Push-to-connects are hit or miss on old copper, in my experience. If the pipe’s got any pitting or old solder residue, those fittings just don’t seal right. I’ve had a couple hold fine, but more often they’ll start weeping after a few weeks. If you’re dealing with anything less than spotless pipe, I’d stick with compression or sweat fittings. Not worth the call-back headaches.
I’ve actually had decent luck with push-to-connects on some older copper, but I get what you’re saying—if there’s any roughness or leftover solder, they can be a pain. I ended up sanding the pipe pretty thoroughly and double-checking for any nicks. Still, for anything behind a wall, I’d probably go with compression or sweat just for peace of mind. The idea of a slow leak somewhere I can’t see makes me nervous.
Push-to-connects are definitely convenient, especially for quick fixes or spots where you might need to take things apart again. I’ve seen them hold up just fine on clean copper, but like you said, any leftover solder or roughness can really mess with the seal. Sanding and checking for nicks is key—sometimes I’ll even run a bit of emery cloth around the inside edge just to be sure.
For anything that’s going to be buried in a wall or ceiling, I’m with you—compression or sweating the joint gives me more confidence long-term. There’s just something about knowing it’s a solid connection that helps me sleep better at night. I’ve had a couple of callbacks over the years where a push fitting started weeping after a few months, usually because the pipe wasn’t prepped quite right or there was some old flux hiding out.
One thing I will say: compression fittings are great, but they can loosen up if there’s vibration or movement in the line. If it’s a spot that might get bumped (like under a sink), I’ll still lean toward sweating it if possible. But for accessible spots where you might need to swap something out later, push-to-connects are hard to beat for speed.
Funny enough, I once found an old SharkBite behind drywall during a remodel—must’ve been there for at least 8 years and not a drop leaked. Still made me nervous though... guess old habits die hard.
Yeah, I totally get where you’re coming from. There’s just something about sweating a joint that feels more “done right,” you know? But I’ve had decent luck with push-to-connects too, as long as I’m super picky about cleaning the pipe. I’m always a little paranoid about leaving one behind a wall though—guess it’s just hard to shake that old-school mindset. Still, for quick repairs or spots I might need to revisit, they’re a lifesaver. Funny how even when they work perfectly, you still get that nagging doubt... but hey, if an 8-year-old SharkBite can hold up, maybe they’re tougher than we give them credit for.
I hear you on the old-school mindset—there’s just a certain peace of mind that comes from a properly sweated joint. I’ve seen push-to-connects hold up for years too, but I still get a little twitchy if I know one’s buried behind drywall. Had a call once where a SharkBite fitting outlasted the actual copper pipe it was on, which honestly surprised me. Still, if I’m working in a spot that’s gonna be sealed up for good, I’ll usually stick with solder. For anything else, those push-fits are hard to beat for convenience.