Never seen PEX fail in the wild after a decade, at least not in any house I’ve worked on. Most of the issues I’ve run into were either from bad installs (kinked lines, fittings not crimped right, that kind of thing) or critters like you mentioned. Squirrels and rats seem to think it’s a snack bar under there. If you don’t have a rodent problem, and you’re not running it through direct sunlight or near anything sharp, you’re probably set for a good long while.
Copper’s nice and all, but I’ve replaced plenty of green, corroded copper too—especially in older homes with acidic water. Those pinhole leaks sneak up on you. Honestly, nothing is totally bulletproof. PEX is just way easier to work with if you’ve got tight spaces or lots of weird angles. Plus, sweating joints when you’re lying on your back in a crawlspace? Hard pass. My knees ache just thinking about it.
Brass fittings are a smart move. I’ve seen the plastic ones crack eventually—usually after someone overtightens them or they get knocked around during install. As for lifespan, I think the jury’s still out on whether PEX will hit that 50-year mark everywhere, but most of the stuff put in during the early 2000s is holding up fine so far.
If something ever does go wrong, repairs are usually quick and cheap compared to cutting out and sweating new copper sections. That peace of mind counts for a lot when you’re the one who’ll be crawling under there again in 20 years...
Anyway, unless your local code says otherwise or you’ve got some unique situation (super high chlorine or nasty critters), PEX is probably going to serve you well. Nothing’s perfect, but at least it won’t burn your house down while you’re installing it.
I hear what you’re saying about PEX being easier, especially in tight spots. I just get a bit nervous about relying on it for shower installs, mostly because of what you mentioned—rodents and possible UV exposure. Even if you don’t have a critter problem now, all it takes is one winter with a mouse in the crawlspace to start chewing. I’ve seen it happen in houses that were fine for years, then suddenly you’re chasing leaks.
“If something ever does go wrong, repairs are usually quick and cheap compared to cutting out and sweating new copper sections.”
That’s true, but I’d argue that with copper, if it’s installed right and your water isn’t too rough on it, you’re less likely to need those repairs in the first place. The upfront hassle of sweating joints is a pain (my hands still remember my last crawlspace job), but once it’s in, copper just sits there and does its thing. You don’t have to worry about plastic fittings getting brittle or lines sagging over time.
One thing that worries me with PEX is the risk of someone using the wrong type for hot lines or not supporting it enough. I’ve seen lines droop between joists after a few years if they aren’t strapped up properly. Also, some folks don’t realize you can’t run PEX too close to recessed lighting or other heat sources—seen a couple installations where the pipe got cooked and had to be replaced.
I’m not saying copper is perfect—those pinhole leaks from bad water chemistry can be a nightmare. But for something like a shower swap where the runs are short and accessible, sometimes I lean toward copper just for peace of mind. Maybe I’m just old-school cautious, but I like knowing exactly what’s behind the wall.
Still, you’re right about nothing being bulletproof. Whichever way you go, taking your time with supports and connections is key. And yeah, brass over plastic every time for fittings—learned that one the hard way after chasing down a slow drip behind tile...
“Maybe I’m just old-school cautious, but I like knowing exactly what’s behind the wall.”
That’s fair, and honestly, I get where you’re coming from. I’ve seen PEX installs go sideways when someone cheaped out on supports or used the wrong crimp rings—suddenly you’re tearing out tile for a $2 part. But then again, I’ve also had to chase pinhole leaks in copper that were basically invisible until the ceiling started sagging. Out of curiosity, have you ever tried using PEX-AL-PEX for shower lines? It’s got that rigidity and better temp resistance, but I don’t see it used much in residential jobs. Wondering if that’s overkill or just not worth the hassle compared to regular PEX or copper.
“I’ve seen PEX installs go sideways when someone cheaped out on supports or used the wrong crimp rings—suddenly you’re tearing out tile for a $2 part.”
That hits home. I’ve been called in more than once to fix a “budget” PEX job where someone skipped the basics. As for PEX-AL-PEX, I’ve used it a couple times—honestly, it’s solid, but overkill for most showers unless you’re really worried about temp swings or want zero flex. It’s a pain to work with in tight spaces, though. Regular PEX with proper supports and fittings usually does the trick, unless you’re dealing with something weird like high-pressure commercial setups. Copper’s great, but those pinhole leaks are sneaky... and expensive.
I get the worry about cheap PEX jobs, but honestly, I’m more nervous about copper these days. My neighbor had to rip out a wall for a tiny pinhole leak—insurance barely covered it. PEX seems less risky if you don’t cut corners... or am I missing something?