"Better to just visually inspect regularly and only tighten if you notice actual looseness or leaks starting."
That's generally solid advice, but I'd add a small caveat from my own experience. A couple years back, I had a fitting loosen gradually without any visible signs until it suddenly sprayed water everywhere—talk about a surprise shower under the sink. Since then, I've found that gently checking connections by hand every now and then—not tightening, just confirming they're snug—can catch hidden issues before they escalate. Visual checks alone sometimes miss subtle loosening...just something to consider.
Good point about checking by hand—I learned that lesson the hard way too. Had a similar thing happen last summer, thought everything looked fine until I opened the cabinet one morning and found a mini lake under there. Now I make it a habit to gently wiggle fittings every month or so, just to be safe. Visual checks are good, but sometimes you gotta trust your hands to catch what your eyes miss...
"Visual checks are good, but sometimes you gotta trust your hands to catch what your eyes miss..."
Exactly—visual checks alone won't cut it. I'd also suggest keeping a small bucket and towel handy under the sink. Trust me, you'll thank yourself later when you're not scrambling around at 2 AM...
"Trust me, you'll thank yourself later when you're not scrambling around at 2 AM..."
Haha, been there more times than I'd like to admit. Definitely agree with the bucket and towel tip—lifesaver. Another thing I found helpful is keeping a small flashlight handy under there too. Sometimes leaks happen in the worst-lit corners, and your phone's flashlight just doesn't cut it when you're elbow-deep in water. Good luck, you've got this!
Flashlight's a good call—wish I'd thought of that sooner. Ever had one of those leaks where you're not even sure where the water's coming from at first? I usually grab the bucket first, but honestly, shutting off the water valve is my top priority. Learned that the hard way after flooding half my kitchen floor... Anyway, sounds like you're on the right track now. Hang in there, it'll get easier every time (unfortunately).
