I get the urge to swap everything out, but honestly, I’ve only replaced lines when I see rust or if they’re the old rubber kind. Stainless is better, but yeah, nothing’s bulletproof. Had a tiny leak behind my fridge once—didn’t notice until the wall started to bubble. Now I’m a little paranoid and check spots I never used to. Guess it’s a balance between peace of mind and not tearing the house apart for “just in case”...
Guess it’s a balance between peace of mind and not tearing the house apart for “just in case”...
I get where you’re coming from, but I lean a little more toward the “better safe than sorry” side—especially after seeing the kind of damage one sneaky leak can do. Had a client with a pinhole in a copper pipe behind their bathroom wall, and by the time they noticed, there was mold and the drywall was toast. Not saying you gotta rip out every line, but honestly, old rubber hoses (even if they look fine) can go without warning.
I usually tell folks to swap out any rubber supply lines for braided stainless, no matter how old they are. It’s cheap insurance. And if you’ve got anything original from decades ago, it’s worth considering an upgrade before it tells you it’s time in the worst way. I know it seems like overkill sometimes, but water doesn’t mess around.
That said, I get not wanting to go full “tear up the house” mode. Just maybe check those hidden spots a little more often than feels necessary... saved me more than once.
I swapped out the old rubber lines under my sinks for braided ones right after moving in—didn’t want to risk it, especially after seeing some horror stories online. But I’m still a little paranoid about the stuff I can’t see, like the pipes running through the walls. Is there a way to check those without getting super invasive? I’ve heard about moisture sensors, but not sure if they’re worth it or just overkill. Anyone tried those or have a better way to keep tabs on hidden leaks?
I get where you’re coming from—hidden pipes are the stuff of homeowner nightmares. I looked into moisture sensors too, and honestly, they’re not a bad idea if you’ve got a finished basement or spots that are tough to check. I put a couple near my water heater and behind the fridge just in case. They’re not perfect, but they do give some peace of mind. Otherwise, I keep an eye on my water bill for any weird spikes... not super high-tech, but it works for now. Tearing into walls just to check feels like overkill unless there’s an actual problem.
I hear you about not wanting to tear into walls—nobody needs that kind of chaos unless there’s water pouring out somewhere. I’ve seen a few folks use those moisture sensors and they’re honestly a smart move, especially in spots where leaks love to hide. One thing I’d add: if you ever do any reno work, snap some pics of the pipes before closing up the walls. Saved my bacon once when I had to track down a weird rattle... turns out, it was just a loose bracket. Not glamorous, but way better than guessing.
