I hear you on the copper prices—makes my wallet hurt just thinking about it. I’ve patched more than a few PEX lines after mice got bored in crawlspaces, but honestly, I’ve seen them gnaw through PVC and even try their luck with some of the newer composites. As for taste, I did notice a bit of a plasticky flavor with PEX at first, but it faded after a couple weeks. Noise-wise, composite’s quieter than copper when the water kicks on, but not by much. If you’re really worried about critters, I’ve seen folks wrap pipes in steel mesh... not pretty, but it slows ‘em down.
Steel mesh is a solid idea, though I’ll admit I’m not a fan of the look either. When I redid the laundry room plumbing last year, I went with PEX for flexibility, but after seeing some chew marks in the crawlspace, I got a bit paranoid. Ended up running the lines through a leftover PVC conduit just as an extra barrier. Not the cheapest route, but it’s given me some peace of mind.
I did notice a faint plastic taste at first too—thought maybe I’d messed something up, but it cleared out after a bit, like you said. On the noise front, I agree composite’s better than copper, but if you’re sensitive to it, adding a few pipe clamps with rubber insulation helps dampen things. Not sure if that counts as “sustainable,” but it does make things last longer and keeps the critters guessing.
Totally get the paranoia with PEX in crawlspaces—rodents love that stuff. I’ve seen people wrap it in metal tape or even run it inside old garden hose as a cheap shield, but PVC conduit’s definitely more bulletproof. That plastic taste is pretty normal at first, like you said, but if it sticks around longer than a week, sometimes it’s a sign of low-quality fittings. As for sustainability, making stuff last is half the battle... I’d rather do one solid repair than keep fixing chewed pipes every year.
As for sustainability, making stuff last is half the battle... I’d rather do one solid repair than keep fixing chewed pipes every year.
Couldn’t agree more—nothing like crawling under a house for the third time in a year to make you rethink your life choices. Ever tried that steel mesh sleeve stuff? It’s a pain to install but rodents seem to hate it. Wonder if copper’s worth the price hike long-term, though... anyone seen it outlast PEX in a rodent war?
Copper’s definitely tougher, but the price tag hurts. I’ve seen it hold up better than PEX when critters are determined, though. Had a neighbor who switched to copper after losing two sets of PEX in one winter—no issues since, but he grumbled about the bill for months. The steel mesh sleeves are a solid workaround if you’re not ready to rip everything out. They’re awkward to fit in tight spots, but they do seem to keep the gnawing down.
Honestly, I’d rather deal with a tricky install once than keep patching leaks every season. Just make sure you’re not trapping moisture anywhere with those sleeves—mold’s a whole different headache. Sometimes feels like you’re just picking your battles with this stuff...
