Pex and rodents

greglepore · 12-23-2019, 02:46 AM

So, had two plumbing leaks simultaneously in pex piping-found two areas that had either been eaten or clawed. Has anyone had experience with raccoons or other rodents in an attic attacking pex? Any deterrent or do I just call a pest control guy?

ossiblue · 12-23-2019, 06:01 AM

Sorry, no advice but I'm following this thread. We currently have copper piping which is exposed under the house. Naturally, after 30+ years with our water quality, some leaks happen and our good friend, a plumber, recommends a PEX re-plumb. My first question to him was about rodents/vermin since that is an issue in our area and we've had them at our house in the past. I was not comforted by his reply which was, basically, yes, they can/will gnaw through the plastic pipe.

For you, I see no way to deter unless the pipe is in a protective conduit, but would that be worth it or economical? As a layman, I'd say pest control is your only prevention.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by ossiblue

For you, I see no way to deter unless the pipe is in a protective conduit

Maybe you could run it through a conduit made of relatively low-reactive metal, maybe copper? Or lead?

dad911 · 12-23-2019, 06:39 AM

Rodents chew through romex insulation also. Just replaced 100's of feet in a renovation. Yet they left the pex in this house alone. Did a number on the fiberglass insulation too. Go figure.

1st attack should be at the rodent issue.

greglepore · 12-23-2019, 06:43 AM

Yeah, thinking I need a pest guy. Must have come in thru soffit vents, will check them today. Two areas of pipe chewed to pinhole depth. Love having to pull down soggy drywall just before holiday. Thank goodness for sharkbites.

Cajundaddy · Cajundaddy's Garage

One of my daughter's 1st homes was a recent built condo with all PEX water lines. They must have used the special cheese-flavored material because she had a dozen leaks develop in her attic, resulting in soaked ceilings and a lot of damage. Because it was a common attic for the complex and some less-than-tidy renters in one of the other units, she had limited control over the pest problem and had to re-pipe all of her unit with copper. Not fun.

pwd72s · 12-23-2019, 10:08 AM

I'd been thinking of a repipe with pex. Thanks to this thread, think I'll change my thinking. Rural area, no shortage of raccoons, various rodents, skunks, etc. Let 'em try to chew through old fashioned galvanized pipe...

A930Rocket · 12-23-2019, 10:23 AM

I’ve been using PEX for 25 years. No problems to date that I know of.

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

had never considered this. makes sense though cause they chew on any & everything....

john70t · 12-23-2019, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

Because it was a common attic for the complex and some less-than-tidy renters in one of the other units, she had limited control over the pest problem

Look at the documents specifying the association maintaining "common areas".
They may specify everything outside of interior wall.

She might have recourse to get her damage costs covered.

In my condo case, I had two bedroom ceilings plus kitchen almost collapsing from roof leaks over years. This was because the management company already "fired" unanimously by owners was going up and digging holes in the roof with shovels. This was ostentatiously on instructions of the majority owner/developer who had committed grand larceny on paper and was being sued by the board I was unanimously on and unfortunately had to lead. A corrupt insider court system, conflict of interest and fraud by prominent local attorneys in line for judgehood, plus lack of moral fortitude by owners, led to my first home purchased with all the money my grandfather left me being fraudulently stolen. Twice just before Christmas. Timing is everything. I will never forgive never forget.

greglepore · 12-23-2019, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I’ve been using PEX for 25 years. No problems to date that I know of.

So had I, in other homes, without issue. Odd thing is that most of this house is Qwest piped, which is known to be an issue with deterioration, but it's been fine. This was a random event. Talked to my plumber after I fixed it, he said he's see a fair amount in barns etc but never before in a house, but a google search sure shows its more common than you might believe.
Just went out and examined soffit, seems intact, so no idea what was up there or how it got there.

john70t · 12-23-2019, 10:44 AM

Wish that PEX was factory-equipped with a shielding like BX wire.
Wish there was an aftermarket split-tube available, with plastic covered edges and plastic/rubber interior to insulate and protect.

LakeCleElum · 12-23-2019, 10:54 AM

I met an insurance adjuster that said water damage claims due to pex/rodents were quite common.....Never had one chew thru my copper.......

Bugsinrugs · 12-23-2019, 01:32 PM

In my case the copper piping in my house was developing pin hole leaks because my well water is on the acidic side.
I was thinking about pex but never thought about the rodent perspective.

Bill Douglas · 12-23-2019, 05:49 PM

If you guys do ever use copper. make sure it is proper domestically made copper. Chinese make copper will fail.

Our local (big) hospital had put in some new buildings that were plumbed with supposedly certified chinese made copper that has failed on a mammoth scale and the place needs to be half wreaked to replace it.

HardDrive · 12-23-2019, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

If you guys do ever use copper. make sure it is proper domestically made copper. Chinese make copper will fail.

Our local (big) hospital had put in some new buildings that were plumbed with supposedly certified chinese made copper that has failed on a mammoth scale and the place needs to be half wreaked to replace it.

What?! A Chinese product that cost less, that ends up being a giant piece of garbage in the end? I have never heard of such a thing!

Bill Douglas · 12-24-2019, 01:21 AM

LOL Yeah, who'd have thought

Cajundaddy · Cajundaddy's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

In my case the copper piping in my house was developing pin hole leaks because my well water is on the acidic side.
I was thinking about pex but never thought about the rodent perspective.

This is common with well water and pretty easy to solve. There are systems that add a little baking soda or NaOH to your water to raise the pH enough and put a slight protective scale inside the pipes. Maintain the pH at 7.2 and your copper pipes will last forever.

Flint MI was plumbed 80 years ago with a lot of lead pipe. The well established water treatment made sure that the pH stayed above 7.2 so the pipes developed a protective scale that effectively kept the lead out of the water. Foolish politicians changed the source water for Flint to save money and drastically cut the water treatment staff who knew how to carefully manage the pH, resulting in stripping out the scale and exposing the public to a lot of lead in the drinking water. It was a disaster easily avoided.