The foam sleeves, I’m with you—sometimes I think it’s just giving the mice a Tempur-Pedic buffet.
That made me laugh because I literally found a mouse nest in one of those foam sleeves last month. It was like they’d built a luxury condo in my crawlspace. I’m new to all this, so I thought the foam would be a win for insulation and “protection.” Turns out, it’s more like a rodent spa package.
I’ve been eyeing those stainless braided lines too, especially for the spots where pipes are exposed in the basement. Haven’t heard of anyone having mouse issues with them, but I’m paranoid after seeing what those little guys can chew through. Has anyone actually seen a mouse get through the stainless? Or is that just me overthinking it?
Also, about the “green” PEX thing—I want to believe it’s better, but then I read something about chemicals leaching and now I’m second-guessing everything. Is copper really that much more eco-friendly, or is it just trading one problem for another? This stuff is way more complicated than I expected...
Stainless braided lines have been on my radar too, mostly because I’m tired of playing “what did the mice chew through this time?” roulette. From what I’ve read (and heard from a plumber friend), mice *can* chew through almost anything if they’re desperate, but stainless braid seems to be a pretty solid deterrent. Haven’t come across any horror stories where they actually got through the metal—plastic, yes, but not the braided stuff. I guess nothing’s 100% rodent-proof, but it feels like a safer bet than foam sleeves, which apparently just scream “luxury bedding!” to the local wildlife.
The PEX vs. copper thing is giving me decision fatigue. PEX is everywhere now, and the “green” marketing is hard to ignore, but then you hear about those chemical leaching studies and suddenly copper starts looking like the old reliable choice. But then again, mining and producing copper isn’t exactly eco-friendly either... I’m starting to think there’s no perfect answer, just trade-offs. For what it’s worth, I’ve seen some folks say PEX is fine if your water doesn’t sit stagnant in the pipes for long periods, but I haven’t found anything that feels totally definitive.
If it helps, my neighbor went all-in on copper during his remodel and hasn’t had a single mouse issue, but he did mention the cost was way higher than he expected. Meanwhile, another friend swears by PEX and says it’s been maintenance-free, but she’s on well water, so maybe that makes a difference?
Honestly, I’m leaning toward a mix—stainless braided for exposed spots, maybe PEX for the rest, and definitely ditching the foam sleeves unless I want to open a rodent B&B. This stuff is way more complicated than I thought it’d be when I bought the place... guess it’s all part of the learning curve.
Honestly, I get the appeal of stainless braided lines—mice are little Houdinis when they want to be—but I’ve actually seen a determined rodent gnaw through the *ends* where the braid meets the connector. Not common, but it happens if there’s any exposed plastic or rubber. If you’re set on PEX, just watch those transition points. And about copper—yeah, it’s pricey, but if you’re already losing sleep over leaching studies, it might be worth the peace of mind. Just don’t expect it to be a magic mouse shield... my cousin’s attic pipes are copper and the mice still found a way to chew through the insulation and nest right on top. Go figure.
Yeah, mice are relentless little jerks when they set their minds to it. I’ve had tenants swear up and down that stainless lines were “rodent-proof,” only to call me a year later with a slow leak right at the connector. It’s always the spot you think is safe, too. I’ve started wrapping those transition points with metal tape or even a bit of steel wool before covering them up—doesn’t look pretty, but it’s saved me a few headaches.
PEX is great for a lot of things, but you’re right to be cautious about the exposed bits. I’ve seen folks get creative with split loom tubing or even those cheap metal conduit sleeves from the hardware store. Not a perfect fix, but it slows the critters down.
Copper’s a whole other story. Pricey, sure, and honestly, I’m not convinced it’s worth the premium unless you’re really worried about water quality or resale value. Mice don’t care either way—they’ll just find a cozy spot in the insulation and make themselves at home. Had one rental where they chewed through the foam wrap and built a nest right on top of the hot water line. Smelled like burnt popcorn for weeks.
At the end of the day, I think you just have to pick your battles. No material is totally mouse-proof, but you can make it less inviting. Seal up gaps, keep food out of crawlspaces, and check those lines every so often. Peace of mind is worth something, but don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Had a similar run-in with mice last winter—thought I’d outsmarted them by running PEX through conduit, but they still managed to find the one spot I left exposed behind the washing machine. Came down one morning to a puddle and a very annoyed tenant. Since then, I’ve started doing a quick “rodent audit” whenever I swap out fixtures or lines. Here’s what’s worked for me:
1. For any new plumbing, I use PEX for flexibility but always cover exposed runs with split metal conduit or even leftover copper pipe sleeves if I’ve got scraps. Not pretty, but it’s tough for teeth to get through.
2. At transition points (especially under sinks), I wrap steel wool around the joints before taping them up. It’s not foolproof, but it slows them down enough that you’ll usually spot signs before there’s real damage.
3. If you’re replacing fixtures, check behind cabinets and appliances for gaps—mice love those hidden spots. A bit of expanding foam or hardware cloth goes a long way.
Honestly, copper looks nice and all, but unless you’re flipping the place or have picky buyers, it’s hard to justify the cost these days. Mice don’t care either way—they just want somewhere warm to chew on.
