Honestly, I’ve seen way too many chewed-up PEX lines in crawlspaces. Copper’s a pain to work with sometimes, but you don’t get those nasty surprises months later. If you’re set on PEX, at least run it through conduit or something. Mice are relentless.
Yeah, I get where you’re coming from. PEX is super easy to run, but those chew marks are no joke. I’ve seen a couple jobs where the lines looked fine at first, then a year later… not so much. Copper can be a hassle, especially in tight spots, but it does feel more solid once it’s in. If you’re leaning PEX, that conduit idea’s smart—just adds some peace of mind.
I’ve seen those PEX chew marks too—one time, a client called me out after their new shower started leaking, and sure enough, mice had gone to town on the lines behind the wall. Copper’s a pain to snake through old framing, but I’ve never had a rodent issue with it. That said, PEX in conduit or even sleeved with some metal can really help if you’re set on using it. Just gotta weigh the hassle now against possible headaches later...
Copper’s definitely tougher, but man, the cost difference is hard to ignore. I get nervous about rodents too, but wrapping PEX in some cheap metal conduit seems like a decent workaround. I’m just not sure if the extra hassle is worth it for a small bathroom. Anyone actually had mice chew through PEX in a slab foundation?
Anyone actually had mice chew through PEX in a slab foundation?
Haven’t seen it myself, but I’ve heard stories from other techs about rodents going after PEX, especially in older homes where critters sneak in. Honestly, for a small bathroom, is the risk really that high if you’re sealing everything up tight? Or is it just one of those “better safe than sorry” things? I’m curious if anyone’s actually had to deal with a real leak from this, or if it’s more of an internet horror story.