PVC can definitely get brittle, but I've seen polyethylene tubing get chewed through by rodents pretty easily—especially squirrels. Had one homeowner whose entire system leaked because squirrels gnawed through the polyethylene lines looking for water. Copper piping costs a bit more upfront, but it solves both issues: handles freezing temps well and critters usually won't touch it. Just something else to think about...
- Good point about the squirrels, hadn't even thought about critters chewing through polyethylene lines. Had a tenant once whose drip irrigation got completely wrecked by raccoons—guess they were thirsty too.
- Copper definitely seems like a solid choice, especially if you're in an area prone to freezing. But have you had any issues with corrosion over time? I've seen copper pipes get pinhole leaks after several years, especially if the water's slightly acidic.
- Wondering if anyone's tried burying polyethylene deeper or using conduit to protect it from rodents? Might be cheaper than copper and still keep the critters away...
- Either way, appreciate the heads-up on rodents—definitely something I'll factor into my next rain harvesting setup.
Had similar issues with rodents chewing through poly lines. Ended up burying mine about 18 inches deep and sleeving them in cheap PVC conduit—no problems since. Copper's nice, but the cost adds up quick...
"Ended up burying mine about 18 inches deep and sleeving them in cheap PVC conduit—no problems since."
That's a solid approach. PVC conduit is definitely a cost-effective solution, and burying lines deeper usually does the trick. I once had a client whose rain harvesting setup turned into an all-you-can-eat buffet for squirrels. Those little critters chewed through practically everything—poly lines, insulation, even some thin aluminum flashing. We jokingly called them "the demolition crew."
Eventually, we went with a similar solution: buried the lines about two feet down and used flexible metal conduit instead of PVC. Slightly pricier, but still way cheaper than copper and it provided peace of mind. Plus, rodents seem to lose interest pretty quick when metal's involved.
Speaking of copper though, it's true—beautiful material, lasts forever, but your wallet might not thank you afterward. Still, I've seen some setups where folks use copper selectively, just at critical junctions or exposed areas where aesthetics matter. It can be a nice compromise between cost and durability.
One thing I've wondered about lately is maintenance access. Burying lines deep solves the rodent issue nicely, but have you considered how easy it'll be to troubleshoot or repair if something else goes wrong down the road? I had one homeowner who buried everything super deep and regretted it when he had to dig it all back up after an unexpected freeze cracked a fitting underground. Maybe adding inspection points or access boxes at key spots could help?
Curious if anyone's experimented with other rodent deterrents beyond conduit—like repellents or ultrasonic devices—and had any success.
Yeah, PVC conduit buried around 18 inches is usually good enough for most setups. I've done something similar at my place—no critter issues so far, knock on wood. But I agree with the point about access. Had a customer last year who buried everything nice and deep, then had a fitting pop loose after heavy rains shifted the ground. It was a nightmare digging it all back up to find that one small leak.
What I've started doing lately is adding junction boxes or inspection points every 10-15 feet or so, especially around elbows or fittings that might fail under stress. Makes troubleshooting way easier if something does go wrong. And honestly, it's not much extra effort or cost upfront.
Never had much luck with ultrasonic devices myself—seems like rodents just get used to them after a while. But peppermint oil spray has worked surprisingly well for some folks I know...go figure. Still wouldn't rely on repellents alone without conduit protection though—better safe than sorry.
