Burst Pipe Panic: What Would You Do?
I hear you on the expansion fittings—never actually seen one blow out either, and I’ve been elbows-deep in my share of water disasters. Honestly, most of the “uh-oh” moments I’ve witnessed were someone rushing a crimp job or using a tool that’s seen better days. Had a guy call me once after he tried to fix a pinhole with an old crimper he found in his granddad’s shed... let’s just say we both got a free shower, and his kitchen looked like a scene from Titanic.
Expansion is rock solid, but man, that tool is pricey if you’re just doing a quick patch. I get why folks stick with crimps for small jobs—just gotta double-check your work and make sure the ring’s seated right. I’ve got trust issues with anything that claims to be “foolproof,” but if you take your time, both systems hold up fine.
One thing nobody really talks about: when you’re knee-deep in water at 2am, you’ll use whatever’s within arm’s reach. I’ve MacGyvered more than one leak with sharkbites and even (don’t judge) a chunk of hose and some hose clamps until morning. Not proud of it, but hey, desperate times.
Anyway, if it’s just a patch and you’re confident with crimps, go for it. For bigger jobs or if you want to sleep easy, expansion’s worth the investment. Either way, nothing beats checking your connections twice before turning the water back on. Learned that the hard way—once had to mop up a laundry room at 3am because I trusted my “eyeball test.” Never again.
Curious if anyone here has actually seen an expansion fitting fail? Maybe it’s like Bigfoot—everyone’s heard stories, but nobody’s got proof...
Never seen an expansion fitting fail either, but I’m always a little wary of anything that claims to be “set it and forget it.” I went with crimps for a quick fix last winter—double-checked every ring, still held my breath turning the water back on. Honestly, I’d rather spend extra time checking than deal with another 2am flood. The price of those expansion tools is no joke, though... hard to justify unless you’re doing a full overhaul.
The price of those expansion tools is no joke, though... hard to justify unless you’re doing a full overhaul.
Yeah, that’s what gets me too. I keep looking at those expansion kits and thinking, “Is this really worth it for a couple joints?” Crimps are way more budget-friendly when you’re just patching up after a burst. Ever had one of those crimps leak on you later? I’m always paranoid I missed something, even after checking twice. Guess it beats mopping up at 2am, though...
Burst Pipe Panic: What Would You Do?
- I hear you on the price of those expansion tools. I looked at them when I first started redoing my lines, but honestly, it felt like overkill for just a couple repairs.
- Crimps are what I’ve stuck with too. They’re quick, and yeah, way easier on the wallet if you’re not gutting the whole system.
- Had a crimp leak once—right behind the washing machine. Thought I’d done everything right, but a week later there was this slow drip. Ended up catching it before it got bad, but still... not fun pulling out wet insulation.
- Double-checking helps, but sometimes it’s just luck (or lack of sleep) that gets you. At least with crimps, you can redo them without too much waste.
- One thing I do now: always use the gauge tool after crimping. Didn’t bother at first, figured “tight is tight,” but turns out that’s not always true.
- If you’re worried about leaks and want to stay eco-friendly, maybe look into push-to-connect fittings? They’re pricier per piece but reusable and don’t need special tools. Less plastic waste if you ever have to redo something.
- Honestly, if it’s just a patch job after a burst pipe, I’d rather spend less and keep things simple. Full overhaul? Maybe then the fancy tools make sense.
Not saying crimps are perfect—nothing is—but for small fixes they’ve saved me more than once. Just gotta keep an eye on ‘em for a while after.
If you’re worried about leaks and want to stay eco-friendly, maybe look into push-to-connect fittings? They’re pricier per piece but reusable and don’t need special tools.
Push-to-connects are handy in a pinch, but I’ve actually seen a few fail over time—especially if the pipe isn’t cut perfectly clean or there’s any debris. For a burst, I still lean toward expansion PEX. The upfront tool cost is rough, but those joints are practically bulletproof if you follow the steps. Crimps work, sure, but long-term peace of mind? Sometimes worth the investment, even for small fixes.
