SharkBite PEX Press for Water Treatment Installs

Darrin Shillair, CEO of the now combined Specialty Sales and Good Water Warehouse platform, is hearing more about press-fit connections from installers, with labor time driving the interest: 

“A lot of our installers are finding increased efficiency and less labor time in using press-fit fittings. And now we have them.” 

That shift includes both copper and PEX work. For the PEX connections around a water softener or whole-house treatment system, Specialty Sales now carries RWC's SharkBite PEX Press line. It brings a factory-attached sleeve to the fitting, eliminating the separate ring used in a crimp connection. 

RWC's system includes fittings, valves, adapters, and accessories in sizes from 1/2 inch to 2 inches, with fitting options in high-performance poly and lead-free brass for PEX-a and PEX-b piping. 

The Sleeve 

With a separate-ring crimp connection, the ring goes onto the pipe before the fitting is inserted. On a PEX Press fitting, the stainless-steel sleeve is already attached. The PEX pipe slides over the fitting's insert and into the sleeve, and an approved press tool compresses the sleeve to make the connection. 

The difference? One less loose component to handle at each connection. The fitting also gives the installer two visual aids: 

1. Insertion windows to check that the pipe is fully seated.
2. A locator ridge to help position the press jaws. 

RWC states that the system can be tested immediately after pressing, with no waiting period. 

Press, Not Push 

SharkBite is well known for push-to-connect fittings. PEX Press uses a different method: a press tool makes the connection rather than a tool-free push fit. 

The line is designed for PEX-a and PEX-b piping. Tool compatibility is the important check before choosing it (a press tool used for copper work doesn’t automatically have the right jaws for PEX Press). RWC's PEX Press brochure lists approved tool, jaw, and fitting-size combinations. 

• For crews already set up with compatible tooling, the decision is about the fitting and the job.
• For crews considering a move from crimp connections, the tool and jaws belong in that decision alongside the fittings. 

Connecting The Equipment 

Take one example: a water softener going into a home. PEX Press handles the PEX side of the connection, though the adapter at the equipment still needs to match the softener's port. Pipe size, equipment connection, and approved tooling determine the fitting selection. 

SharkBite's PEX Press How-To video shows the full connection process (2 min. watch): 

Contact Us 

For PEX-a or PEX-b treatment-equipment installs using compatible press tooling, this is the SharkBite line to ask about. Specialty Sales can help match the fittings to the pipe and equipment connections. Contact the sales team or call 800-323-3054 with those details and the tool information.