I’ve actually had a push-to-connect fitting wiggle loose once, but it was on a section of pipe that wasn’t supported well—lesson learned. Now I always add pipe clamps or brackets every few feet, especially near joints. Haven’t had any issues since. The fittings themselves seem solid if the pipe’s not moving around. Definitely worth the extra effort to secure everything, even if it feels like overkill at first.
I’ve run into that too, especially in older houses where the joists are a little wonky and nothing’s really square. I once had a SharkBite fitting pop off because the line was under tension—turns out the pipe was just barely long enough and flexed every time someone stomped upstairs. Since then, I’m borderline obsessive about making sure pipes are supported and have a bit of slack. Ever had to deal with pipes vibrating or “water hammer” after installing new fittings? That one caught me off guard the first time...
Water hammer’s a classic headache, especially in those older places where nothing lines up quite right. You’re spot on about pipe support—if there’s any tension or flex, those push-to-connect fittings can let go under the right conditions. Here’s what I usually check:
- Pipe runs: Always try to leave a little play, never force a straight line if the joists are off.
- Support: Add more hangers than you think you need, especially near fittings and bends.
- Water hammer: If it pops up after new fittings, I’ll double-check for loose pipes or missing clamps. Sometimes just adding a water hammer arrestor at the right spot solves it.
Honestly, sometimes even with everything “by the book,” you’ll get a weird vibration or thunk. Old houses keep you humble...
Totally agree about the extra hangers—can’t count how many times I’ve gone back under the house just to add more. One thing I’d add: check for air chambers if you’ve got old copper lines. Sometimes they’re clogged and don’t cushion the shock anymore. Had to drain mine last year and it actually helped with the banging. Old houses really do have a mind of their own...
Old houses really do have a mind of their own...
Ain’t that the truth. I’ve had to chase down weird pipe noises for years—sometimes it’s just a hanger, sometimes it’s something way more annoying. Good call on the air chambers, though. Draining them made a difference for me too, but I wish there was a more eco-friendly fix than dumping all that water every time. Still, keeping things up to code is worth the hassle.