I’ve had similar experiences with push-to-connect, especially in those awkward spots where you just can’t get two hands on a wrench. They’re a real time-saver, but I still double-check every connection, especially if it’s an older property with questionable water pressure. I’ve seen a few cases where someone skipped deburring or didn’t push the fitting on all the way, and it led to a slow drip that went unnoticed for weeks—never fun when you’re dealing with water damage under a rental unit.
$180 for a valve swap seems about right these days, though I remember when it was closer to $100. Labor and parts just keep creeping up. Out of curiosity, has anyone here had issues with push-to-connect fittings on PEX versus copper? I’ve noticed they seem to grip PEX a bit tighter, but maybe that’s just me.
I’ve noticed the same thing—push-to-connects do seem to bite down harder on PEX. I chalk it up to the slight flex in the tubing, but I’ve never had one leak on PEX if it’s cut clean and square. Copper’s a bit less forgiving, especially if there’s any burr left. I’ve seen a couple slow leaks on old copper lines where the pipe wasn’t prepped right. Honestly, I trust them both, but I’m a little more paranoid with copper, especially in tight spots behind appliances. $180 for a valve swap is pretty standard now, though it still stings when you remember what it used to cost...
I get where you're coming from, but I've honestly had the opposite luck with PEX and push-to-connects. Maybe it's just my area or the brand of fittings, but I had one spot under my sink where a push fitting on PEX started weeping after about a year. It was cut square and deburred, but I guess something shifted just enough. Copper, on the other hand, has been rock solid for me as long as I take the time to clean and deburr it properly.
That said, I do agree about the paranoia working behind appliances—there's just less room for error and it's always a pain to get back there if something goes wrong. $180 feels steep, but I guess that's the going rate these days. Have you tried compression fittings for these tight spots? I know some folks swear by them as a middle ground, but I've always wondered if they're more hassle than they're worth.
- Totally get the paranoia about leaks behind appliances—I'm always double-checking stuff back there, even though I barely know what I'm looking for half the time.
- $180 does seem high, but I guess peace of mind is worth something. I tried to DIY a similar fix and ended up making three trips to the hardware store... not sure I actually saved any money.
- Compression fittings kind of intimidate me, honestly. I hear they're solid if you do them right, but I'm always worried I'll overtighten or mess up the ferrule.
- For what it's worth, my neighbor swears by copper too. Maybe it's just one of those things where old-school wins out sometimes.
Copper’s the gold standard (pun intended), but honestly, half the leaks I see are from folks cranking down compression fittings like they’re arm-wrestling a gorilla. Little trick—finger tight, then a quarter turn with a wrench. That’s it. Over-tightening chews up ferrules and makes leaks way more likely. Anyone actually tried those braided stainless kits? I hear mixed reviews, but they seem less fiddly for DIY stuff...
