Yeah, I’ve been there—those old valves always look tougher than they are. It’s wild how something that seems solid can just crumble when you need it most. I used to push my luck with “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but after a couple of late-night leaks, I started swapping out anything that even looked a little sketchy. Honestly, it’s not just about the valve itself, but the peace of mind knowing you won’t be mopping up at 2am.
One thing I’ve noticed: sometimes the corrosion is hiding inside, so even if the outside looks fine, the guts are shot. Quick test—if you turn the handle and it feels gritty or sticks, probably time to replace. Not the most exciting job, but way better than dealing with a flood. Still, I get the hesitation. Some of those old brass valves feel like they could outlast the house... until they don’t.
Yeah, you nailed it—those valves can be sneaky. I’ve seen ones that looked pristine on the outside, but when I cracked them open, the insides were basically mush. One thing I’d add: if you’re already replacing a valve, take a minute to check the supply line too. Sometimes those braided hoses get brittle or start to bulge and you won’t notice until it’s too late. Swapping both at once saves a lot of hassle down the road. Not the most glamorous job, but way less stressful than scrambling for towels in the middle of the night.
Honestly, I get why people swap out the supply line at the same time, but tossing a perfectly good braided hose feels wasteful to me. I just check for leaks or kinks and only replace if there’s an actual issue. Those things can last years if you’re not seeing any wear. Less landfill, less hassle, and I’ve never had one fail on me… yet.
I get where you're coming from—I've seen plenty of supply lines last a decade or more without any trouble. But I've also come across a few that looked fine on the outside but were corroded or stiff inside, especially in older houses with hard water. Ever cut one open after a few years just to check what's going on inside? Sometimes it's not obvious there's a problem until it fails. Curious if you've ever had one start leaking suddenly, or do you usually catch issues early just by checking for kinks and drips?
Ever cut one open after a few years just to check what's going on inside? Sometimes it's not obvious there's a problem until it fails.
I haven’t actually cut one open yet, but now you’ve got me thinking I probably should, just out of curiosity. When we moved in, I figured if there wasn’t any visible leak or obvious damage, the supply line was fine... but now I’m second-guessing that logic. Our house is from the 80s and the water here is hard enough to leave spots on everything, so who knows what’s happening inside those lines.
I did have a mini panic last month when I noticed a tiny drip under the toilet tank—turned out the supply line nut had worked itself loose. Tightened it up and put a towel down just in case, but it made me realize how sneaky those leaks can be. No big flood (yet), but honestly, I check for damp spots every time I clean now. Not sure if that’s overkill or just being paranoid. Guess it’s better than waking up to a soggy bathroom floor at midnight...
