Totally agree about brass fittings holding up better, especially under stress. But have you ever had issues with corrosion over time? I've come across a few brass fittings that developed pinhole leaks after several years, particularly in areas with hard water. Wonder if it's worth considering some sort of protective coating or regular inspection routine to catch early corrosion signs...
Had a similar issue myself—brass fittings held up great until the dreaded pinhole leaks appeared. Hard water's sneaky like that. Regular checks help, but honestly, a quick glance every few months beats crawling under there at midnight with a flashlight and soggy socks...trust me.
Yeah, brass fittings can be tricky with hard water. Seen plenty of those sneaky pinholes myself—usually at the worst possible time, like Thanksgiving dinner prep or something. Ever thought about switching to PEX? It's pretty resistant to mineral buildup and way easier to deal with if you ever need repairs. Might save you from another midnight soggy sock adventure...
"usually at the worst possible time, like Thanksgiving dinner prep or something."
Haha, tell me about it. Had a similar situation last Christmas Eve—right when I was about to start prepping dinner, noticed water pooling under the sink cabinet. Turned out to be a tiny pinhole in the brass fitting, thanks to years of hard water abuse. Not exactly festive crawling around under there with a flashlight and wet towels...
Switched over to PEX shortly after that fiasco. Honestly, it's been a relief so far: easier to install, fewer leaks (knock on wood), and definitely more forgiving with mineral buildup. Only downside I've noticed is that rodents seem to find it tasty sometimes—had one chew through a line in the garage once. Still, overall it's way less hassle than brass or copper fittings.
Might be worth considering if you're fed up with midnight plumbing adventures.
Totally agree on the PEX being easier to deal with than copper or brass, especially if you're DIY-ing. But keep in mind, fittings can still fail if they're not crimped right—seen it happen a couple times. Also, rodents chewing through lines is no joke; happened to my neighbor last winter. Wrapping exposed sections with protective sleeves or tape can help avoid headaches later...just my two cents.