"Honestly though, even with tape, I've had connections leak slightly if they're overtightened—go figure."
Yeah, overtightening can definitely cause issues—I've learned that one the hard way myself. It seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? Makes me wonder, is there a reliable way to gauge how tight is "just right"? I've seen torque wrenches mentioned occasionally, but does anyone actually use those for plumbing fixtures, or is it mostly just trial and error? Curious if there's a better method out there...
I've wondered about torque wrenches too, but honestly, I've never seen anyone actually use one on plumbing jobs. Most plumbers I've worked with just go by feel—tight enough to seal, but not so tight you risk cracking something. One journeyman told me once that if you're really straining or using extra leverage, you're probably overdoing it. Seems like it's mostly experience and a bit of intuition...which can be nerve-wracking when you're new to it.
"Most plumbers I've worked with just go by feel—tight enough to seal, but not so tight you risk cracking something."
Yeah, this is pretty much spot-on from what I've seen too. I've done quite a bit of DIY plumbing around my place, and honestly, the torque wrench has never left my toolbox for those jobs. A few thoughts from my experience:
- Plumbing fittings, especially brass or plastic ones, are pretty unforgiving if overtightened. The threads are usually tapered, so they naturally seal as you tighten them. Once you feel resistance, you're usually close enough.
- I learned the hard way early on—cracked a plastic fitting by giving it "just one more turn" for good measure. Trust me, water spraying everywhere at 10 pm on a Sunday night is a lesson you don't forget quickly...
- If you're worried about leaks, thread tape or pipe dope is your friend. Properly applied, it reduces the need to overtighten and gives you a bit more peace of mind.
- If you're new and unsure, practice on some scrap fittings first. Get a feel for how much force is needed before tackling the real deal. You’ll quickly develop that intuition everyone talks about.
Torque wrenches definitely have their place (like automotive or machinery work), but plumbing usually isn't it. It's more about developing a feel for what's tight enough without going Hulk-mode on your fixtures.
Couldn't agree more, especially about the thread tape. When I first moved into my place, I was paranoid about leaks and tightened everything way too much. Ended up cracking a brass fitting under my kitchen sink—didn't flood the house, thankfully, but it was enough of a scare to make me slow down. Now I just tighten gently, use some good-quality pipe tape, and keep a bucket handy just in case...
Haha, been there myself. I remember one tenant who decided to "fix" a dripping showerhead by cranking it down with a wrench like he was tightening lug nuts on a truck tire. Snapped the fitting clean off inside the wall—water everywhere, midnight panic call, the whole nine yards. Learned my lesson: gentle snugging and good tape beats brute force every time. And yeah, buckets are underrated...saved my floors more than once.
