I get the concern, but honestly, I’ve used flex connectors in dozens of units over the years and haven’t had much trouble. The key is making sure there’s no tension or weird bends—if you’re forcing it to reach, that’s when you get leaks or loosening. I actually prefer them for tight spaces or when the sink’s a bit off-center, since rigid pipes can be a pain to line up perfectly. As long as you use decent quality connectors and check the fittings after a week or two, they hold up fine in my experience. I’ve had more issues with old copper lines corroding than with flex lines coming loose. Maybe it just comes down to install habits and not overtightening things.
I hear you on flex connectors being handy, especially when things aren’t lined up just right. I’ve had my fair share of headaches with rigid pipes too—sometimes it feels like you need a third hand and a prayer to get everything to fit. Still, I tend to be a bit more cautious with flex lines, mostly because I’ve seen what happens if one fails after a few years. Water damage is no joke, and insurance companies love to point fingers at “improper installations.”
You mentioned,
That’s solid advice. I usually go back after a month or so just to double-check for any slow leaks. Out of curiosity, have you ever run into issues with rodents chewing on the braided lines? Had that happen once in an older building and it was a mess.“As long as you use decent quality connectors and check the fittings after a week or two, they hold up fine in my experience.”
Do you stick with stainless steel braided hoses, or have you tried any of the newer polymer ones? I’m always weighing durability versus flexibility, especially in units where access is tight and tenants aren’t always gentle with under-sink storage.
“sometimes it feels like you need a third hand and a prayer to get everything to fit.”
Story of my life under the sink. I swear, whoever designs those cabinets must have tiny arms or a twisted sense of humor.
- Stainless steel braided hoses are my go-to, mostly because I’m cheap but also paranoid about leaks. The polymer ones look cool, but I just don’t trust them yet—maybe I’m old school or just stubborn.
- Rodents chewing on lines? Yep, had that happen once in my first place. Came home to a puddle and a very guilty-looking mouse. Since then, I always check for gaps behind the cabinet and stuff ‘em with steel wool. Not foolproof, but it helps.
- Durability vs flexibility: stainless wins for me, but if space is super tight, I’ll use a short polymer line and cross my fingers (and toes).
- Tenant-proofing is basically impossible... I once found a bottle jack under the bathroom sink. No clue why.
If you find something that’s both flexible and mouse-proof, let me know. Until then, it’s stainless and regular leak checks for this budget warrior.
Since then, I always check for gaps behind the cabinet and stuff ‘em with steel wool.
Honestly, I know stainless is the gold standard for most folks, but I’ve actually had decent luck with the reinforced polymer lines. I get the skepticism—“maybe I’m old school or just stubborn”—but the newer ones seem tougher than they look. And they’re way easier to snake around those ridiculous cabinet layouts. Haven’t had a rodent issue (yet), but I wonder if there’s a type of wrap or sleeve that’d help? Stainless is great, but sometimes I just want an install that doesn’t make me invent new curse words.
I get where you're coming from—snaking those lines behind cabinets is a pain, and honestly, the reinforced polymer stuff is way more forgiving when you’ve only got a few inches to work with. Stainless is sturdy, sure, but sometimes it just doesn’t flex the way you need. I haven’t had rodents chew through the polymer lines in my place, but I did see some folks online recommend using split loom tubing or even that corrugated wire wrap as an extra barrier if you’re worried. Not the prettiest, but it gets the job done without all the swearing.
