Burst pipe panic: what would you do?

Couldn’t agree more about the peace of mind thing. I used to think those push-to-connects were the best thing since sliced bread - until one started leaking behind my washing machine. It was just a slow drip, but it warped the floor before I even noticed. Lesson learned.

Honestly, if you’re already worried about it, that’s usually a sign it’s worth fixing. I get the appeal of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but water has a way of finding trouble. I’ve started swapping out any push-to-connects in spots I can’t easily see or reach. For exposed stuff, maybe I’d risk it, but behind appliances or in walls? Not worth the gamble.

PEX and crimp rings aren’t that hard to work with once you get the hang of it. Plus, you only have to do it once and then you can stop thinking about it. That’s worth a Saturday afternoon in my book.

“I’ve started swapping out any push-to-connects in spots I can’t easily see or reach. For exposed stuff, maybe I’d risk it, but behind appliances or in walls? Not worth the gamble.”

That’s pretty much my approach too, especially after dealing with a hidden leak that turned into a tenant’s nightmare. Here’s how I usually handle these situations step by step:

1. First, I check all the “invisible” connections - behind washers, under sinks, anywhere you’d need to move something heavy to spot a drip.
2. If it’s a push-to-connect and not immediately accessible, I swap it for PEX with crimp rings or even copper if it’s a high-risk area.
3. For visible spots (like under an open vanity), I’ll sometimes leave push-to-connects if they’re holding up fine, but I keep an eye on them during routine inspections.

One thing I’m curious about: has anyone actually had a crimp ring fail? In my experience, once they’re on right, they’re basically bulletproof. But maybe there are horror stories out there I haven’t heard yet...

I’ve been swapping out push-to-connects too, pretty much for the same reasons - out of sight, out of mind turns into out of pocket real fast if there’s a leak. I’ve never actually seen a crimp ring fail in person, either. Did have a buddy mess one up by not getting the tool on square, but that was user error, not the fitting itself.

Honestly, the only time I’ve had trouble is when I cheaped out on tools or fittings. Sometimes it’s tempting to grab whatever’s on sale at the big box store, but a few bucks saved isn’t worth a flooded kitchen. I do wonder, though - anyone using those expansion PEX systems? I hear they’re even more reliable than crimp rings but the upfront cost for the tool is no joke. Curious if it’s worth it long-term, especially for someone just doing repairs here and there...

I’ve wondered the same thing about expansion PEX. I’ve used crimp rings for years and never had a leak - unless, like you said, I got sloppy with the tool.

“a few bucks saved isn’t worth a flooded kitchen.”

Haven’t actually seen an expansion fitting fail in the wild, to be honest. Most issues I’ve run into were with crimp rings that weren’t seated right or the tool was out of calibration. Expansion’s solid, but yeah, the tool’s a chunk of change if you’re just patching a line or two. For small jobs, crimp’s still my go-to. If you’re careful with your work, either method’s pretty reliable.