Zip ties on plumbing? Yeah, that's a hard pass for me too. Seen enough "quick fixes" turn into disasters. Hose clamps and plumber's tape are the way to go—cheap insurance against midnight chaos. Learned that lesson early...
Had a similar midnight fiasco myself a few years back. Previous homeowner thought duct tape was the universal fix—it wasn't. Woke up to water spraying under the sink at 3 AM, scrambling around half-asleep trying to find the shut-off valve. Ever since then, I keep a small kit handy: plumber's tape, hose clamps, and even a spare valve. Zip ties might hold cables nicely, but plumbing? Yeah...not risking that again.
Had a similar experience, though mine involved a DIY plumbing "fix" from the previous owner using some kind of glue or sealant instead of proper fittings. I woke up around midnight to the sound of dripping water and spent a good hour trying to patch things temporarily with towels and buckets. Now, I always recommend investing in proper plumbing components upfront—even if you're budget-conscious, it's cheaper than dealing with water damage later on. Lesson learned the hard way...
I get your point about proper plumbing being worth it, but honestly, sometimes DIY fixes can hold up pretty well if done right. Last year I patched up a leaky pipe with some industrial tape as a "temporary" fix—it's still going strong. Sure, maybe I'm just lucky (or tempting fate...), but when money's tight, not everything needs premium fittings. It's all about knowing your limits and keeping an eye on things. Plus, midnight water adventures build character, right?
I get where you're coming from, but aren't you worried about leaks causing mold or hidden water damage over time? I had a similar patch-up job once, thought it was fine until we found mold behind the drywall months later... not fun. Maybe it's just me being overly cautious, but do you at least have moisture detectors or something in place to catch it early if the tape starts to fail?
