Because rats like to spend a fair amount of time in the attic where heat rises, creating a warm, cozy environment there is a chance that they could chew on any electrical cables that may be laying within. When measured in terms of the Mohs hardness scale, rat incisors were found to rank at 5.5 while diamond ranks at 10 [2]. Lets check out which method will work for you. That can include headers, studs, floor joists, and even roof trusses. PEX is a great material, but insurers must protect themselves and their clients. Inspect the piping regularly for signs of damage or chewing and fix any damage immediately Install the next piece of insulation in the same way. Metal is best to protect against rodent damage. Orders will be backordered. PEX piping is used to carry hot and cold water through your water heater and throughout the home. To ward off rodents, cellulose insulations are excellent. That can mean serious damage that needs to be repaired in short order. If you have questions about specific inventory quantities, please contact your Techflex Account Representative. How to protect PEX pipes from rodents? While all rodent damage can be expensive, if rodents chew through a homes PEX water pipes, the result can be disastrous. PEX tubing and rodents - Plumbing Zone Locating the entry points that rodents are accessing is key. Fortunately, the flexible nature of PEX pipes means that you can easily access the damaged part to salvage or swap it with a better one. Definitely! That's what our company does. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. PEX pipes can be insulated against a chewing attack from rodents. How to Protect PEX Pipes From Rodents | Gray Pest Control It looks like you're using an ad blocker. One drawback of PEX tubing, however, is that it is vulnerable to rodents who may chew through the tubing to get to the water inside. Rats can chew through the copper, causing leaks and other major issues. Then my next idea was to use 3/4" electric conduit and run my 1/2" PEX pipes . Drop by drop, the damage can accumulate over weeks into a problem that can cost thousands of dollars to fix. Plumbing Code Requirements. Deciding factors for choosing between the two most common water-supply materials, PEX and copper, include ease of installation and cost. Despite a homeowners best-laid plans, most homes will house a mouse or two at some point in time, but the problem is usually resolved quickly by setting mouse traps. However, they cannot chew through traditional piping because the metal is too hard for them to bite through. Bob Vila, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day, 15 Surprisingly Simple Woodworking Projects for Beginners, 6 Beginner Ways to Use a Woodworking Router, Cult Favorites: 9 Top-Rated Amazon Products That Homeowners Swear By, 8 Things You Never See on the Dining Table Anymore. Rodents will use all clutter and debris to make a nest. 0. for legal protection and political influence. Additionally, keep water away by fixing any leaking pipes. Get free, no-commitment estimates from exterminators near you. Or you may have been too late in detecting and getting rid of the rats before they got to the plumbing.