Man, I’ve tried those push-to-connects in a panic and yeah, they’re a lifesaver—until they aren’t. Had one pop off once because I didn’t get that satisfying “click” you mentioned. Water everywhere, again... My luck. I do like ‘em for emergencies, but if I’m not sweating a joint when I’ve got the time, I can’t sleep right. Old copper’s like wrestling a snake, but at least with solder you know it’s solid if you do it right.
Yeah, I get what you mean about the peace of mind with soldered copper. Push-to-connects are great in a pinch, but I’ve had that same “did it really lock?” anxiety. Once had one on a rental job that looked fine, then let loose overnight—total mess. For anything permanent, I’ll wrestle with the torch and flux every time. Those old-school joints just feel more trustworthy, even if they’re a pain.
I get the appeal of soldered copper—it’s hard to beat that sense of security, especially for something you want to last decades. But I do wonder about the environmental impact of all that flux and torch fuel over time. Push-to-connects feel a bit “disposable,” but they’re so much quicker and don’t require open flames inside the house. I’ve used them on a few repairs and, honestly, never had one fail... yet. Maybe it’s a trade-off between tradition and convenience, but I still double-check every fitting before I trust it.
I hear you on the push-to-connects feeling a bit “temporary.” I was super skeptical at first, but after a midnight pipe burst last winter, I was just grateful for something that didn’t need a torch or a prayer. Still, I keep thinking about whether they’ll hold up in 20 years... but then again, I’ll probably be worrying about something else by then.
I totally get that feeling—when my kitchen line froze and split, I was just happy to get water back on without sweating copper at 2am. But yeah, I do wonder if those push-to-connects are gonna outlast the house or just make it to the next panic. Anyone had one actually fail after a few years?
