I've actually found brass fittings worth the extra cost in the long run. Sure, nylon reinforced ones are a step up from basic plastic, but like you said, they still degrade eventually. Brass fittings don't seem to care about temperature swings or cleaning chemicals—at least not in my experience. Had one under a rental sink for nearly ten years now without a drip... sometimes spending a bit more upfront saves headaches (and money) down the road.
"sometimes spending a bit more upfront saves headaches (and money) down the road."
Couldn't agree more. Learned this the hard way myself—had a nylon fitting under a kitchen sink in one of my rentals. Thought I was saving a few bucks until it cracked during a tenant's vacation. Came back to water damage and mold remediation bills... not fun. Switched to brass fittings after that fiasco, and haven't had an issue since. Brass might pinch your wallet initially, but trust me, it's cheaper than dealing with water damage later.
Had a similar issue myself. Thought brass was overkill at first, but after replacing cheap plastic fittings twice in one year, I finally bit the bullet. No leaks since...lesson learned the annoying way.
Yeah, brass fittings might seem pricey at first glance, but honestly they're worth every cent in the long run. Plastic just doesn't hold up under sink pressure and temperature changes. Learned that the hard way myself... brass all the way now.
Totally get where you're coming from with brass fittings. Had a similar issue myself a few years back—thought I'd save a few bucks by going plastic under my own kitchen sink. Worked fine at first, but after about six months, started noticing small drips here and there. Thought it was just loose connections, tightened everything up, but nope... kept leaking.
Eventually pulled it apart and found the plastic threads had warped slightly from temperature fluctuations. Didn't even realize how much hot water we run through there daily—dishwasher cycles, hot tap water for dishes, cooking... adds up quick. Switched to brass fittings after that and haven't had an issue since.
But here's something I've been wondering: has anyone else noticed differences in quality between brass fittings from different suppliers? I've seen some cheaper brass fittings that seem thinner or less precisely machined than others. Makes me wonder if it's worth paying extra for premium brands or if mid-range brass is good enough for typical household use.
Also curious if anyone's tried stainless steel fittings under their sink instead of brass? I've used stainless in other plumbing applications and it's held up great, but haven't personally tested it under kitchen sinks yet. Would be interesting to hear if anyone's had experience with that.
Anyway, bottom line is definitely steer clear of plastic fittings under sinks—just not worth the hassle down the road. Brass has been reliable for me so far, but always open to hearing other experiences or alternatives out there.
