Peace of mind is worth something, even if it stings the wallet upfront.
Totally get that. I used to joke my old galvanized pipes were “self-watering” the basement. PEX has been drama-free for me too—no rodents, just reliable showers. Copper’s great, but my budget laughed at the idea.
I hear you on the budget side—copper’s like the luxury car of plumbing, but my wallet’s more used to public transit. I went through the same debate when I moved in. The inspector basically gave my pipes a “best before” date, and every time I heard a weird noise, I’d picture a geyser in the basement. Ended up going with PEX too. It’s not glamorous, but it’s been solid so far.
Honestly, peace of mind is underrated. There’s something about not worrying if your morning shower will turn into an indoor pool that just feels... right. Sure, it stings to pay upfront, but I’d rather deal with that than surprise water features in the laundry room. You made a smart call—even if your bank account needed a moment to recover.
Honestly, peace of mind is underrated. There’s something about not worrying if your morning shower will turn into an indoor pool that just feels... right.
Totally agree—having new pipes means one less thing to stress about. I went with PEX too after seeing the price tag on copper. My only hesitation was reading mixed stuff about PEX and UV exposure or rodents. Anyone run into issues with that? I wrapped mine where it’s exposed but sometimes I wonder if I’m overthinking it.
My only hesitation was reading mixed stuff about PEX and UV exposure or rodents. Anyone run into issues with that? I wrapped mine where it’s exposed but sometimes I wonder if I’m overthinking it.
Had a similar worry when I started swapping out old galvanized in a triplex. The PEX install was a breeze, but I did have one spot in a crawlspace where mice chewed through the insulation and nicked the pipe. Only happened once, but it was enough to make me double up on protection in those areas. UV-wise, as long as it’s not sitting in direct sunlight, wrapping should be plenty. Overthinking? Maybe, but after dealing with a midnight leak call, I’d rather be safe than sorry.
Had a job last winter where a homeowner had wrapped their PEX with some pretty heavy-duty insulation, thinking it’d be enough to keep the critters at bay. Turns out, the local squirrels had other ideas and chewed right through both the wrap and the pipe—left a mess in the ceiling. The thing that struck me was, the guy had gone above and beyond with protection, but rodents can be relentless if they want in. I’ve started using metal conduit or even just some scrap sheet metal around the most vulnerable spots, especially in crawlspaces or garages. It’s a pain, but it’s saved me a couple headaches since.
On the UV thing, I’ve only seen real damage when PEX is left outside for months, like on new builds where the plumbing sits exposed before siding goes up. Indoors, or even in a basement window, I haven’t seen enough sunlight get through to cause issues. I get the worry, though. After you’ve dealt with one of those “surprise leaks,” it’s hard not to overthink every possible failure point.
Curious—has anyone tried using that rodent deterrent tape? I’ve seen it recommended for car wiring, but never used it on plumbing. Wondering if it’s just snake oil or if it actually works. Or maybe I’m just getting paranoid after too many late-night calls...