Push-fit stuff is handy, but I still don’t trust it 100%… old habits, maybe.
Funny you mention that—I've seen push-fit fittings hold up just fine, but I still reach for the glue and primer most days. Old-school habits die hard, I guess. Out of curiosity, do you ever use pipe dope or just stick with Teflon tape on threaded joints?
- I usually go with Teflon tape, but if it’s a bigger threaded joint or something that’s gonna see a lot of vibration, I’ll add a dab of pipe dope too. Just feels safer, even if it’s probably overkill.
- Push-fit is cool for quick fixes, but I still get nervous leaving them behind walls. Maybe that’s just me being paranoid.
- When you’re putting in a new drain, do you ever dry-fit everything first, or just measure and cut as you go? I’ve had a couple close calls where I had to redo a section because I rushed it...
I get the push-fit hesitation, but honestly, I’ve had better luck with them than with some old soldered joints. As for dry-fitting, I always do it—saves me from wasting pipe and cuts down on mistakes. Measuring alone never seems to work out perfectly for me.
As for dry-fitting, I always do it—saves me from wasting pipe and cuts down on mistakes. Measuring alone never seems to work out perfectly for me.
Dry-fitting’s a must, no argument there. Even with years of experience, pipes never seem to line up exactly the way you’d expect just by measuring. Push-fit’s gotten better, but I still trust a solid soldered joint if I can get to it. Ever had a push-fit leak on you after a few months? That’s my main hesitation. For drains though, I’ll usually go pro unless it’s a simple swap—one bad slope and you’re dealing with clogs forever.
I get the appeal of calling in a pro for drains, but honestly, I’ve seen just as many mistakes from “professionals” as from DIYers. Had a plumber once leave me with a backward trap—took weeks to figure out why it kept clogging. I’ll do the work myself if I can see and access everything, but I double-check slope with a level every time. Push-fits are convenient, but I don’t trust them behind walls or in rentals. One hidden leak and you’re looking at way more than a clogged drain...
