PEX plumbing system, rodent problems with it??

Generally rats will only chew through water pipes if they have been poisoned. Rat poison is a coagulant which thickens their blood, resulting in an insatiable thirst. Best way to get rid of rats is with good old fashioned rat traps, that will stop them getting desperate for water. As for PEX pipe, it would be easier for rats to chew through than copper. If you're considering the use of PEX stay away from K2 and auspex. Use Rehau, it's the most reliable cross inked polyethelene product on the market.

Pex Plumbing Problems

Pex Pipe Problems

I have the same story as Fred. We have lived in this house in Sacramento area 5 years with no problem. It is a 2 story 4200 SF home on slab foundation, stucco and tile roof. A week before Christmas we had a leak above our closet that turned out to be a Pex pipe in the attic chewed by something. The next day a major leak above my daughter's bedroom caused the ceiling to collapse. We fixed those leaks ourselves with Sharkbite connectors. We called a rat specialist and he said it was a squirrel. That company has spent many hours sealing off every possible entry point into our house, including a fist-sized hole chewed through a roof tile, with steel mesh. We have set out 6 live squirrel traps and over a dozen snap traps. Here we are now six weeks later and we are still getting new leaks every week. We have repaired over a dozen so far and have numerous holes in our walls, ceilings and floors getting to the leaks. These Pex pipes go up to the attic from the main line to a manifold, and then spread out like spaghetti in every direction and go down between walls and floors, It seems the vermin, which has eluded capture so far, has gone deeper into the house and the latest leaks have been between floors. We have not used poison, knowing that this only makes them thirsty. We, and the rat "expert", can't figure out why we can't seem to capture it, whatever it is. We turn off the water main each night and every day turn it back on and check for leaks. It has truly been a nightmare with no end in sight. I HATE PEX!!!!

Not true. We had a healthy rat get into our attic. Our home is 8 years old, concrete foundation, stucco exterior, plumbed with PEX, and never had a rodent problem before. Three weeks ago, at 4:30 am we were woken by a noise in the attic above our bedroom. Less than an hour later, I went to the kitchen to find water pouring thru the ceiling, from the sheetrock, can lights, & air registers. I got up in the attic, found water spraying from the PEX. I turned off the water, went and bought repair parts, and fixed it. Within 2 hours, we had another leak at the opposite end of the house, above our closet. More parts, another repair, and this time I called my insurance company, had a restoration come out, remove the saturated blow in insulation, damaged sheetrock, carpet padding, can lights, etc. We have a pest cotrol service that sprays the perimeter of the house every few months for spiders, so I called them. They came out and set snap traps with peanut butter in the attic. The next night, another leak, over a bathroom. Keep in mind, the attic insulation is blown in and 10" - 12" deep. I called a second pest control company who came out and set several different types of traps and bait. I started turning the water off at night, getting up in the morning, turning it back on a running up to the attic and crawling around, looking and listening for leaks, and making repairs. To date, we are almost 3 weeks into this, we've had 7 leaks and extensive damage throughout our home. I have all of the blow in insulation removed from the attic. Me and the 2nd pest control company have spent hours in the attic looking for possible entry points. We may have found one under a half circle roof vent. The flashing typically forms to the tile roof. On one of the vents, the flashing isn't tight and has a slight gap. I've screened it off, along with all of the others.There has been no activity for almost a week since the insulation was removed. An outdoor bait box around the outside perimeter of my home has had the bait eaten. Was this the same rat? What options are out there to prevent this from happening again. I've sealed off any potential points of entry. Trimmed back bushes and trees that are close to the house. Is there anything to put on the PEX pipe so they won't like it.

I currently have 3 leaks going on in my house from Rats (not poisoned ones) eating holes in the PEX piping in my attic... I live in Texas with a concrete slab, rock and brick home. The pipes all busted within days of each other and the plumber gave me the chewed on pipe to show the insurance adjuster. My entire house is having to be refloored with no clue if the problem with happen in other areas that just haven't burst yet. We have had an exterminator come out and traps are laid....

the manufacturers state that the pipe should not be installed in places where known rodent infestations exist. i dont think they love to chew it any more than other plastics, like electric cables. i have only seen a few leaks caused by rodents. once heard of an electrocuted rat.

That's a good question!

I doubt this is feasible