If it’s 3am and water’s pouring everywhere, I’m grabbing whatever works—even push-to-connects—just to stop the flood. Temporary fix beats water damage every time. But yeah, I’d definitely plan to swap it out for something more permanent once things calm down. Had a buddy who left a push-to-connect behind a wall for years, no issues, but I still wouldn’t trust it long-term. Curious—anyone ever had one of those fittings actually fail, or is it just paranoia?
Burst pipe panic: what would you do?
Yeah, I hear you—when water’s gushing, you reach for whatever’s at hand. I’ve used push-to-connects in a pinch more times than I’d like to admit, especially in crawlspaces or old basements where shutting off the main isn’t always an option. They’re a lifesaver for emergencies, no question.
That said, I’ve seen a couple of those fittings give out after a few years, usually when folks left them tucked behind drywall or in spots with a lot of vibration. One time, I got called back to a rental where the push-to-connect fitting just slipped off a copper line—turns out it hadn’t been fully seated from the start. Not catastrophic, but still a mess.
I trust them for temporary fixes or exposed spots where you can keep an eye on things. But behind a wall? Makes me nervous. Maybe it’s just my luck, but I’d rather sweat a joint or use a compression fitting if it’s going to be hidden away. Temporary is fine, but permanent peace of mind is worth the extra hassle.
Couldn’t agree more about push-to-connects being a lifesaver when you’re knee-deep in water and just need to stop the bleeding. I’ve had my fair share of “just get it done” moments, especially in older houses where nothing is standard and you’re crawling around in the dark. Those fittings are quick, but yeah, I’ve seen them fail too—usually when someone got a little too confident and buried them behind a wall thinking it was a forever fix.
Honestly, I’m with you on not trusting them for anything permanent that’s going to be hidden. I’ve had to cut open more than one ceiling because a push fitting let go after a couple years. It’s always tempting to take the easy route in the heat of the moment, but if you can circle back and do it right—sweat the joint or use a solid compression fitting—it’s worth the hassle. Peace of mind beats another emergency call any day. Still, no shame in using what you’ve got when things are flooding... sometimes you just have to stop the chaos first and worry about perfection later.
I get the hesitation with push-to-connects, but I’m not totally convinced they’re always the weak link. I’ve had copper sweat joints fail too, especially in spots where the pipe was old or had some corrosion. Sometimes it feels like no method is totally foolproof, especially in these older homes with weird plumbing runs.
I do wonder if we’re too quick to write off push fittings for permanent fixes. If you use the right brand and follow the install instructions, they can last a long time. Plus, less torch work means less risk of fire or inhaling fumes—something I think about with kids and pets around. Maybe it’s more about making sure whatever you use is accessible for future repairs, rather than assuming one method is always better.
I guess for me, it’s about balancing convenience, safety, and how much you want to tear up your house later. Not sure there’s a perfect answer... just trade-offs.
I’m right there with you on the safety thing—sweating copper freaks me out, especially in a tight crawlspace. Last time I tried, my smoke alarm went off and my cat hid for hours. Push-to-connects are kind of a lifesaver for folks like me who don’t want to risk burning the house down just to fix a leak. My only hang-up is making sure the pipe’s really clean and cut straight. If it’s not, those fittings can pop off... and then it’s back to panic mode.
