leaky pipe under kitchen sink driving me nuts

Good points about rodents and crimp fittings - seen both myself. A couple more things:

- Double-check your crimps with a gauge tool - quick step, saves headaches.
- Consider braided stainless steel flex lines for tight spots under sinks; tougher against wear and rodents.

Good tips, especially about the braided lines - hadn't thought of rodents chewing through pipes until now. Makes me wonder though, are braided stainless lines significantly harder to install than regular flex lines? I'm pretty comfortable with basic plumbing tasks, but tight spaces under sinks always make me hesitate a bit...

Braided stainless lines aren't necessarily harder to install than regular flex lines, but they can be a bit stiffer, making tight bends trickier in cramped spaces. If you're already comfortable with basic plumbing, you shouldn't have much trouble - just take your time and avoid forcing sharp bends. I've found that using a slightly longer line helps ease installation in tight spots. Out of curiosity, have you considered adding rodent-proofing measures around the sink area itself? Seems like prevention might save some headaches down the road...

Good points there, especially about the longer line... hadn't thought of that. I'm still pretty new to DIY plumbing, so hearing it's manageable is reassuring. Rodent-proofing is something I hadn't even considered - guess that's another rabbit hole I'll be diving into tonight. Seems like every fix around the house leads to another question or two, doesn't it? Anyway, appreciate the heads-up.

"Rodent-proofing is something I hadn't even considered - guess that's another rabbit hole I'll be diving into tonight."

Honestly, rodent-proofing under the sink might be overkill unless you've actually had issues before. I'd focus on getting your plumbing solid first - one step at a time saves headaches later.

"Honestly, rodent-proofing under the sink might be overkill unless you've actually had issues before."

Yeah, gotta agree with this. I've lived in my place for 8 years now and never had a mouse under the sink... but I did have one sneak into the pantry once. Little guy chewed through half a bag of tortilla chips before I caught on - still salty about that. Anyway, fix the leak first and maybe just keep an eye out for droppings or chewed stuff. No need to go full Fort Knox unless you see signs!

"Little guy chewed through half a bag of tortilla chips before I caught on - still salty about that."

Haha, been there... lost a perfectly good box of cereal once. Anyway, agree with the general sentiment here - focus on the leak first. Mice usually show pretty clear signs if they're around. No need to stress yourself out with extra work unless you spot droppings or gnawed packaging. Fix the plumbing, keep an eye open, and you'll probably be fine.

If you're dealing with plumbing leaks under the sink, double-check for moisture damage around the cabinet base or walls. Sometimes minor leaks can quietly cause bigger issues... better safe than sorry. Did you notice any water stains or warped wood down there?

"Sometimes minor leaks can quietly cause bigger issues... better safe than sorry."

Yep, learned that the hard way when a sneaky drip turned into a moldy mess behind my cabinets - ugh. Now I keep an old baking tray under there... not pretty, but hey, eco-friendly recycling at its finest, right?

Yeah, trays can help temporarily, but honestly, relying on them might just mask the real issue. Had a similar situation where I thought a quick fix would do - ended up replacing half the cabinet floor because of hidden water damage. Have you considered installing one of those moisture alarms? They're pretty inexpensive and can alert you early if things start dripping again... might save you from another moldy surprise down the road.

"Have you considered installing one of those moisture alarms? They're pretty inexpensive and can alert you early if things start dripping again..."

Moisture alarms can be handy, but honestly, they're more of a band-aid than a real fix. Had a similar issue last year - thought I could just tighten a joint and call it good. Nope. Ended up pulling everything apart and replacing the pipe entirely. If you're dealing with repeated leaks, might be worth biting the bullet and swapping out for sturdier fittings or even eco-friendly plumbing materials. Saves headaches (and cabinet floors) in the long run...

I get what you're saying about moisture alarms being more of a temporary fix. Had one myself, and yeah, it beeped when things got damp, but it didn't exactly solve the root issue. My leak was sneaky - just a slow drip that I kept patching up with plumber's tape and quick fixes. Thought I was being clever saving money, but eventually, the cabinet floor warped and I had mold creeping in. Not fun.

Ended up replacing the whole section with PEX piping and better fittings. Honestly, should've done it way sooner. Like you said:

"If you're dealing with repeated leaks, might be worth biting the bullet and swapping out for sturdier fittings..."

Couldn't agree more. Moisture alarms are fine for catching leaks early, but they're not gonna stop them from happening again. Better to tackle the real problem head-on and be done with it.

I get what you're saying about moisture alarms being more of a temporary fix.

Yeah, moisture alarms are handy but like you said, they don't actually fix anything. Had a similar issue myself - kept patching up a slow drip thinking I was beating the system, till one morning I realized the cabinet bottom felt soft and spongy. Not a good day. Ended up redoing the fittings too, but went with copper instead of PEX. Curious though, did you find PEX easier to install yourself?

I've done both copper and PEX installs, and honestly, PEX is a lot quicker if you're DIYing it. But copper feels more solid long-term - never had to second-guess my joints once they're soldered right. Still, either beats waking up to soggy cabinets... learned that one the hard way too.

Copper's definitely solid if you know your way around a torch, but honestly, I've seen plenty of DIY copper jobs go south too. PEX is forgiving for sure, but don't skimp on fittings - cheap connectors are usually the culprit behind leaks. Either way, beats mopping up at 3am...

Copper and PEX both have their perks, but have you considered giving SharkBite fittings a shot? I know some folks are skeptical about push-to-connect fittings, but honestly, they've saved my sanity more than once. A couple years back, I had a similar nightmare under my bathroom sink - tried soldering copper first, but let's just say my torch skills weren't exactly pro-level. After a few frustrating attempts (and a lot of colorful language), I grabbed a SharkBite fitting as a temporary fix... and it's still holding strong today.

I get the hesitation - some plumbers swear they're unreliable long-term - but for tight spaces or quick fixes, they're pretty hard to beat. Plus, no torch needed means less risk of accidentally scorching your cabinet or setting off the smoke alarm (been there, done that). Sure, they're pricier than standard fittings, but if it saves you from another 3am mop-up session, might be worth the extra bucks?

Also curious - has anyone tried compression fittings for copper pipes under sinks? I've heard mixed reviews; some say they're solid if installed carefully, others claim they're leak-prone over time. Haven't personally tried them yet, but always wondered if they'd be a decent middle-ground option between soldering and push-to-connect.

Anyway, just throwing another perspective out there. Plumbing can definitely test your patience... hang in there!

I've had mixed luck with SharkBite fittings myself. A couple years ago, I was dealing with a similar leak under my kitchen sink and decided to give them a shot. Installation was definitely easy - no torch, no solder, no mess - but after about six months, I noticed a slow drip again. Not sure if it was user error or just bad luck, but it made me hesitant to rely on them long-term.

Compression fittings are another story. I've used them twice now, once under the bathroom sink and once in the laundry room. Both times they've held up surprisingly well (knock on wood). The key seems to be taking your time during installation - making sure everything lines up perfectly and tightening carefully without overtightening. But even then, I still find myself checking under the sinks every few months just to be safe... maybe I'm just paranoid?

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is longevity from an environmental perspective. I've always wondered how SharkBite fittings hold up over time compared to traditional copper soldering or compression fittings. Are they more likely to fail prematurely and end up in the landfill? Or do they actually last long enough to justify their convenience?

Personally, I've been leaning more toward PEX lately because it's flexible and seems less prone to leaks overall - but even then, I'm not totally sold on the plastic factor. Copper feels more sustainable in theory (since it's recyclable), but then again, if you're constantly having leaks and replacing parts, is it really better environmentally?

Anyway, plumbing definitely has a way of making you second-guess every decision... good luck getting that leak sorted out!

I've had similar experiences with SharkBite fittings - easy to install but not always reliable long-term. Compression fittings have been solid for me too, but I agree, there's always that lingering doubt... especially after dealing with leaks.

Interesting point about the environmental angle. I've wondered about that myself. Copper is recyclable, sure, but if you're constantly replacing fittings or pipe sections due to leaks, does that offset the sustainability advantage? And with PEX, even though it's plastic, it seems to hold up pretty well over time from what I've seen. But then again, how does it fare in terms of long-term chemical stability and potential leaching into water?

Has anyone looked into the actual lifespan data comparing copper vs. PEX vs. SharkBite fittings? I'd be curious to see if there's any solid research or testing out there on how these materials perform over decades rather than just a few years...

I've looked into this a bit myself when I redid my bathroom plumbing last year. From what I found, copper generally has a proven track record - think 50+ years if installed properly - but water chemistry can shorten that lifespan significantly. PEX is newer, but early studies suggest it could last just as long, maybe even longer in some conditions. SharkBite fittings... well, they're convenient, but I'd personally reserve them for temporary fixes or spots where you can easily check on them. Just my two cents though - plumbing always seems to have surprises waiting around the corner...

Copper's reliable, but I've personally switched to PEX for environmental reasons - less energy-intensive to produce and easier to install without soldering. SharkBites saved me once during a midnight leak, but yeah, wouldn't trust them long-term under the sink...