I've seen copper pinholes plenty of times too, but honestly, most of those issues come down to water chemistry or grounding problems rather than the pipe itself. If your city water is heavily chlorinated, that can definitely accelerate corrosion in copper. But I've also found that proper grounding and bonding can make a huge difference in preventing those pesky leaks.
PEX is convenient, sure, but it's not bulletproof either. I've had to replace sections of PEX that got damaged by rodents—something copper usually doesn't have to worry about. Also, while brittleness might not show up in just 10 years, I've seen some older PEX installations (15-20 years) start to get a bit stiff and less flexible, especially near fittings or where exposed to temperature fluctuations.
If you're DIYing a bathroom fix-up and feel comfortable working with copper, I'd still lean toward it for long-term reliability—just make sure your electrical grounding is solid and maybe consider adding a whole-house water filter if chlorine levels are high. But if ease of installation and cost savings are your priority, PEX is hard to beat. Just keep an eye out for potential vulnerabilities like rodents or UV exposure if any pipes run outdoors or through crawl spaces.
I just went through this exact debate a few months back when I redid my guest bath. Copper felt like the "grown-up" choice, but after practicing soldering in the garage (and nearly setting my workbench on fire...), I decided PEX was more my speed. Definitely easier for a rookie, but yeah, already spotted some squirrel teeth marks in the crawlspace—little jerks. Guess you pick your poison!
"Definitely easier for a rookie, but yeah, already spotted some squirrel teeth marks in the crawlspace—little jerks."
Haha, squirrels are the worst...found out the hard way myself. Went with PEX too since soldering looked like a recipe for disaster (and insurance claims). One tip: invest in some metal sleeves or conduit where the lines are exposed. Keeps those furry vandals from turning your plumbing into a chew toy. Learned that after my neighbor's basement flooded thanks to rodent sabotage.
PEX is definitely a lifesaver for DIY plumbing, but I gotta admit, I was pretty skeptical at first. Seemed too good to be true—no soldering, easy fittings, flexible tubing...what's the catch, right? But after a couple years, it's held up surprisingly well. Still, rodents are no joke. Learned that lesson myself when I found tiny teeth marks all over the insulation in my attic. Little buggers seem to have a taste for anything expensive.
If you're running PEX through any exposed areas or crawlspaces, here's what worked for me:
1. First, measure out exactly where your lines will run. Don't eyeball it—trust me, you'll regret it later when you're crawling around in the dirt trying to fix things.
2. Grab some metal conduit or even just metal sleeves specifically made for protecting plumbing lines. They're pretty cheap at most hardware stores.
3. Slide your PEX tubing through the metal sleeves BEFORE you connect fittings or secure anything in place. Trying to retrofit protection afterward is a nightmare.
4. Secure the conduit or sleeves firmly to joists or studs with clamps or brackets. Loose conduit rattles around and can actually attract curious critters.
5. Finally, seal up any gaps or entry points into your crawlspace or basement. Steel wool and expanding foam combo works wonders—rodents hate chewing through steel wool.
I know some folks say metal sleeves are overkill, but after seeing my neighbor's basement turn into an indoor swimming pool thanks to rodent sabotage, I'm not taking chances. Plus, it's a small price to pay for peace of mind.
One last thing—don't underestimate squirrels. They look cute, but they're basically fluffy-tailed vandals with zero respect for your home improvement efforts. Good luck with your project...and your furry adversaries.
Great tips overall, especially the steel wool trick—rodents really do hate that stuff. Learned that the hard way after a mouse decided my dishwasher hose was a gourmet snack...fun times.
One thing I'd add from my own DIY adventures: don't skimp on the clamps or brackets when securing your conduit. I thought I'd save a few bucks once by spacing them out further apart, and ended up with rattling pipes every time someone turned on the shower. Drove me nuts until I crawled back under there to fix it.
Also, you're totally right about squirrels. Had one chew through some wiring in my attic last winter. Cute little vandal cost me half a weekend and way too much money at Home Depot.
Anyway, PEX is still my go-to for plumbing fixes, but yeah, protecting it properly is key. Better safe than swimming in your basement...
