I hear you on the “pro” mistakes—had a guy install a drain with duct tape once. Not kidding. I’m all for DIY if you can see what you’re doing and know your limits. The slope thing is huge; nothing like watching water pool in the wrong direction to ruin your day. Push-fits behind walls? That’s just asking for trouble down the line. I’ll sweat copper before I trust those where I can’t keep an eye on them.
I’ve seen some wild stuff behind walls—once found a drain “fixed” with a plastic grocery bag and zip ties. Ever had to deal with a slow leak that took months to show up? I’m always torn: do you trust your own work more than a random pro, or is it just me being paranoid?
I’m always torn: do you trust your own work more than a random pro, or is it just me being paranoid?
Honestly, I get that. I’ve had plumbers do stuff that looked fine at first, but then a year later I’m patching drywall because of a tiny drip they missed. At least when I mess up, I know exactly where to look for the problem. Ever tried those push-to-connect fittings? I’m never sure if they’re as reliable as old-school glue or solder, but man, they’re tempting for quick fixes.
- Push-to-connects are fast, but I’ve seen them leak if the pipe isn’t cut perfectly square.
- For drains, I still trust solvent welds or compression fittings more—less chance of a surprise drip months later.
- Had a call last winter where a “quick fix” push fitting popped off in a crawlspace... not fun crawling in mud to fix it.
- If you’re careful, DIY can be just as solid as a pro job, but shortcuts usually bite you later.
For drains, I’m always going to lean toward solvent welds too—especially for anything that’s going to be hidden behind a wall or under a floor. Push-to-connects have their place, but like you said, if the cut isn’t dead-on or there’s any debris, you’re just asking for trouble down the line. I’ve seen more than a few “quick fixes” come back to haunt folks, especially in spots where you can’t easily check for leaks.
Compression fittings are decent for traps or spots you might need to disassemble later, but for permanent stuff, solvent weld is just more reliable. The only time I’d say DIY is risky is when folks don’t check for proper slope or forget to dry-fit everything first—seen some wild setups where water just sits in the pipe. Ever had to redo a drain because someone glued it all up before checking alignment? That’s a headache.
If you’re patient and double-check your work, DIY can be solid. But yeah, shortcuts or “good enough” attitudes usually end up costing more in the long run.