if you can’t see it, don’t trust it.
That hits home. I used a push-fit on a shower line once because I was in a rush and didn’t want to mess with soldering in a tight spot. It worked... until it didn’t. Had to cut out tile and drywall just to fix a slow leak. Never again for anything buried.
I’ve been curious about PEX with crimp rings too. My cousin redid his whole basement with it and swears it’s the best thing since sliced bread. He lent me his crimp tool for a small job and honestly, it was way less stressful than compression fittings—just make sure you get the crimp right. I still double-checked every joint for leaks like three times though.
On the faucet front, I switched to ceramic disc valves in my bathroom last year after fighting with leaky washers forever. So far, they’re super smooth and haven’t dripped once, but I guess time will tell if they hold up. The only thing I noticed is hard water seems to gunk them up faster, so maybe that’s something to watch if your water’s not great.
Push-fits are handy for emergencies or exposed spots, but yeah, I wouldn’t trust them behind walls either. Seen too many callbacks from slow leaks that turn into big headaches. For anything you’re closing up, I’d go with PEX and crimp rings or expansion fittings—just make sure you use the proper tool and check every crimp with a gauge. If you’re not sure about a crimp, cut it out and redo it. It’s way easier now than after drywall goes up.
Ceramic disc valves are a solid upgrade over the old compression types. They’re less likely to drip, but hard water can definitely shorten their life. If you’ve got mineral-heavy water, it’s worth cleaning the aerators and cartridges every so often. Sometimes a little vinegar soak does wonders. If you ever notice the handle getting stiff, don’t force it—pull it apart and clean it out before something cracks.
One thing I’d add: when picking new fixtures, stick with brands that have good parts availability. Nothing worse than needing a $2 seal and finding out you have to replace the whole faucet because nobody carries the parts. Learned that one the hard way...
That bit about parts availability hits home. I bought a fancy-looking kitchen faucet last year (it was on sale... should’ve known), and when the handle started leaking, turns out the only replacement part was shipping from Europe. Took weeks and cost almost as much as a new faucet. Lesson learned: stick with the big brands, even if they’re a little boring.
I’m still getting used to all this PEX stuff. My dad’s old-school—copper everything—so I get nervous relying on plastic pipes, but everyone keeps saying it’s the way to go. Haven’t had any leaks yet, fingers crossed.
That’s a rough deal with the faucet—I’ve seen that happen way too often. Sometimes those “designer” fixtures look great, but if you ever need a cartridge or a handle, you’re at the mercy of whatever supply chain they’ve got. I usually steer folks toward the major brands, even if they don’t win any style awards. At least you can walk into any hardware store and find what you need.
About PEX, I get where you’re coming from. A lot of folks who grew up with copper are a little wary at first. Copper’s solid, lasts forever, and there’s just something reassuring about it. But honestly, PEX has come a long way—super flexible, quick to install, and it handles freezing better than copper in most cases. As long as it’s installed right (watch out for rodents though… they can chew through), you’ll probably be just fine. I’ve swapped out plenty of old copper for PEX and haven’t had any callbacks yet.
It’s always a bit weird trusting new materials, but you’re not alone there.
Sometimes those “designer” fixtures look great, but if you ever need a cartridge or a handle, you’re at the mercy of whatever supply chain they’ve got.
Man, you nailed it. I once had a customer who bought this fancy faucet from some boutique place—looked like it belonged in a spaceship. Fast forward two years, the handle snapped, and we spent weeks trying to track down a replacement. Ended up swapping the whole thing for a good ol’ Moen. Not as flashy, but at least you can find parts without needing a treasure map.
On the PEX vs copper thing, I get the hesitation. My dad still swears by copper and gives me grief every time I use PEX. But after crawling around in enough crawlspaces, I’ll take the lighter, bendy stuff any day. Only real issue I’ve seen is when a mouse decided to turn a line into a chew toy—guess he was thirsty? Other than that, it’s been solid. Just gotta make sure it’s installed right and you’re golden.
