Help – most leak free plumbing hookups
I have searched the forum for hours trying to find the most leak free and reliable type of shutoff valve connection, and hookups to a sink, toilet, shower. I have done a lot of plumbing as a homeowner, but seems like after 5-6 years, all sink hookup, dishwaher hookups, seem to have small leaks. I just replaced all the galvanized with 3/4″ copper for the trunk lines and 1/2 supply lines to fixtures throughout my entire house.
Can anyone suggest what is the most leak free type of connections from the 1/2 pipe to the shutoff valve and from the shutoff valve to the fixture? For instance, is there a better combination to: 1/2″ supply line soldered to ball valve with a 3/8″ compression fitting for the ball valve outlet. Then using a bendable copper hookup with compression ferrule to complete the hookup. Or, are the stainless braided hoses more leak free? It seems like the rubber washers in those would take a set and start leaking in a few years. Are flare fittings the most leak free? Cost or labor is no object, I just want to do it once and forget it!
Replies
For the valve itself use a ball valve.
If you can find honest-to-goodnest NoBurst brand steel-reenforced hoses, they're probably more reliable than the copper-and-ferrule route, mostly because they're more idiot-proof. (It's amazingly difficult/frustrating to get a reliable ferrule connection on the small tubing, especially in tight quarters.)
You needn't worry about the rubber going bad unless you constantly reconnect the fitting for some reason. Left untouched it's good for 50 years at least.
For places where appearance is important, though (under toilet or pedistal sink) you may want to use chromed copper with the ferrules.
For the other side of the shutoff valve, either soldered or ferrule connections can be used. Ferrules are more reliable on the larger pipe vs the small stuff. Soldering is probably nominally more reliable than ferrules, but you do risk damaging the valve with heat if you aren't careful.
I really appreciate the help. I am going to follow your advice for all of the connections. Are all stainless braided hoses the same for leak reliability where they fit into the 3/8 outlet of the ball valve? Or do I absolutely have to find Nubrand?
All stainless reenforced hoses are not equal. There are no doubt other good brands, but there's no good way to tell the carp from the good stuff, so I try to stick with NoBurst. I can kind of tell by eye the really bad ones, but can't say with confidence when one is good.Unfortunately, most chain stores stock some generic knockoff rather than NoBurst, so you can end up hunting around a lot, or taking a chance with something else.Maybe some of the other folks here can recommend other good brands.