Sharkbite and Tectite are quite similar in many attributes.
- Such as both of them are made of DZR brass which is known to be lead-free.
- Consequently, they are safe to use in the waterline.
- Also, they are permitted for application behind walls and underground.
Among all these similarities, only a very few differences stand out.
- The most noteworthy dissimilarity is the grab ring.
- Though both the fittings have grab rings, the Sharkbite grab ring comes with stable teeth. That gives a stronger connection of the pipe to the fitting and prevents leakage through the pipe.
- Apart from that, Sharkbite can be used with a wide range of pipes, such as PEX, CPVC, PB, and Copper pipes.
- On the other hand, Tactite has a long time warranty and is tolerable to high temperatures. This makes it perfectly suitable for the application when installing a water heater.
Overall, since early Sharkbite has been holding its reputation by being the most reliable fittings, they are considered superior to Tactite and other fittings in terms of reliability.
FAQs
Below are some of the frequently asked questions regarding Tectite vs Sharkbite.
Not exactly. They are quite similar in quality. But the grab ring inside the fittings differs between them. Where Sharkbite has angled teeth on the grab ring and the Tectite does not.
Generally, CPVC and PEX pipe installation does not require the Sharkbite tube liner to be removed. But it is better to remove the liner while installing the copper pipes. Still, the manufacturer does not consider it necessary.
Though the Sharkbite is convenient to use, soldering is always superior for longevity. You can even use the soldered fittings anywhere inside the construction. But while using Sharkbite in construction, you should give it a second thought.
Final Words
Nowadays, people do not prefer hassle. And that’s why they use the push-to-connect fitting instead of soldered ones because these fittings are easy to install and replace. Now, if you compare Tectite Vs Sharkbite fittings, Sharkbite wins the race because of its reliability and stronger protection.
Moreover, both of them are allowed for application on the ground and behind the wall. Nevertheless, they still need to gain the trust of the consumer. And it is better to use them in an open area instead of inside the building construction. So, you can always be ready to take measures if something goes wrong with the fittings.