How do you handle leaky pipes and clogged drains at home?

Only thing I’d say is, if you’re in a spot with rodents, maybe sleeve that PEX... learned that one the hard way.

Man, the rodent thing is real. I once had a client with a brand new PEX install - looked great until mice chewed through two lines in a week. Ended up running conduit for the whole basement. Worth the extra step if you’ve got critters around. For clogs, I’m all about enzyme drain cleaners - way less harsh than those chemical bombs.

Rodents and old houses... never a good mix. I’ve had to redo copper lines in my crawlspace after squirrels chewed through them, so I get the PEX worry. I usually run PEX inside flexible conduit or even old garden hose if I’m in a pinch - keeps the critters at bay and makes it easier to swap out if something goes wrong down the line.

For clogs, I’m with you on enzyme cleaners. I used to swear by the heavy-duty stuff, but after seeing what it did to my old cast iron pipes, I switched over. If it’s a stubborn clog, I’ll snake it first (manual auger, nothing fancy), then follow up with enzymes every month or so. Keeps things flowing without eating away at the pipes.

One thing I’d add: check those old traps and joints for leaks while you’re at it. Sometimes it’s just a loose slip nut or dried-out washer causing trouble. A little plumber’s grease goes a long way on those old threads.

Rodents are relentless, aren’t they? I swear, if there’s a way into a crawlspace, they’ll find it. I’ve never tried the garden hose trick for PEX - does it hold up pretty well over time? I’ve always worried about moisture getting trapped in there and causing more issues, but maybe I’m just overthinking it.

Enzyme cleaners have been a game changer for me too. Used to be all about the chemical stuff until I realized it was basically eating my pipes from the inside out. Now I just keep a bottle of enzymes under every sink... probably overkill, but hey, better safe than sorry.

You mentioned plumber’s grease - do you have a favorite brand? I’ve used the cheap stuff and sometimes it seems to dry out faster than it should. Also, ever had one of those old slip nuts that just refuses to tighten no matter what you do? Sometimes I feel like half my plumbing “fixes” are just creative ways to delay calling in a pro.

Garden hose over PEX - been there, tried that. Honestly, it worked for me for a couple years, but I did notice a bit of condensation inside when temps swung fast. Ended up switching to foam sleeves and that seemed to breathe better. As for plumber’s grease, I swear by the Oatey stuff. The cheap tubes always dried out or got weirdly sticky. And those stubborn slip nuts...I’ve wrapped them in Teflon tape as a last resort. Not pretty, but it buys time until I can actually fix it right.

I’ve had mixed results with the garden hose trick too. It’s clever in a pinch, but I ran into the same condensation issue you mentioned - especially during those weird spring days when it’s freezing at night and then suddenly warm by noon. Foam sleeves have been my go-to for a while now, mostly because they’re easy to cut and fit, and they seem to hold up better over time.

As for plumber’s grease, I swear by the Oatey stuff. The cheap tubes always dried out or got weirdly sticky.

Couldn’t agree more about Oatey. I tried saving a few bucks with the off-brand stuff once, and it turned into this gummy mess after a couple months. Lesson learned.

I’m curious - when you’re dealing with slip nuts that just won’t seal, have you ever tried using pipe dope instead of Teflon tape? I’ve had some luck with it on older fittings where the threads are a bit worn down. It’s not exactly pretty either, but sometimes it gets me through until I can replace the whole trap.

On the topic of leaky pipes, I’ve started keeping a roll of self-fusing silicone tape in my toolbox. It’s not a permanent fix, but it’s saved me from a few late-night disasters under the kitchen sink. Just wrap it tight and it’ll usually hold until morning.

Clogged drains are another beast entirely. I used to reach for chemical drain cleaners, but after melting through one too many cheap traps (and probably not doing my pipes any favors), I switched to an old-fashioned drain snake. It’s messy work, but at least you know what you’re pulling out... sometimes more than you bargained for.

Has anyone here tried those enzyme-based drain cleaners? I keep seeing them at the hardware store but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. Wondering if they actually help keep things flowing or if it’s just marketing hype.