Yeah, warped joints are sneaky for sure. Couple other things I've seen cause mystery leaks under sinks:
- Tiny hairline cracks in plastic fittings—almost invisible until you flex 'em a bit.
- Threads that look fine but have stripped just enough to drip slowly.
- Even had one case where condensation from cold water lines fooled someone into thinking they had a leak.
Did you check if the pipe itself is level and supported properly? Sometimes uneven stress can warp fittings over time...
Had a similar head-scratcher last month—turned out to be the tiniest nick in the rubber washer inside the compression fitting. Looked perfect at first glance, but when I took it apart and squeezed it a bit, there was this sneaky little split. Replaced it and problem solved. Might be worth double-checking those washers, especially if you've tightened things down a few times already. Sometimes the simplest stuff is the trickiest to spot...
Good call on the washer—those sneaky splits can drive you crazy. But honestly, if you've checked that already and still no luck, take a closer look at the pipe threads themselves. Had one job where the homeowner kept tightening fittings, replaced washers twice, and still had drips. Turned out the threads were slightly stripped from overtightening. A bit of plumber's tape and a gentler hand did the trick. Sometimes brute force isn't your friend...
"Sometimes brute force isn't your friend..."
Can confirm this 100%. I've lost count of how many times I've seen folks crank down fittings thinking tighter = better seal, only to end up damaging the threads. A few quick tips from experience:
- Check closely for hairline cracks or tiny imperfections in the pipe threads; even minor damage can cause persistent leaks.
- Use plumber's tape generously—but don't go overboard. Usually, two or three wraps around the threads is enough.
- If threads look rough, you might consider replacing the fitting entirely. It's a hassle, but sometimes it's quicker than fighting a losing battle.
- Also, make sure you're threading fittings straight and evenly. Cross-threading happens more often than you'd think and can ruin your day.
Hang in there—plumbing is always a bit of trial and error. Sounds like you're on the right track though.
Totally relate to this frustration. Plumbing can be sneaky...you think you've got it sealed, then drip-drip-drip. Good call on checking threads closely—had a fitting once that looked perfect at first glance but had the tiniest hairline crack. Took me forever to spot it. Also, learned the hard way not to overtighten fittings; snug is good enough, usually. Sounds like you're tackling it smartly though, hang in there.
