Man, I hear you on the hose clamp trick. I keep a couple in my junk drawer just for that reason. I’ve tried the silicone tape too, and it’s fine for a tiny leak, but if there’s any real pressure, it’s just not worth the risk. Last winter, I wrapped a cold water line with tape and towels, thinking I was clever… woke up to a puddle and a cold house. Now I just shut the water off and deal with the mess in the morning. Not glamorous, but at least I’m not chasing water at 2 AM.
I get wanting to just shut the water off and deal with it later, but honestly, I’ve had more headaches from waiting than just patching it up right away. The silicone tape’s never really worked for me either—if there’s any pressure, it’s game over. But I’ve had decent luck with those push-fit repair couplings. They’re not cheap, but if you’ve got a bit of copper or PEX handy, you can slap one on in ten minutes and go back to bed. Beats mopping up drywall mush in the morning... at least most of the time.
Push-fits are a lifesaver in a pinch, I’ll give you that, but I’ve seen them fail if the pipe isn’t cut perfectly square or if there’s even a hint of burr left. Maybe I’m just paranoid after a few too many callbacks. I still keep a couple in my kit, but I usually reach for a compression fitting if I’ve got the room—less finicky about pipe prep, and they seem to hold up better long-term, especially on old copper.
Silicone tape is basically wishful thinking if you’re dealing with anything more than a pinhole. I’ve watched people wrap it around a split and hope for the best... never seen it last more than an hour under pressure.
Honestly, shutting off the water and losing a bit of sleep beats waking up to a collapsed ceiling. But yeah, nothing like crawling around in a crawlspace at 3 AM, flashlight in your teeth, cursing whoever built the place.
Honestly, shutting off the water and losing a bit of sleep beats waking up to a collapsed ceiling.
Couldn’t agree more—seen too many folks try to “just get through the night” and end up with way bigger headaches. I’ve had push-fits hold for months, then suddenly let go when temps swing. Ever tried those old-school solder joints in a tight spot? I swear, sometimes the classics are less hassle in the long run. Curious if anyone’s had luck with those newer push-fit brands, or is it all the same story?
Push-fits are a mixed bag in my book. I get the appeal—no torch, no flux, no waiting for things to cool down while you’re hunched under a sink at 3am. But honestly, I’ve had them work fine for a while and then, just like you said, one temperature swing or a little vibration and suddenly there’s water where it shouldn’t be. I’ll admit, they’re handy in a pinch, but I just don’t trust them for anything long-term, especially on lines with any kind of pressure.
Solder joints are a pain in tight spots (I’ve burned my share of knuckles), but at least when you do it right, you can pretty much forget about it for decades. The peace of mind is worth the hassle up front. I know some folks swear by those newer push-fit brands—SharkBite and the like—but unless it’s a temporary fix or somewhere I can keep an eye on, I’m sticking with copper and solder.
One thing that’s saved me more than once is keeping a couple of compression fittings and shutoff valves in the toolbox. Not as “quick” as push-fit but way more reliable if you’re not up for sweating pipes at 2am. Costs a bit less too, which matters if you’re trying to keep repairs from turning into a second mortgage.
Anyway, after dealing with one too many leaks that started as “just a drip,” my rule is: if you even think something might go overnight, shut off the water and deal with the inconvenience. Cheaper to lose some sleep than replace drywall or flooring... trust me, learned that the hard way last winter when my “temporary” fix let go right before sunrise.
Can’t say I love crawling around in the crawlspace with a flashlight at midnight, but it beats waking up to disaster.
