Had a similar situation in one of my rentals—old place, lots of “character” (aka mouse highways behind the walls). I went with PEX and did the mesh wrap after finding some chewed insulation. It’s a pain, but honestly, it saved me from a bigger headache later. In newer places, I usually skip it unless there’s obvious critter activity. You’re right about sealing up tight—sometimes that’s all you need. But if you’ve already got signs of mice, better safe than sorry.
I went with PEX and did the mesh wrap after finding some chewed insulation. It’s a pain, but honestly, it saved me from a bigger headache later.
I get where you’re coming from—rodents can turn a simple job into a nightmare real quick. I’ve seen copper lines gnawed on too, though, especially in older homes where mice have been around for years. PEX is definitely easier to work with, but I still lean toward copper in spots where critters are a known issue. The mesh wrap helps, but I’ve had clients call me back after a year because something still got through.
Curious—did you notice any difference in water noise between the two? Some folks say PEX is quieter, but I’ve actually found the opposite in certain installs. Also, how’s your water pressure holding up after the switch? Sometimes those extra fittings with PEX can add up and restrict flow more than people expect.
I’ve actually had a similar experience with PEX and copper in my last two bathroom remodels. I went with PEX for the walk-in shower because it was just so much easier to snake through the old framing, but I did notice a bit more “whooshing” noise compared to the old copper lines. It’s not super loud, but at night when everything’s quiet, you can definitely hear it if someone’s running water. I’ve read that the way PEX is secured can make a difference—if it’s not clipped down enough, it’ll vibrate against studs or joists and amplify the sound. Maybe that’s what’s going on in some installs?
Water pressure was a concern for me too, especially since I used a few elbows to get around some weird angles. I measured before and after, and there was a slight drop—maybe 2-3 psi at the shower head—but nothing major. I think if you’re careful about minimizing fittings and using full-bore valves, it’s manageable. Still, copper seems to have less restriction overall, especially on longer runs.
One thing I’m still not sure about is long-term durability with PEX in areas where rodents are persistent. The mesh wrap helps, but I’ve seen photos of mice chewing right through both the wrap and the pipe. With copper, you get those green corrosion spots if there’s a leak, but at least you can usually spot them before things get out of hand.
Has anyone tried using that flexible stainless steel conduit as an extra layer over PEX? I saw someone mention it on another forum but haven’t seen it in person yet. Wondering if that’s overkill or actually worth considering in crawlspaces where critters are a real problem...
Switching out a tub for a walk-in shower: copper vs. PEX pipes?
Ran into the same debate last year when I did a shower swap in an older house. Ended up going with PEX for most of the run, mainly because the framing was a nightmare and I just didn’t want to open up more walls than necessary. That “whooshing” noise you mentioned is real—noticed it mostly at night, too. What helped a bit was using those plastic isolator clips every 16 inches or so, especially near bends. It cut down on the vibration against the wood, but didn’t eliminate it completely.
About the rodent issue—yeah, that’s a tough one. I’ve seen mice chew right through mesh and even some of the cheaper conduit. I actually tried running PEX through flexible stainless conduit in a crawlspace once. It was a pain to pull the pipe through, but the peace of mind was worth it for that particular house (had a history of critter problems). Probably overkill for most places, but if you’re already dealing with rodents, it’s not the worst idea.
Copper’s still my go-to for exposed runs or spots where durability is key, but for tricky retrofits, PEX with some extra protection does the job. Just gotta weigh the hassle vs. the risk, I guess.
Funny, I had a similar headache with an old craftsman house last winter. The framing was a mess and I didn’t want to rip up half the place just to run copper, so I get where you’re coming from. PEX is just so much easier for weird retrofits, even if it feels a little flimsy compared to copper.
I actually tried running PEX through flexible stainless conduit in a crawlspace once. It was a pain to pull the pipe through, but the peace of mind was worth it for that particular house (had a history of critter problems). Probably overkill for most places, but if you’re already dealing with rodents, it’s not the worst idea.
That’s not overkill at all if you’ve got rodent issues. I’ve seen mice chew through plastic pipes more than once—one time they even nested inside a wall cavity and turned the insulation into confetti. Stainless flex is annoying to work with, but it beats having to redo plumbing after a mouse party.
The “whooshing” noise is definitely a thing with PEX. Those isolator clips help, but yeah, there’s always some vibration left over. Personally, I’d rather deal with a bit of noise than open up more walls or risk leaks from bad solder joints in tight spots.
Copper does look nicer for exposed runs and it’s hard to beat for durability, but unless you’re planning on leaving pipes visible or have zero pest problems, PEX with some protection is usually fine. Just make sure you’re not skimping on support or leaving long unsupported runs—that’s when the problems start.
Honestly, sounds like you made smart choices given what you were working with. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough when you consider all the trade-offs.
