Totally get where you’re coming from. I tried saving a few bucks with those flex hoses once—ended up with a soaked cabinet and a headache. Braided stainless is just less drama. Sometimes paying more up front saves you a ton of hassle.
Sometimes paying more up front saves you a ton of hassle.
That’s been my experience too, especially with anything under the sink. Curious—did you try swapping out the hoses yourself, or did you end up calling someone in after the leak? I’ve seen folks get halfway through and realize the shutoff valves are stuck or the threads are stripped. Ever run into that, or was it just the hose that failed?
Man, you nailed it—those shutoff valves are the real wildcards under the sink. I’ve seen more folks wrestle with stuck valves than actually swap a hose successfully. Once had a guy call me after he snapped the handle clean off... water everywhere, dog barking, total chaos. Sometimes the hose is just the tip of the iceberg.
Kitchen Sink Disaster—DIY or Call a Plumber?
Those shutoff valves are a nightmare, no kidding. I learned the hard way a couple years back—thought I’d save a few bucks and swap out a leaky faucet myself. Figured, how tough could it be? Well, the cold water valve was so corroded it wouldn’t budge. Gave it a little extra muscle and, you guessed it, the thing started leaking right at the stem. Not a full-on geyser, but enough to soak the cabinet floor and make me scramble for towels.
Honestly, I think a lot of folks underestimate how old those valves can get. If your house is more than, say, 15 years old and nobody’s touched those shutoffs, they’re probably stuck or brittle. WD-40 helps sometimes, but if it feels like it’s welded in place, I’d stop before forcing it. Replacing a busted valve is way more hassle (and cost) than just swapping a hose.
If you’re on a tight budget like me, I’d say try to turn the valve gently first. If it won’t move, don’t force it—just shut off the main water supply before you do anything else. That way, if something does go sideways, you’re not dealing with a flood. I keep a couple of those push-fit emergency caps handy now, just in case something snaps off. Cheap insurance.
I get wanting to save money by doing it yourself, but sometimes calling a plumber is worth it—especially if you’re dealing with ancient plumbing or you can’t get the valve to budge. The last thing you want is to turn a $10 fix into a $500 disaster. Learned that one the hard way...
If it feels like it’s welded in place, I’d stop before forcing it. Replacing a busted valve is way more hassle (and cost) than just swapping a hose.
Yeah, totally get this. I’ve tried muscling those old valves before and honestly, it’s never ended well for me either. Sometimes I wonder if they’re designed to fuse with the pipe after a decade or two... I usually hit them with a little penetrating oil and let it sit overnight, but if that doesn’t do the trick, I just cut my losses and call in backup. Not worth risking a soaked kitchen or worse. Those push-fit caps are a great tip—wish I’d known about them before my last fiasco.
