I get where you’re coming from on the epoxy liners. I looked into them when we first started having issues with our old galvanized lines, and the pitch was always “quick fix, less mess.” But after reading up and talking to a couple plumbers, it just seemed like a band-aid. The cost wasn’t that much less than a proper repipe, and if you’re already spending that kind of money, why not do it right? Plus, I’ve heard stories about the liner peeling or not adhering well, especially if the pipes are already in rough shape.
On the PEX vs. copper debate, I used to be firmly in the copper camp—just felt more “solid,” you know? But after seeing a neighbor deal with pinhole leaks (and the water in our area is pretty aggressive), I started rethinking things. PEX does have its quirks—like, I’m still not wild about the idea of plastic in the walls—but it’s hard to argue with how easy it is to install and how forgiving it is if you need to make changes later. Installer skill really does seem to be the deciding factor. I’ve seen some pretty sketchy PEX jobs with kinks and bad crimps, but when it’s done right, it seems to hold up.
One thing I do wonder about is long-term durability. Copper has a track record going back decades, while PEX is still kind of the new kid on the block. But at this point, I’d rather take my chances with PEX than risk another round of leaks and water damage. At least if something goes wrong, it’s usually a localized fix instead of tearing out half the house.
If I had to do it over again, I’d probably skip the “quick fixes” and just budget for a full replacement. It’s painful upfront, but in the long run, it saves a lot of headaches... and probably money too.
copper debate, I used to be firmly in the copper camp—just felt more “solid,” you know? But after seeing a neighbor deal with pinhole leaks (and the water in our area is pretty aggressive), I...
I hear you on the “quick fix, less mess” angle. I’ve had a few properties where epoxy liners were pitched as a magic bullet, but like you said, the upfront cost isn’t that much less than a full repipe and the long-term risk just doesn’t pencil out.
On PEX vs. copper, I used to think copper was the gold standard, but aggressive water can really eat through it. PEX is definitely more forgiving, especially for retrofits. One thing I’m still not 100% sold on is how PEX handles UV exposure during install—seen a couple cases where it got brittle way faster than expected. But for most indoor applications, it’s hard to beat the flexibility and speed.
Curious if anyone’s tracked actual failure rates over 20+ years for PEX? Copper’s got the history, but PEX seems to be holding up okay so far.
I’m with you on the PEX flexibility—makes those weird retrofits way less stressful. I do wonder about long-term stuff too, though. My neighbor’s copper lasted 30+ years before the leaks started, but I’ve only had PEX for about 8. Anyone else notice it gets a little squeaky when the water’s hot? Maybe that’s just my house settling...