Clint McCannon, owner of Cannon Plumbing in Suwanee, GA had to repipe the entire plumbing system for a home in Marietta, GA. Originally, the plumbing was done with polybutylene pipe, a material known to cause leaks and water damage. When deciding which pipe material to use for the repipe, McCannon ran into a dilemma. If they used copper, they would have to crimp or use a torch, which would have been time consuming and potentially unsafe. If they used CPVC, they would have to glue the pipe, which would require at least a 30-minute wait for the glue to dry, before water could be turned back on. Additionally, the team wanted to finish the job with minimal disruption to the customer’s water supply.
The Solution
After assessing the scope of the repipe, the team decided to use SharkBite PEX tubing and SharkBite EvoPEX™. “We typically use PEX for complete repipes because it’s flexible and good for getting into places where rigid pipe isn’t easy to use,” McCannon said.
He added that, since SharkBite fittings require no glue or soldering, water can be turned back on, and lines tested, immediately after plumbing is installed. This means that the customer’s water supply would be available much sooner than if the team had used traditional plumbing methods. “Some plumbers are hesitant to use push-to-connect fittings because it’s so easy,” McCannon said. “They don’t understand that push fittings improve jobsite performance, which is key. And you don’t need to bring a whole specialized toolbox with you to the jobsite.”
Although McCannon had been a proponent of SharkBite products since he entered the plumbing trade in 2005, this project was McCannon’s first time using EvoPEX. He cited that he felt comfortable using EvoPEX on this job, because trusts SharkBite products.
SharkBite products have become integral to my plumbing projects, especially as a transition and repair fitting,” McCannon said. “They’re very quick and easy-to-use, and there’s no need to wait for glue to dry or for water to stop dripping. I can put SharkBite fittings behind drywall, tile or beneath the floor and not have to worry about it. I can sleep at night and I know my customers can, too.”
Project Highlights:
Team expects to finish five repipe projects over the course of one year.
Using EvoPEX resulted in 30% time savings versus using crimp-style systems.
In addition to SharkBite products, Cannon Plumbing used HoldRite pipe support brackets for stub-out installation, adding further efficiency to the job.
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