Push-fits have saved my neck more than once, especially when a tenant calls about a leak at 9pm. Here’s my take:
- Under the sink? I’ll use push-fits all day. Quick, no torch, no mess. Never had one fail there.
- Like you said, I won’t bury them in a wall. If something’s gonna go wrong, I want to see it and fix it fast.
- I always keep a couple in my toolbox for emergencies. Beats waiting for a plumber when water’s spraying everywhere.
- Only issue I’ve run into—sometimes the old copper isn’t as clean as I thought, and that’s when you get a drip. Learned to keep some sandpaper handy.
Honestly, for anything visible and accessible, push-fits are fine. If it’s hidden or high-pressure, I’ll call in the pros or sweat the joint myself. Just not worth the risk otherwise.
Push-fits are a real lifesaver in a pinch, no doubt. I’ve had to swap one in at 2am with water running down my arm—beats dragging out the torch any day. Curious though, have you ever used them on old galvanized lines? I’ve always been wary that the connection might not be as solid, but maybe I’m just overthinking it...
I get the appeal of push-fits—nothing like avoiding a torch when you’re already half-soaked. But I gotta say, I’m a bit skeptical about using them on old galvanized. Those pipes are notorious for being out-of-round or corroded just enough to mess with the seal. Had one spot where the push-fit seemed fine, but a week later, slow drip. Ended up biting the bullet and swapping to PEX. Maybe I’m just too cautious, but I sleep better that way...
Yeah, push-fits are handy when you’re in a pinch, but I’ve seen them leak on old galvanized more than once. Those pipes just don’t give you a reliable seat half the time—too much rust, too many weird bends. Had a customer who thought he’d fixed a slow leak under his sink with one, only to call me back a week later when it started dripping again. Sometimes swapping to PEX is just less headache in the long run.
“Those pipes just don’t give you a reliable seat half the time—too much rust, too many weird bends.”
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had decent luck with push-fits on galvanized, as long as I really clean up the pipe first. Wire brush, emery cloth, whatever it takes. Not saying it’s perfect—definitely not a forever fix—but sometimes it buys enough time to plan a proper swap. PEX is great, but not everyone’s ready to rip out old lines right away.
