I'm working on replacing a kitchen sink faucet, home is 5 years old, and all of the valves are push/pull and plastic attached to 1/2" copper (I'm assuming that's the standard from online research). I replaced the faucet but now each time the motion sensor faucet shuts off while on cold, it kind of slams shut and the valve pops up, shutting the supply off. My plan is to remove the plastic push/pulls and replace them with 1/2" SharkBite x 3/8" OD (compression), metal 1/4 turn valves (link).
2 questions from this:
1) Is that a good idea? Replacing a valve that pops up when the water shuts off? Or could there be a bigger problem?
2) When I remove the push/pull plastic valve (by twisting it counter-clockwise until it comes off as I've read and seen on YouTube), do I need to cut back the copper pipe for the SharkBite to latch correctly? I'm worried about there being grooves or teeth marks from the previous plastic valve.
Thanks in advance
Best Answer
It sounds like do to the nature of your faucet that when the water shuts off it shuts off so abruptly that it creates a serious amount of pressure against your valve. While in theory your sharkbite should hold up to that pressure i would be worried that over time it may get weaker.
For piece of mind i would install quarter turn compression valves, they are not hard to install and do not require soldering. Either way you should make sure that your copper is in good condition, no burrs or scars. Use some emery cloth to burnish/clean it up to see if it in good condition and not deformed.
You do not want anything that can damage the rubber o-ring in the sharkbite when you slide it onto the copper.
If you decide to go with the sharkbite you may want to install water hammer arrestor's to absorb the shock when the water shuts off.