I get the hesitation with flex lines, but have you looked into using stainless braided ones rated for in-wall use? I’ve read some of the newer ones are actually pretty reliable, though I’m still a bit skeptical about plastic over decades. Curious if anyone’s seen long-term data on PEX vs copper for water quality, too... seems like there’s always a tradeoff.
Curious if anyone’s seen long-term data on PEX vs copper for water quality, too... seems like there’s always a tradeoff.
I’ve swapped out a few old copper lines for PEX in some of my rentals, mostly because of pinhole leaks. Haven’t noticed any water quality complaints from tenants, but I do wonder about the taste over time. Stainless braided flex lines have held up fine behind vanities for me, but I still get nervous about putting them in walls—just feels like one more thing to go wrong where you can’t see it. Anyone ever had a hidden flex line fail after, say, 10+ years?
I get the hesitation about flex lines in walls, but honestly, I’d trust a properly installed stainless braided line over copper solder joints any day, especially in places with hard water. Had a copper elbow spring a leak behind drywall after 12 years—total nightmare. The flex lines I’ve checked after a decade still looked brand new. As for PEX, I’ve noticed less metallic taste compared to old copper, but maybe that’s just me.
just feels like one more thing to go wrong where you can’t see it
That’s true for any plumbing, though. At least with PEX and flex lines, you’re not dealing with corrosion or pinholes from acidic water.
Had a copper elbow spring a leak behind drywall after 12 years—total nightmare. The flex lines I’ve checked after a decade still looked brand new.
Had a similar issue when I redid our bathroom on a tight budget. Ended up using flex lines behind the wall because rerouting copper was just too much hassle (and cost). Like you said, copper can spring a leak where you least expect it. The flex lines made it easier to adjust when the sink wasn’t quite where I planned. Double-checked them after a few years—still solid. Sometimes the “one more thing to go wrong” is actually one less thing to fix down the road.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve seen copper fail in spots you’d never expect, and it’s always a pain to fix behind finished walls. Like you said,
—that flexibility is a lifesaver. Honestly, sometimes the “old school” way isn’t always the best for every situation. Sounds like you made the right call for your setup.flex lines made it easier to adjust when the sink wasn’t quite where I planned