Metal connectors are solid, but honestly, I’ve seen plenty of leaks from overtightened brass or steel too. It’s not always about the material—it’s more about the install. Here’s my take: use a torque wrench if you’re worried about cracking stuff, especially on compression fittings. And don’t sleep on good old PTFE tape for threads. As for brands, I’ve had decent luck with mid-range Moen and even some off-brand stuff if it’s got solid reviews and isn’t all plastic. Sometimes it’s just about technique and regular checks, not dropping big bucks upfront.
It’s not always about the material—it’s more about the install.
Can’t agree more. First time I tried swapping out a faucet, I overtightened the heck out of a brass connector thinking “more is better,” and ended up with a slow drip that drove me nuts for weeks. Lesson learned: gentle and steady wins the race. I went with Moen too, nothing fancy, and it’s held up fine as long as I keep an eye on things. PTFE tape is honestly my new best friend—never realized how much that stuff helps until now.
Couldn’t agree more about the install making all the difference. I’ve seen plenty of “premium” fixtures leak or fail just because someone rushed or cranked things too tight. Moen’s a solid choice—nothing flashy, but reliable. PTFE tape is a lifesaver, but I always double-check for cross-threading too. One small mistake can turn into a headache down the line, especially in rentals where you want things to last. Good on you for learning from the drip... we’ve all been there.
- Had a similar experience when I swapped out the kitchen faucet last month. Thought I could just “wing it” with the install, but ended up with a slow drip that drove me nuts for days.
- Agree on Moen—nothing fancy, but it’s held up better than the pricier brands I looked at. I almost went with something trendier, but honestly, reliability won out.
- PTFE tape is magic, but I learned (the hard way) that if you don’t wrap it the right direction, it just unravels as you tighten. Rookie mistake, but hey, now I know.
- Cross-threading is my new paranoia. I double-check every connection now, even if it takes longer.
- For rentals or first homes, I’d rather have “boring but solid” than something that looks cool and leaks in six months. Not worth the hassle.
Funny how a tiny leak can teach you more than any YouTube tutorial...
Funny how a tiny leak can teach you more than any YouTube tutorial...
That’s honestly the truth. No video really prepares you for that slow drip at 2am. I’ve started to appreciate the “boring but solid” fixtures too, even if they don’t win any style points. Fancier brands sometimes just mean more parts that can fail. And yeah, PTFE tape—if you wrap it backwards, you’re basically asking for trouble. Been there, done that, unfortunately.
