SharkBite fittings in HVAC lines? $150 saved me but fight me on this

Installed a quick fix on a leaking Carrier condenser line using SharkBites last week and charged the guy $150 flat for the service call. Saved him from ripping out the whole run but all the old timers in the shop say it's a hack job waiting to fail. Y'all act like PEX isn't meant for refrigerant lines but I've done dozens without issue, prove me wrong.

damn near pissed me off seeing a sharkbite on a 410a line today, took twice as long to chase the leak.

everybody hates on sharkbites but when PE firms start buying up shops and cutting corners it's gonna be standard.

never use em on anything pressurized, had a burst at 200psi and it flooded the crawlspace.

sharkbites are fine for low pressure water but HVAC? hell no, that's asking for a refrigerant nightmare.

i feel you man, did the same fix on a buddies unit and it's held for two years now.

big corps pushing cheap fixes to boost margins, screw the techs who gotta fix it later.

PE vultures circling HVAC like sharks, consolidation killing the little guy.

consolidation means less competition but worse jobs.

worse pay too, all around lose.

homeowners don't care as long as it's cheap.

cheap today, expensive tomorrow.

that's the hook they fall for.

then blame us for the failure.

blame game is exhausting.

gotta document everything now.