Torque wrenches on water lines? Never seen it, and honestly, I’d argue it’s overkill unless you’re dealing with something super critical. Most leaks I’ve chased were from cross-threading or cheap fittings, not lack of torque.
— couldn’t agree more. I trust my hands and experience, especially when the threads are old or questionable.“seen way more cracked PVC and stripped threads than leaks from being a bit too gentle”
Here’s a twist: anyone ever had a joint that *only* leaked after a day or two under pressure, even though the paper towel trick was clean at first? That one burned me last winter...
That slow leak thing drives me nuts. I’ve had it happen with compression fittings—looked bone dry at first, then a tiny drip showed up a couple days later.
Same here. Honestly, I’d rather go easy and retighten if needed than risk cracking something. Those old pipes don’t forgive mistakes.“I trust my hands and experience, especially when the threads are old or questionable.”
Those sneaky leaks are the worst. I’ve seen folks crank down on compression fittings thinking tighter is better, but that’s how you end up splitting a ferrule or crushing old brass. I’d rather check back in a day or two than risk a mess and a bigger repair. Sometimes, patience saves more time than any shortcut.
You nailed it about overtightening. I learned that lesson the hard way—one slip with the wrench and I was staring at a split ferrule and a Saturday wasted running around for parts. Folks always want a “tight fix,” but honestly, most leaks come from someone getting a little too enthusiastic. I’ve found that a quarter-turn past finger-tight is usually enough, maybe a tad more if you’re dealing with stubborn old pipes, but you gotta know when to stop.
Here’s the thing: shortcuts are great until they backfire. I’d rather spend five extra minutes reading an old plumbing manual or watching a video than trying to save time and ending up with water in the walls. You can’t rush experience. Sometimes, doing less actually means less hassle down the road—and fewer angry tenants blowing up your phone at 2am.
Totally get what you mean about overtightening—been there, cracked that. It’s wild how “just a bit more” can turn into a whole afternoon of fixing what you broke. I’ve actually started keeping a couple of those old-school plumbing books in the truck, just in case I need to double-check something. YouTube’s a lifesaver, but sometimes those old manuals have tricks you just don’t see online. Funny how the “shortcut” is usually just knowing when to slow down and pay attention.
