I’m right there with you—if I’m tearing into a wall, I’m not trusting any of those old joints to behave. I’ve seen “good” copper turn into a pinhole sprinkler overnight thanks to lousy water or some hack job from the ‘80s. Sometimes it feels like you’re just buying time, not peace of mind... but at least you know what you’re dealing with.
I swear, every time I open up a wall, I half expect to find a copper pipe held together with chewing gum and hope. I get what you mean about just buying time—my house is a patchwork of “temporary” fixes from previous owners. But here’s what I keep wondering: is it actually worth replacing everything with PEX, or am I just trading one set of problems for another down the line? I hear some folks swear by it, but then you get those horror stories about rodents chewing through it...
my house is a patchwork of “temporary” fixes from previous owners
Man, I feel this in my soul. Every time I pull up a floorboard or look behind drywall, it’s like a history lesson in bad decisions. About PEX—honestly, I went back and forth for months. Copper’s solid, yeah, but unless you’re ready to drop serious cash and deal with all the soldering (and possible corrosion if your water’s rough), it’s just not realistic for most of us.
PEX has its drawbacks, no denying that. The rodent thing freaked me out too, but after talking to a few plumbers and reading way too many horror stories online, it seems like it’s only an issue if you’ve already got a rodent problem. Otherwise, it’s flexible, cheaper, and faster to install. If you’re replacing sketchy old pipes anyway, I’d say go for it—just make sure you don’t skimp on the fittings or leave any gaps critters can get into.
You’re not trading one disaster for another as long as you do it right the first time. At least that’s how I convinced myself when I tore out all the galvanized in my kitchen... fingers crossed I don’t regret it in ten years.
I get the appeal of PEX, but I’m still a little wary about its long-term durability, especially if you’re in a spot with a lot of sun exposure or weird water chemistry. I’ve seen some older PEX runs get brittle or discolored after a decade or so—maybe it’s just bad batches, but it makes me nervous. Copper’s a pain, yeah, but at least you know what you’re getting. I guess it comes down to how much you trust the install and your local conditions... I’m still on the fence for my own place.
I hear you on PEX—I've had a few rental rehabs where I thought, "Hey, this stuff is a breeze to install, why not?" Fast forward a few years, and I’m replacing a section that got weirdly chalky and brittle... turns out the attic heat cooked it. That said, I’ve also had copper pinhole itself into a sprinkler in one of my units thanks to the local water eating it alive. Nothing like a surprise indoor fountain to make you rethink your choices.
Honestly, I think every material has its Achilles’ heel. PEX hates UV and certain chemicals, copper gets eaten by aggressive water, and don’t even get me started on old galvanized. At this point, I just try to match the pipe to the house and the neighborhood—sometimes you gotta pick your poison and hope for the best. If you’re losing sleep over it, maybe just budget for a future re-pipe and call it a day...