That’s the thing with plumbing—sometimes the “rules” just don’t play out the way you expect. I’ve seen PEX run dead quiet in one house and then sound like a popcorn machine in another. Could be the way it’s fastened, or maybe the joists are just extra chatty. Honestly, I’d take a few clicks over dragging out the torch and flux any day... but yeah, silence is golden. At least you’re not chasing leaks every winter, right?
Funny thing, I actually lean the other way—sometimes I’d rather deal with copper, even if it means sweating a few joints. PEX is great for speed and flexibility, but I’ve had a couple of flips where the expansion noise drove buyers nuts. Maybe it’s just luck of the draw, or maybe older homes just “prefer” the old-school stuff. Either way, chasing silence can be just as tricky as chasing leaks...
- 100% get what you mean about PEX noise—those little “tick-tick” sounds can drive anyone up the wall, especially in a quiet house.
- Copper does have that solid, old-school feel, and honestly, I’ve noticed it’s less prone to those weird expansion pops. Downside? Yeah, sweating joints is a pain, especially in tight spots or crawlspaces.
- One thing I’ve tried: PEX with proper support and those plastic sleeves where it passes through studs. Helps a bit, but not always foolproof.
- In my last reno, I actually mixed both—PEX for runs in the basement ceiling (where noise isn’t as big a deal), copper for the verticals in living spaces. Not sure if it’s “best practice,” but it seemed to keep things quieter upstairs.
- Sometimes I wonder if older framing just transmits sound differently... or maybe we just notice it more because we’re listening for it. Either way, chasing down mystery noises is half the battle with these old houses.
Funny how you never hear about this stuff on those TV reno shows—just “look how fast we plumbed this place!” Meanwhile, we’re over here chasing ghosts in the walls...
Mixing PEX and copper is honestly a pretty practical approach, especially in these older places where you never know what you’ll find behind the walls. I’ve done the same—PEX for the long runs, copper where it matters for noise or looks. You’re right about the framing too; old wood just seems to echo every little sound. Sometimes I think half the creaks and pops are just the house settling in for another century. Anyway, you’re not alone chasing those mystery noises... it’s just part of the charm (or curse?) of these old homes.
Sometimes I think half the creaks and pops are just the house settling in for another century.
I keep hearing that, but I’m not sure I buy it—at least, not entirely. In my case, the “settling” turned out to be a loose copper bracket vibrating against a joist every time the water heater cycled. Drove me crazy for weeks before I tracked it down. I get the appeal of copper for aesthetics and rigidity, but honestly, the more rigid the material, the more it seems to transfer noise through those old beams. PEX feels a bit more forgiving, especially when you use those suspension clamps.
I guess it depends on how much the noise bugs you versus how much you care about matching the original look. For me, after a few late-night pipe bangs, I started prioritizing peace and quiet over tradition. The “charm” of old houses is definitely subjective... sometimes it just means more detective work.