Yeah, those old compression fittings are a pain. I’ve had to redo a few after thinking I’d tightened them enough, only to find a slow drip days later. You’re not wrong about the box being sturdier—sometimes it’s just the luck of the install, though. Sensors missing tiny leaks is frustrating, but catching them early is half the battle. Keep at it, you’re definitely not alone dealing with this stuff.
Drips from the box vs. leaks at the connections—what’s worse?
Honestly, I’d take a box drip over a sneaky connection leak any day. At least when the box is dripping, you know where to look. Those compression fittings, though... they’ll have you questioning your life choices. You can swear up and down you’ve tightened them just right, but then you come back a week later and there’s that telltale crusty mineral ring. Drives me nuts.
I’ve seen folks crank down so hard on those fittings they end up crushing the ferrule or splitting the pipe, thinking more muscle means less leak. Spoiler: it doesn’t. Sometimes it’s just about getting the angle right and using a dab of pipe dope if you’re feeling fancy.
Sensors missing leaks is a whole other headache. I’ve crawled under more sinks than I care to admit, chasing a “phantom” drip that only shows up when nobody’s looking. At least with a box drip, you can slap a towel under it and buy yourself some time. Connections? They’ll ruin your day and your drywall if you’re not careful.