Switching out a tub for a walk-in shower: copper vs. PEX pipes?

- Totally get the nerves about PEX’s long-term track record. I’m in the same boat—feels like a bit of a leap of faith.
-

“bad crimps or cheap fittings are where most problems start.”

I’ve seen a lot of debate about PEX vs copper, and honestly, I’m still not convinced there’s a clear winner. PEX is definitely easier to work with, but I’ve run into a few jobs where the fittings were questionable—usually when someone tried to save a buck on materials. Copper’s more predictable, but it’s not immune to issues either. Had a call last year where a mouse chewed right through a copper line in an attic... didn’t expect that.

Curious if anyone’s actually had a PEX failure from age alone? Most of what I see is installation-related, not the pipe itself breaking down. Makes me wonder if the long-term worries are more about bad installs than the material. Anyone ever seen old PEX (like 20+ years) holding up fine?

I’ve had the same debate in my own head every time I look at a plumbing project. I get the appeal of PEX—cheaper, easier to snake through tight spots, and you don’t need to torch anything (which always makes me nervous in old houses). But I can’t shake the feeling that there’s a bit of a gamble with PEX if you don’t know exactly what brand or fittings you’re getting. I’ve seen some horror stories on forums about off-brand fittings cracking after just a few years.

On the other hand, copper isn’t perfect either. Like you said, rodents can chew through it, and I’ve actually had pinhole leaks pop up in older copper lines from corrosion. That said, I haven’t personally seen PEX fail just from age—usually it’s bad crimps or someone using the wrong connectors. My neighbor’s house has PEX from the late ‘90s and it’s still going strong, but he was picky about using top-shelf materials.

If you’re like me and want to avoid future headaches, I’d say go with PEX but don’t cheap out on the fittings or tools. And maybe keep an eye on any spots where sunlight could hit the pipe—UV can mess with it over time. Copper’s great if you’re not worried about cost or doing a lot of soldering, but for most bathroom renos these days, PEX seems like the safer bet as long as you do it right.

I hear you on the torch thing—nothing like sweating copper in a crawlspace to make you rethink your life choices. I’ve done both, and honestly, PEX feels like cheating (in a good way). The only thing that bugs me is the plastic waste. I try to keep my renos as green as possible, and copper’s at least recyclable. But then again, if you mess up soldering and have to redo joints, that’s wasted material too.

Funny story: I once had a mouse chew through a copper line behind our kitchen wall. Didn’t even know they could do that until water started dripping through the ceiling... At least with PEX, rodents seem less interested, but maybe that’s just luck on my part.

Curious if anyone’s looked into the environmental impact of PEX vs copper? I’ve read mixed things—PEX uses less energy to manufacture but isn’t easily recyclable. Copper’s got a bigger footprint up front but lasts forever if you don’t have acidic water or hungry mice. Anyone ever try those new “eco” PEX alternatives or is that just marketing fluff?

Man, sweating copper in a crawlspace is basically a rite of passage—nothing like burning your knuckles and questioning your life decisions. I’m with you on PEX feeling like a cheat code. The plastic waste bugs me too, but honestly, after fishing out corroded copper from a 60s rental (and finding mouse nests), I’ll take the easy install. Never tried the “eco” PEX stuff—feels like greenwashing to me, but maybe I’m just cynical. Copper’s great until you get pinhole leaks from bad water or, apparently, mouse teeth... didn’t know they had it out for plumbing too.