Honestly, I see where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen more headaches from box drips than connection leaks over the years.
Sure, swapping out old hoses is smart, but sometimes those slow box drips go unnoticed for months and end up rotting out floors or walls. Had a client once who thought a tiny drip was “no big deal”—turned into a full-blown mold job. Connections are easier to spot and fix, but box leaks can sneak up on you and cost way more in repairs. Just my two cents.“Prevention beats cleanup every time, at least in my book.”
That’s a good point about box drips sneaking up on you. I’ve only been at this a couple years, but I already saw a laundry room where the floor was soft and spongy from a drip that went unnoticed behind the washer.
Makes me wonder—do you guys think water alarms in laundry rooms or under sinks actually help, or are they just another thing folks forget to check?“Connections are easier to spot and fix, but box leaks can sneak up on you...”
Water alarms are actually worth it, in my experience. I’ve been called out to a few places where the only reason the homeowner caught a slow leak was because the alarm started chirping. The thing is, you don’t need to check them constantly—just make sure the batteries are good every six months or so, like you would with smoke detectors.
I get that some folks forget about them, but honestly, even a cheap alarm under the washer or sink can save you thousands in repairs. I’ve seen floors rotted out and cabinets ruined just because a tiny drip went unnoticed for months. Connections are easier to spot, but those box leaks behind appliances are sneaky. If you’re the type who forgets about alarms, maybe set a calendar reminder to test them. It’s a small hassle compared to tearing out a moldy floor.
I’m with you on the alarms—cheap insurance, really. I do wonder though, is it more common for those hidden box leaks to do the most damage, or do the visible connection leaks cause bigger headaches? I’ve had a slow drip under my kitchen sink before, but at least I saw it early. But behind a washer or fridge... feels like you’d never know until it’s too late. Anyone actually had to rip up flooring because of one of those hidden leaks?
Hidden leaks are the real nightmare, in my experience. Had a slow one behind the fridge that went unnoticed for months—by the time I figured it out, the subfloor was toast and I had to pull up half the kitchen. Visible leaks at least give you a fighting chance to catch them early. Makes me wonder if those “smart” shutoff valves are worth the hype or just more tech to break down the line. Anyone actually trust those things?