I totally get the hesitation with push-to-connect fittings. I bought a couple “just in case” after moving in, but honestly, I’m not sure I’d trust them for anything behind drywall either. My biggest fear is missing a slow leak and ending up with mold or warped floors months later. When we had a small leak under our bathroom sink, I tried tightening things myself but kept second-guessing if I was making it worse. Ended up calling a plumber—expensive, but at least I could sleep without worrying about water damage. Is it just me, or does homeownership make you paranoid about every drip and creak?
Definitely not just you—owning a house turns every little sound into a potential disaster in my mind too. I’ve had the same debate about push-to-connect fittings. I love how easy they are, but I just can’t bring myself to trust them for anything hidden. Last year, I found a tiny drip under our kitchen sink and immediately pictured the whole cabinet rotting away... Ended up swapping everything out for compression fittings and using plumber’s tape like my life depended on it. Peace of mind is worth a lot, even if it means calling in the pros sometimes.
I totally get where you’re coming from. Every time I hear water running when it shouldn’t be, my heart skips a beat. I’ve used push-to-connect in visible spots, but for anything behind walls, I just can’t relax unless it’s compression or soldered. Maybe it’s overkill, but like you said—peace of mind is priceless.
Yeah, I get that feeling too—nothing like the sound of water where it shouldn’t be to get your adrenaline going. I’m with you on push-to-connect for easy access spots, but behind drywall? I just don’t trust it long-term. Compression or soldered joints might take more time, but I’d rather do it once and not worry. If I ever have to use push-to-connect behind a wall, I’ll at least make sure there’s an access panel... just in case.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I think push-to-connect gets a bad rap, especially these days. The tech’s come a long way. I’ve seen plenty of soldered joints fail over time—especially if the prep wasn’t perfect or someone rushed the job. Not saying push-to-connect is flawless, but if it’s installed right and the pipe’s clean, I’ve seen them last just as long as solder or compression.
I get the anxiety about stuff hidden behind drywall, but how many people actually cut open a wall to check their soldered joints after 10 years? Most folks don’t. At least with push-to-connect, you’re not risking a torch near studs or insulation. I’ve even had to swap out a section in a tight spot, and it saved me hours.
Access panels are smart either way, but I’d argue the bigger risk is shoddy workmanship, not the fitting type. Just my two cents...
