Seven years sounds about right, but honestly, I'd start checking even sooner. I had a similar experience—nothing like your 2 AM wake-up call, thankfully—but mine started dripping slowly at first. Thought it was nothing major until I realized the cabinet floor was already warped from moisture. Lesson learned: small leaks can do big damage over time.
Now I keep a cheap plastic tray under the sink to catch any drips and make it easier to spot issues early. Also swapped out those flexible braided hoses for sturdier stainless steel ones last year. They're not that expensive, and the peace of mind alone is worth every penny. Plumbing might be reliable overall, but being proactive saves a lot more money (and sleep) than waiting for disaster to strike...
I've been thinking about switching to stainless steel hoses too, but does anyone know how eco-friendly they actually are compared to the braided ones? Like, do they last significantly longer or have less environmental impact over their lifespan? I'm all for preventing leaks and cabinet damage (been there, done that...), but I also want to make sure I'm not creating more waste by replacing parts unnecessarily. Curious if anyone's looked into this already.
Yeah, stainless steel hoses generally do last longer than the typical braided rubber ones, especially if you're dealing with frequent leaks or pressure issues. They're less prone to cracking or bursting over time, so you'd probably replace them less often—meaning fewer discarded hoses overall. But eco-wise, manufacturing stainless steel does have a higher initial environmental footprint. I guess the real question is whether the longer lifespan offsets that initial impact... anyone seen actual numbers on this?
- Haven't seen hard numbers myself, but honestly, lifespan isn't always guaranteed—even stainless steel hoses can fail unexpectedly. I've had one burst after just two years. Sometimes simpler, cheaper hoses replaced regularly might be the safer bet overall.
Had a similar experience myself—installed those fancy stainless steel hoses thinking they'd last forever, and one sprung a leak after barely three years. Honestly, I switched back to basic rubber hoses and just set a reminder on my phone to swap them out every couple years. Cheaper and less stressful overall. Sometimes simpler really is better...
