Can Rodents Chew Through PEX Tubing?
Rodents can easily chew through PEX tubing. Rats and mice have powerful teeth that continuously grow, requiring them to gnaw on various materials—including plastic piping like PEX. While PEX is durable against corrosion and freezing, it is not immune to sharp rodent teeth.
Rodents are particularly drawn to PEX in certain situations. If there is a small leak or condensation, they may chew through the pipe to access water. This can quickly escalate into a significant plumbing issue if left unchecked. Additionally, some rodents use pieces of chewed plastic for nest building, further increasing the risk of damage to your home's PEX tubing.
In some cases, rodents gnaw on PEX simply out of instinct, as chewing helps keep their teeth filed down. Even if there are no leaks or nesting concerns, the presence of rodents alone can put PEX pipes at risk.
How Can I Tell If Rodents Have Damaged My PEX Pipes?
Detecting rodent damage to PEX pipes early can prevent major plumbing issues to your freshwater lines. Here are some easy signs to watch for:
- Visible Bite Marks or Holes: Inspect exposed PEX pipes for signs of gnawing, which may appear as rough edges or punctures.
- Unexplained Water Leaks: A sudden drop in water pressure or unexplained moisture around walls or floors may indicate a rodent-chewed pipe.
- Noises Within Walls: Scratching, rustling, or scurrying sounds near plumbing may suggest rodent activity.
- Rodent Droppings or Nesting Materials: If you find rodent droppings near plumbing areas, it may indicate they've been gnawing on your pipes.
If you suspect rodent damage, it's best to have your plumbing inspected by a professional before a small issue turns into a costly repair.
How to Protect Pipes From Rodents
There are two main options when it comes to protecting your home's plumbing from rodents:
Protective Measures for PEX
To safeguard PEX pipes from rodent damage, homeowners can implement protective measures such as encasing PEX tubing in metal conduits, sealing potential rodent entry points, and actively managing rodent populations with traps or bait.
Additionally, securing PEX in areas that are harder for rodents to access, such as behind walls or within insulated barriers, can further reduce the risk of damage. Ensuring your attic space has rodent-proof screens for open vent holes can also keep rodents from damaging your home's PEX tubing.
Repiping With Rodent-Proof Alternatives
While PEX is the most popular plumbing choice for many of our customers, homeowners in rodent-prone areas who have extensive rodent problems may want to consider alternative materials. For homeowners seeking a rodent-proof alternative, copper piping stands out as the most reliable choice.
Unlike PEX, copper is a metal that rodents cannot chew through, eliminating the risk of damage from gnawing. Copper offers long-term reliability and resistance to rodent interference, making it a worthwhile investment for homes in areas with persistent rodent activity.
We use American Made Type L Copper Pipe for all of our copper repipes. If you are worried about rodent infestations affecting your home's plumbing, we recommend upgrading to copper for better long-term protection. For more information, we have an article that breaks down the many advantages of using copper pipe.
Contact us to have one of our local repipe consultants explain your copper repipe options and provide you with a consultation and quote, either in-home or remotely.
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At Repipe Specialists, we've replaced plumbing damaged by rodents in homes across the USA using copper pipe. Our customers consistently share positive feedback about their repipe experiences, often noting that we exceed expectations in:
- Speed: Our repipe crews typically complete a repipe in a day, returning on another day for wall patching.
- Convenience: Through our One-Stop Repipe™ Process, we handle everything from permits, to wall patching, to inspections.
- Cleanliness: Our crews are trained to protect your home while working (we cover all surfaces with protective sheeting), and to clean up fully at the end of each day.
- Peace of Mind: Repipe Specialists is a fully licensed plumber in every state we operate in, and we back all of our repipes with a lifetime warranty.
- Financing programs: To help take the sting out of unplanned repipe expenses, we offer several financing programs.
- Price: As a specialist that performs hundreds of repipes a week, we can deliver high quality repipes at a lower cost vs generalist plumbers. Our quotes typically range from $4,500 to $15,000 depending on the size and complexity of your project. We have an article that covers repipe cost factors in detail.
Schedule a free in-home consult, and one of our local repipe consultants will explain all your repipe options and provide you with a written, fixed-price quote. Stop rodents, repipe with copper.