I get the love for stainless mesh, but I’ve actually had decent luck with copper—at least in spots that stay dry. If it’s exposed to moisture, yeah, it’ll corrode and get brittle over time. But in dry framing or inside cabinets, it’s held up for me longer than expected. Maybe it depends on the local mouse population... or just dumb luck. I do agree about foam though—total joke against rodents.
If it’s exposed to moisture, yeah, it’ll corrode and get brittle over time. But in dry framing or inside cabinets, it’s held up for me longer than expected.
I’ve had similar results with copper—definitely holds up better than I thought in the right spots. Still, I’m always a little paranoid about hidden leaks or condensation sneaking in and wrecking things. Stainless is pricier but gives me peace of mind, especially in crawlspaces. And yeah, foam is basically a rodent welcome mat... learned that the hard way under my kitchen sink.
Funny you mention foam and rodents… I thought I was being clever sealing up gaps under my bathroom vanity with spray foam, only to find out a year later that mice had basically tunneled right through it. Lesson learned—steel wool and caulk from now on.
I hear you on the copper vs. stainless debate. I’ve always leaned toward copper just because it’s what I can afford, and honestly, it’s held up better than I expected in most places. I do get nervous about those spots you can’t see, though. Had a slow leak behind the laundry room wall once, and by the time I caught it, the drywall was toast. Ever since then, I’m a bit more paranoid about hidden moisture.
But yeah, when it comes to dry areas or inside cabinets, copper’s been solid for me. I just keep an eye out for any weird smells or soft spots—usually a dead giveaway something’s up. Stainless would be great, but the price tag makes me wince every time I look at it at the hardware store.
Honestly, it’s all a bit of a balancing act. You do what you can with the budget you’ve got, and sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you end up patching things up after the fact. At least with the dry loo setup, there’s a lot less plumbing to worry about. That’s been a relief for my wallet and my nerves.
At least with the dry loo setup, there’s a lot less plumbing to worry about. That’s been a relief for my wallet and my nerves.
Totally get that—less plumbing means fewer “surprise” leaks in the middle of the night. I learned the hard way that even a tiny drip can turn into a full-on drywall disaster if you’re not watching. Dry loo’s been a game changer for my peace of mind, honestly. Still, I’m always half-expecting to find some new creative way for water to sneak in... or mice, apparently.
“Dry loo’s been a game changer for my peace of mind, honestly. Still, I’m always half-expecting to find some new creative way for water to sneak in... or mice, apparently.”
- Same here—since switching, I haven’t missed crawling under the house with a flashlight to chase leaks.
- One thing I did notice: less humidity in the bathroom now, which means no more weird mildew patches behind the toilet.
- Mice are a legit concern though. I had one try to nest in the sawdust bin last winter… quick fix with some steel mesh.
- Maintenance is way more predictable. No more mystery drips or random pipe rattles at 2am.