Copper prices are wild right now, no kidding. I’ve had the same debate with myself—copper just feels sturdier for spots you can see, but PEX is so much easier to run if you’re dealing with weird angles or tight spaces. I swapped out some old rubber hoses for braided ones last year and it actually helped with a slow leak I didn’t even notice before. And yeah, that main shutoff valve can be sneaky... I’ve forgotten to open it all the way after a repair and spent way too long troubleshooting “low pressure.” Sometimes it’s the simple stuff.
Honestly, I get the appeal of copper for visible spots, but I’ve seen a few too many pinhole leaks pop up in older copper runs to fully trust it anymore. PEX might look cheap, but it’s held up better than I expected, especially in weird crawlspaces where copper just isn’t practical. Had a buddy who swapped everything to PEX after a nasty copper leak behind his kitchen wall—saved him a ton of hassle. As for shutoff valves, I swear they’re designed to mess with you... half the time, it’s the last thing I check when pressure’s off.
Copper’s got that classic look, but yeah, those pinhole leaks can sneak up on you—especially with older installs. PEX isn’t perfect, but it’s definitely easier to run in tight spots. Ever notice how shutoff valves seem to seize up right when you need them most? I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to muscle one just to get it to budge... but hey, at least you caught the pressure issue before it turned into a flood.
Ever notice how shutoff valves seem to seize up right when you need them most? I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to muscle one just to get it to budge...
That’s the story of every old building I’ve worked in. Sometimes I wonder if those valves are just decorative at this point. Out of curiosity, do you guys bother swapping out old gate valves for ball valves when you’re already in there, or just leave them unless they’re leaking? I’ve had mixed luck with both, honestly.
Sometimes I wonder if those valves are just decorative at this point.
Honestly, I’ve started treating old gate valves like they’re just part of the scenery—unless I’m already tearing into the wall for something else. Swapping them for ball valves sounds great in theory, but I’ve had a few “upgrades” seize up after a couple years too. Maybe it’s just the hard water around here, or maybe nothing lasts like it used to.
I get the temptation to leave well enough alone if it’s not leaking, but then again, the last time I gambled on that, I ended up with a flooded laundry room and a call from a very unhappy tenant. Anyone else notice ball valves sometimes get stiff if they’re not exercised every so often? Or is that just my luck?