Went through something similar when we redid my parents' boiler last year. My mentor was all about soldered joints too, but honestly I've seen press-fits hold up fine—as long as they're done carefully. Problem is, a lot of guys rush the prep work or skip the calibration checks, and that's when you get leaks down the road. I get why people stick with soldering though, it's tried-and-true and less dependent on technique. Personally, I'd trust either method if I knew the person doing the job was thorough—but yeah, peace of mind is worth paying extra for. Learned that the hard way after fixing a friend's DIY mess last weekend...
Yeah, press-fits can definitely hold up if done right, but I've seen enough rushed jobs to stay skeptical. Had a call last winter where the homeowner swore everything was done "by the book," but turns out whoever installed it skipped deburring the pipes—ended up with pinhole leaks everywhere. Soldering's got its own issues too though, especially if someone doesn't clean the joints properly or overheats them. Honestly, either method can fail if prep work is sloppy. Like you said, it's all about who's doing the job and how careful they are. After years of emergency calls at 2 AM, I've learned to trust nothing until I've checked it myself... peace of mind is priceless.
"Honestly, either method can fail if prep work is sloppy."
Couldn't agree more with this. A couple of years back, I tackled my own boiler plumbing and went the soldering route. Thought I was being super careful, cleaned everything meticulously—or so I thought—but still ended up with a slow drip from one joint. It drove me nuts for weeks until I finally redid it. Turns out I'd overheated the joint slightly and didn't realize it at the time. Live and learn, right?
I've been curious though... has anyone tried those newer push-fit connectors for boiler setups? I've used them successfully for basic plumbing elsewhere in the house, but I'm hesitant to trust them on something like a boiler system. Wondering if they're reliable enough long-term for heating applications or if I'm better off sticking to soldering or press-fits.
"I've been curious though... has anyone tried those newer push-fit connectors for boiler setups?"
I've used push-fits plenty for quick fixes around rentals, but honestly, I'd hesitate to trust them long-term on a boiler line. Heat cycling and pressure changes can be tough on fittings, and I've seen a couple fail prematurely. Press-fits or soldering just feel safer to me—especially if you're not keen on surprise leaks down the road. Just my two cents.
Push-fits are handy for quick fixes in a pinch, but I'd be cautious about relying on them near boilers. Boilers put fittings through a lot—constant temp swings, pressure ups and downs... I've seen push-fits hold up fine in less demanding spots, but around boilers, press-fit or soldered joints just give me more peace of mind. Call me old-school, but I'd rather skip the excitement of surprise leaks down the line.