Had a coax splitter fail in a crawlspace last Friday and it's got me thinking about old parts

I was finishing a triple-play install in a 1980s house, and the signal just dropped on one line. Found the splitter in the crawlspace was the old crimp-on type, not compression, and the center pin had completely corroded. I had to crawl back out, get a new part, and re-run that leg, adding about 40 minutes to the job. Some guys say you should always replace any old splitter you find as a rule, others say if it's working, don't touch it and risk a callback. What's your standard move when you run into old, but currently working, infrastructure?

3 comments

3 Comments

gracet221mo ago

That old crimp-on stuff is basically a time bomb. My rule is if I have to touch it for any reason, it gets swapped out right then. Saves the next guy the headache too.

simonl111mo ago

Yeah, the "time bomb" thing is spot on. My buddy was just checking a connection on an old crimp, barely touched it. Whole fitting just split open like a rotten nut. Water went everywhere before he could even blink. Had to shut the whole street down to fix it. That was a really bad day for him and the whole crew. Now he swaps them on sight, no questions.

patjones1mo ago

Honestly, calling it a time bomb is too real. I learned that the hard way after one crumbled in my hand like old cake. Tbh, your rule is solid, gracet22, I'm just bad at following my own advice until it's too late. I've created a few of those headaches for the next guy myself.