"Galvanized pipes are definitely a pain, but I'm not entirely sold yet on whether PEX will hold up long-term without leaks or issues..."
Switched several of my rentals over to PEX about 7 years ago—honestly, no major regrets yet. Budget-wise, it was pretty easy on the wallet compared to copper. But durability-wise? Jury's still out. Had one minor leak at a fitting after a deep freeze (thankfully caught quickly). Still beats the constant corrosion headaches from galvanized though... Just make sure your installer knows their stuff.
I've had mixed experiences with PEX myself. Switched over about five years ago, and while it's definitely easier to install and cheaper than copper, I've noticed some fittings can be finicky—especially if the installer rushes things. Like you said:
"Just make sure your installer knows their stuff."
That's really key. Proper crimping and quality fittings make all the difference. Still, compared to the nightmare of galvanized pipes clogging up every few years, I'd take my chances with PEX any day...
Had a similar issue myself when we redid our bathroom with PEX. Pressure was all over the place, and I thought we'd messed something up big time. Turned out one of the crimps wasn't tight enough—just barely off, but enough to cause headaches. Redid that fitting carefully, and it's been solid ever since. Definitely agree it's all about taking your time and double-checking those connections... rushing never pays off.
Did you check your fittings with a gauge after crimping? I've seen plenty of situations where everything "looked" good visually, but the gauge told a different story. PEX is forgiving, but not foolproof—small oversights can definitely mess with pressure consistency. Glad you caught that loose crimp early... saves a lot of frustration later on. It's always something minor, isn't it?
"PEX is forgiving, but not foolproof—small oversights can definitely mess with pressure consistency."
Couldn't agree more. I've seen fittings pass the eyeball test plenty of times, only to fail miserably on the gauge. Ever had one of those days where you re-crimp three times, convinced your gauge is lying to you? Been there... it's usually some tiny burr or slight angle throwing everything off. PEX might be forgiving, but plumbing karma sure isn't.