I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had decent luck with the push-to-connect fittings. Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but they’ve saved me a ton of time on tenant turnovers. Haven’t had a leak yet... knock on wood. Copper’s great, but sometimes you just need quick and easy.
Push-to-connects have definitely made my life easier too, especially when I’m on a tight schedule. That said, I’ve seen a couple start leaking after a year or two—usually when someone’s yanked on the fridge too hard. Maybe it’s just bad luck or rough tenants? Copper is solid, but man, it’s a pain when you’re swapping appliances in and out all the time. I guess there’s no perfect solution... just trade-offs.
I hear you on the trade-offs. Push-to-connects are quick, but I’ve seen leaks too—usually when someone moves the fridge without disconnecting first. If you’re stuck with them, I’d recommend checking the fittings every few months and making sure there’s enough slack in the line so it doesn’t get yanked. For copper, yeah, it’s more work upfront, but I’ve found it holds up better long-term if you’ve got tenants who aren’t gentle. Either way, always shut off the water before messing with anything... learned that one the hard way.
Had a call last winter where the tenant yanked the fridge out to clean behind it—didn’t bother shutting off the water, and that push-to-connect fitting popped right off. Water everywhere. Ended up replacing it with a compression fitting on copper, which took longer but hasn’t leaked since. I get why folks like the quick connects, but in rentals, they just don’t hold up if people aren’t careful. And yeah, always double-check that shutoff valve... sometimes they’re stuck or half-closed and you don’t realize until it’s too late.
I get why folks like the quick connects, but in rentals, they just don’t hold up if people aren’t careful.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not totally convinced compression fittings are always the better call, even in rentals. I just replaced my own fridge’s ice maker line last month and went with a SharkBite push-to-connect on PEX. I was nervous at first (especially after reading stories like yours), but honestly, it’s been rock solid so far. Maybe it’s luck, or maybe it’s because I was extra careful about making sure the pipe was cut square and fully seated.
What I’m wondering is—do you think the problem is more about the fitting type, or just how people handle them? Like, if someone yanks a fridge out without thinking, couldn’t they just as easily mess up a compression fitting or even kink a copper line? I mean, yeah, push-to-connects are probably easier to dislodge if you’re rough with them, but I’ve seen compression nuts loosen over time too, especially if there’s vibration.
Also, about the shutoff valves—mine was stuck when I tried to turn it off for the install. Ended up having to replace that too. Is there a trick to keeping those from seizing up? Or is it just one of those things you have to check every year or so?
Curious if anyone’s had long-term luck with push-to-connects in high-traffic spots. Or maybe there’s some hybrid solution I haven’t thought of yet...