I get what you’re saying about copper lasting ages, but I’ve actually seen some pretty gnarly pinhole leaks in houses that weren’t even that old. Maybe it’s the water around here, or maybe just bad luck? PEX seems less fussy about corrosion, but yeah, those fittings are a gamble if you cheap out. Honestly, I’m still torn on which is “better”—feels like there’s always a tradeoff somewhere.
Man, I hear you on the pinhole leaks. I once bought a duplex thinking the copper was “good for life”—fast forward two years and I’m patching leaks like a plumber on speed dial. Turns out, the water in some areas just eats copper for breakfast. PEX is tempting, but those cheap fittings are like playing Russian roulette with your basement ceiling. Honestly, I just cross my fingers and budget for surprises... pipes are like the lottery, but with more water damage.
- Been there—my 1920s place still has some original galvanized lurking in the walls.
- Copper was supposed to be the “forever” pipe, right? Tell that to the green stains under my sink.
- PEX is like dating someone new: seems great, but you’re always waiting for the first big fight (or flood).
- I swear, every time I open a wall, it’s a plumbing time capsule.
- Anyone else ever try those epoxy pipe liners? I’m half convinced they’re just fancy Band-Aids...
- Curious—has anyone actually had PEX fail, or is it just the horror stories that get around?
Honestly, I think the horror stories about PEX get blown out of proportion. I’ve put in a fair amount over the years and haven’t had a single failure—biggest issues I’ve seen were from bad crimps or someone using the wrong fittings, not the pipe itself. Copper’s great until your water eats it alive from the inside out. Galvanized is just a ticking time bomb for rust. Epoxy liners... I’m with you, feels like slapping a patch on a sinking ship. Sometimes just ripping it all out is less headache in the long run, even if it’s a pain upfront.
Epoxy liners... I’m with you, feels like slapping a patch on a sinking ship.
That’s exactly how I feel about those liners. I tried one in a rental years ago—total regret. It just delayed the inevitable and cost me more in the long run. I hear people bash PEX but honestly, like you said, most problems are installer error. Copper sounds great until you start seeing those pinhole leaks from aggressive water chemistry. At least with PEX you don’t have to worry about the whole thing turning into Swiss cheese overnight.