Totally get what you mean about the paranoia—once you’ve had a drip or two, it’s like you can’t trust anything under the sink. I spent more than I planned too, but honestly, peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks. I did try to reuse some parts where I could, just to keep waste down, but those push-to-connects are hard to resist when you’re on your back in a cramped space. Sometimes convenience wins out over budget or even eco-ideals... but at least it’s done right and hopefully for good.
I did try to reuse some parts where I could, just to keep waste down, but those push-to-connects are hard to resist when you’re on your back in a cramped space.
- Been there—reused a trap once, ended up regretting it when it cracked a month later.
- Push-to-connects are super tempting, but I always wonder if they’ll last as long as the old-school stuff.
- Honestly, sometimes I think the “peace of mind” is just the price of not crawling under there again for a while...
I’ve always wondered about the long-term with those push-to-connects too. They’re a lifesaver when you’re wedged under the sink, but I can’t help thinking about what happens five or ten years down the line. Are they really as solid as the old compression fittings? I’ve had mixed luck—one held up fine, another started weeping after a couple years and I had to redo it anyway.
I get the appeal of reusing parts, especially if they look decent, but plumbing plastic just seems to get brittle over time. Maybe it’s all the hot water and dish soap? I tried to save a few bucks by keeping the old tailpiece last time, but it ended up leaking at the threads and I had to make a second trip to the store. Not sure it was worth the hassle.
Curious if anyone’s actually had a push-to-connect fitting last more than a decade under a kitchen sink. Or is it just one of those things where you trade convenience for longevity? Sometimes I think about just sweating copper again like my dad did, but then I remember how much faster these new fittings are... Is it just me, or does every “upgrade” come with its own set of headaches?
I hear you on the push-to-connects, but honestly, I think they get a bit of a bad rap. I’ve seen a few go the distance—like, 12 years and counting under my aunt’s sink, and she’s not exactly gentle on her plumbing. Maybe it’s more about the install than the fitting? I’ve seen more leaks from overtightened compression nuts than from push-to-connects that were just snapped on right. Still, I get the nostalgia for sweating copper... but my nerves can’t handle another torch mishap under a cabinet.
Maybe it’s more about the install than the fitting? I’ve seen more leaks from overtightened compression nuts than from push-to-connects that were just snapped on right.
That’s been my experience too. Most of the push-to-connect failures I’ve seen were from pipes not being cut square or not cleaned up—burrs can wreck the seal. If you follow the basics, they hold up fine. I get why people are nervous about them, though. Old habits die hard, and a lot of folks still trust copper and sweat joints more.
I’ve had to fix more leaks from folks cranking down on compression fittings than anything else. People think tighter is better, but it just crushes the ferrule or splits the nut. Push-to-connect is pretty forgiving if you don’t rush it.
Cost-wise, I replaced a kitchen sink setup for a client last month—faucet, supply lines, new trap, and all—came in around $250 in parts with push-to-connects. Labor would’ve doubled that if they hadn’t called me after hours... but at least it was quick and no torch burns on the cabinets this time.