Those things don’t forgive mistakes. Guess it comes down to whether you want to wrestle with a torch or wrestle with a stubborn coil of tubing.
That part about the burnt knuckle made me laugh—been there, done that. Honestly, after sweating copper in a crawlspace last winter, I swore I’d never do it again. PEX isn’t perfect, but I’ll take fighting with a stubborn coil over torch work any day. And yeah, those metal clamps are the only way to go. The plastic ones are just asking for trouble. I get what you mean about copper feeling “solid,” but with hard water around here, it’s just not worth the hassle long term.
I hear you on the hard water—mine eats copper for breakfast, so I’ve pretty much given up on it for new installs. PEX has its quirks, but at least I’m not crawling around with a torch and a fire extinguisher just in case. Those coils can be a pain, though... I’ve had them spring loose and smack me more times than I care to admit.
Curious if anyone’s had issues with PEX behind tiled walls? I keep reading mixed things about expansion and contraction causing grout cracks or weird noises. Haven’t run into it myself, but I’m always a little paranoid about stuff I can’t see once the wall’s closed up. Anyone ever regret not sticking with copper for a shower setup?
I get the paranoia about what’s going on behind tile—once it’s sealed up, you’re just hoping for the best. I’ve actually stuck with copper in a couple of my older buildings, even with the hard water, just because I trust it more for showers. PEX is great for speed and flexibility, but I’ve had tenants complain about ticking or creaking noises when the pipes expand and contract, especially in tight wall cavities. Never had grout cracks from it, but the noise can be annoying enough that I started using pipe insulation sleeves anywhere PEX runs behind tile.
Honestly, if you’re not dealing with super aggressive water, copper still feels more “set it and forget it” to me. Less movement, fewer surprises down the line. That said, PEX is a lifesaver in tricky retrofits or places where access is a nightmare... just wish it didn’t sound like someone’s playing drums in the walls sometimes.
I hear you on the PEX noise—first time I heard it, I thought a squirrel got trapped in the wall. I’ve used both, and honestly, copper just feels more solid, especially for showers where you want zero surprises. That said, PEX is a dream when you’re dealing with weird angles or tight spaces. Pipe insulation helps with the ticking, but it’s not a magic fix. If you’re planning to stay in the house long-term and don’t mind spending a bit more, copper’s peace of mind is hard to beat.
Copper’s definitely the gold standard if you want to set it and forget it, but man, wrestling it into tight corners is a workout. PEX can sound like a tap-dancing mouse, but it’s so forgiving in weird layouts. Ever had to solder copper upside down? Not my favorite afternoon.