I get the urge to reuse old fittings, but honestly, I’ve seen way too many “money-saving” projects end up costing more in repairs. Cast iron and PVC just don’t play nice together, no matter how much Teflon tape you use. I’d rather spend a few extra bucks up front for new parts than risk a hidden leak turning into a full-blown mess later. Dry-fitting is smart, but if you’re mixing materials or dealing with old threads, sometimes it’s just not worth the gamble. Sometimes the pro route saves you more headaches than you think.
I hear you on the “money-saving” projects backfiring. I’ve tried to reuse old fittings before, thinking I was being clever, but it usually ends up biting me later. Like you said,
I’ve had leaks show up months down the line, and tracking them down in a rental is a nightmare. Do you ever find that even new parts can be tricky if the old threads are corroded or out of alignment? Sometimes I’ll try to DIY, but if it’s under a slab or behind a wall, I just call in the pros. Not worth risking a tenant calling at midnight about water everywhere.“Cast iron and PVC just don’t play nice together, no matter how much Teflon tape you use.”
Had a similar headache last year—tried to save a few bucks by reusing a “perfectly good” trap under a kitchen sink. Looked fine at first, but three months later, water stains on the ceiling below. Turns out the threads were just too far gone. These days, if I see corroded threads or anything under concrete, I’m not even tempted. I’d rather pay up front than deal with patching drywall and angry tenants down the line.
That’s rough—water stains are the worst, especially when they sneak up on you months later. I’ve seen way too many “it looked fine at first” situations turn into big messes. I’m with you: if there’s any doubt about the threads or seals, I just swap it out. Curious, though—if you’re dealing with older galvanized pipes or something buried in a slab, do you still DIY, or is that when you call in backup? Those can get tricky real fast...
