I've seen a few push-to-connect fittings fail, but honestly, it's usually more user error than the fitting itself. Had one homeowner call me in a panic because his basement ceiling was dripping—turns out he hadn't pushed the pipe fully into the fitting. He swore up and down he did, but when I showed him the little insertion mark on the pipe, he just laughed and said, "Well, guess I owe you a beer."
That said, I've also opened up walls where they've been sitting pretty for years without a single drip. If you're careful and follow the instructions to the letter, they're pretty solid. Still, I get the hesitation—nothing beats soldering for peace of mind behind drywall.
Speaking of DIY plumbing adventures, anyone else ever accidentally soldered a pipe only to realize afterward you forgot to slide on the coupling first? Talk about facepalm moments...
Totally agree on the push-to-connect fittings—I've had them in my laundry room for about 6 years now without a single issue. A few things I've learned along the way:
- Always double-check that insertion depth mark. Seems obvious, but it's easy to overlook when you're juggling pipes and fittings.
- If you're worried about longevity, go for the brass-bodied fittings instead of plastic. They're pricier but feel way sturdier.
- For peace of mind behind drywall, I still prefer soldering or crimp fittings. Push-to-connect is great for accessible spots, but hidden plumbing makes me nervous.
And yeah, I've definitely had that "forgot the coupling" moment. Nothing like realizing your mistake right after the solder cools...then having to cut and redo the whole thing. At least copper's recyclable, right?
"For peace of mind behind drywall, I still prefer soldering or crimp fittings."
Yeah, same here. I trust push-to-connect fittings generally, but hidden spots make me hesitate... Curious though, anyone tried those newer compression fittings behind drywall? Heard mixed reviews on long-term reliability.
I've mostly stuck with soldering too, just because it's tried-and-true and I don't wanna worry about leaks down the road. Push-to-connect fittings are handy for quick fixes, but behind drywall... eh, makes me nervous.
Haven't personally tried those newer compression fittings yet, but my neighbor put some in his basement bathroom remodel about two years ago. So far, no complaints from him—but two years isn't exactly long-term, right? I'd be curious if anyone here's had them installed longer, say 5+ years, and how they're holding up. Also wondering if there's a noticeable difference between brands, since quality can vary a lot in plumbing gear.
"Push-to-connect fittings are handy for quick fixes, but behind drywall... eh, makes me nervous."
Yeah, same here—I've used push-fittings for temporary repairs under sinks, but wouldn't trust 'em hidden behind walls. Compression fittings seem promising though; heard good things about certain brands like SharkBite lasting 5+ years without issues. Anyone tried those long-term?
