It was Inevitable

[sms]

Hard and or low PH water will damage copper pipes.
Low PH is even bad for your health when using copper pipes as it will leach the copper out of the pipe and deposit it in your drinking water.
Around here if you are on a private well you need to either treat your water or stay away from copper pipes.

Mom lived to 90 and lived in the house for 70 years.

 

[JMOR]

Pex....and he wasn't much larger than my thumb!

 

[TerryfromSWIowa]

It has to be CPVC for water lines, especially hot water.

Wrong PVC is rated to 140° Most water heaters are only 100° to 120° CPVC is rated up to 200°

 

[Dusty MI]

I'm thinking that the pipe was just in the rodents way.

 

[olddavid]

I'm thinking that the pipe was just in the rodents way.

I'm thinking that was the case of the mouse that chewed through the neutral of a Romex cable in my house. I think he was trying to enlarge the hole the Romex went through. I've heard that mice don't like the later Romex but if it's in their way.... I never dreamed they would chew a copper wire in two.

 

[Blackhole49]

Mom lived to 90 and lived in the house for 70 years.

And some people smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a day and live to 100. Doesn't change my opinion.

 

[sms]

And some people smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a day and live to 100. Doesn't change my opinion.

Yup, probably cut her life short. However I do agree with you.

 

[JMOR]

I'm thinking that was the case of the mouse that chewed through the neutral of a Romex cable in my house. I think he was trying to enlarge the hole the Romex went through. I've heard that mice don't like the later Romex but if it's in their way.... I never dreamed they would chew a copper wire in two.

Exactly. They sense the air coming thru hole that pipe passed thru and chew until big enough to pass thru and pex chews easier than wood.

 

[Eman85]

Wrong PVC is rated to 140° Most water heaters are only 100° to 120° CPVC is rated up to 200°

Check codes, your results may vary.

 

[scootergmc]

Anecdotal experience here: Growing up I had a pet rat. I used to let it out of its cage and run around my room. It would chew on anything plastic. Anecdotal advice: Don't have a pet rat.

 

[Brian G. NY]

Exactly. They sense the air coming thru hole that pipe passed thru and chew until big enough to pass thru and pex chews easier than wood.

Exactly......When I rewired my in-law's old farm house I found two places where mice had chewed thru the wire where it passed thru a beam.
I came to the same conclusion; the mice were trying to enlarge the hole so they could pass thru and found chewing on the wire was easier than chewing on the oak beams.
Real lucky the old place didn't burn down.
I packed dum-dum around the wire at each place where it passed thru a hole which I hope is a deterrent.

 

[miangus]

1974 vintage CPVC no leaks yet.

 

[Indiana Ken]

Couldn't sleep, so decided to look at some ways, other than metallic conduit, to protect house wiring.......................

I came across this.

The One Drawback of PEX Pipe Even Plumbers Didn't See Coming

Discover why PEX tubing is a popular choice for water-supply systems and learn how to protect it from its one kryptonite: rodents.

www.bobvila.com

Our house supply lines are almost 100% PEX. Same with the doublewide.

I wondered about it some time back. The doublewide has been vacant for almost 12yrs, and it's been infiltrated by rats. Worst yet........the supply lines probably run underneath the floor(I think......not sure). This could be a disaster in the making. I need to go over there, and pressure test the damn system. It's gonna be sold soon...................can't do it with leaky pipes.

I've always lived in a home with copper pipes, until moving into this place 30+yrs ago. I never liked anything but copper.....more of "it's always been copper, and should always be copper". I don't like change. Change is usually for the worse..................and here ya go. Now ya gotta worry about rodents ruining your plumbing.

Makes sense.................stupid not to realize that anything, other than metal, is worth a damn.

How to Rodent-Proof PEX Pipe: Tips and Tricks - Pest Control IQ

If you’re looking to protect your PEX pipes from rodents, you’re not alone. Rodents, particularly mice and rats, are known to cause damage to PEX pipes by chewing through them. This can lead to leaks, water damage, and costly repairs. However, there are steps you can take to rodent-proof your...

pestcontroliq.com

Interesting article...........but it still boils down to old line deterrents View attachment 101866 We haven't seen, or heard, a mouse in the house since the little heathen took up residence. I think the protection is beginning at the perimeter where she roams during the day, but I'm sure her presence in the house has telegraphed to the any of the "community" that might have remained.

I have a suggestion: If you mount the toilet paper holder lower to the floor, the cat can get a sheet without damaging the entire roll. Sorry, I could not resist.....