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Cat chews through steel flex toilet supply line

D107
D107 Member Posts: 1,906
Just spotted a leak after we knew our cat's been chewing on the line for a few months. Rather than have a plumber put in the old-style hard bent pipe line, is there a particularly durable flex line out there? Or should I coat a new one with grease or something the cat won't like. When the plumber put in the toilet I told him my concerns about the cat and he said, 'nah, cats don't do that.' not in most cases maybe....
vaporvac

Comments

  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,501
    If the cat gt through a stainless braided line I think the only alternative is the old style hard copper line.

    Many noons ago I came home from work and headed up to do some work on the old 286 computer (running DOS 5.0). The machine booted up just fine but when I tried to use the mouse I found the cord had been chewed in half. Back in 1990 a computer mouse cost $70 so I repaired the cable and kept the door to that room closed when I wasn't using it.

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
    D107
  • vaporvac
    vaporvac Member Posts: 1,520
    Gee guys, they sell cat food where I live! Those are some hard-core kitties. :smiley:
    Two-pipe Trane vaporvacuum system; 1466 edr
    Twinned, staged Slantfin TR50s piped into 4" header with Riello G400 burners; 240K lead, 200K lag Btus. Controlled by Taco Relay and Honeywell RTH6580WF
  • D107
    D107 Member Posts: 1,906
    Thanks Bob C. You say old copper line--what was there before looked like chrome, maybe 3/8" pipe from shutoff valve up to the tank. Was that copper? It is copper from below the floor to the shutoff valve.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,718
    David107 said:

    Thanks Bob C. You say old copper line--what was there before looked like chrome, maybe 3/8" pipe from shutoff valve up to the tank. Was that copper? It is copper from below the floor to the shutoff valve.

    That's the stuff. With some care you can do a nice job of fitting it.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    D107Zman
  • D107
    D107 Member Posts: 1,906
    Jamie you mean the chrome-ish material not the regular copper below the valve, right? A cinch for a plumber, but the tubing has to be bent yes to meet the tank connection straight on. That's what I'd probably have trouble with. Looks much nicer than a flex line.
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,501
    Bending it to line up is a little tricky but once it lines up it's usually good for 50 years. Just remember if you ever take it apart you have to use a new ferrule because if you try and use the old one they almost always leak. The bent pipe will last almost forever as long as you use a new ferrule if you take it apart.

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
    D107
  • kcopp
    kcopp Member Posts: 4,465
    lose the cat....
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,268
    A 3/8" OD bending spring is ideal for forming that tubing. Not too pricey either. (Cheaper than cat food) ;) . If you have to pull the WC for flooring it is simpler to loosen the nut at the tank, then the ferrule does not have to be tampered with. You can get new cone rubbers for the tank connection if needed.....if you cut the old ferrule off than you lose about a 1/2" or more of length on the tube. If the supply comes thru the floor and has any give to raise up I would always make the tube a touch short so as to give good pull on the tank which gives a little more stability.
    D107
  • jonny88
    jonny88 Member Posts: 1,139
    hope you don't have pex behind the walls-good mouse food but your ok the cat will get the mouse so all you gotta do is hard pipe your fixtures
    D107
  • Harvey Ramer
    Harvey Ramer Member Posts: 2,261
    Sprinkle some red pepper or cayenne pepper on the line. It is an excellent deterrent. The cat will only taste your plumbing one more time.
    D107
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,502
    You need a chrome plated tank supply. Buy a nice rigid tubing bender and 3 or 4 of them and have fun. OR. Hire a pro . Never been a fan of "no burst" hoses...Seen too much damage from.them when they fail. Mad Dog
    D107
  • jonny88
    jonny88 Member Posts: 1,139
    Ridgid tubing bender what you talking about?????
    I see plumbers bend with their hands didnt know there was a tool.(joking).
    D107
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,280
    I always bend them by hand.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    D107
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,268
    edited May 2015
    Depends upon how short and how drastic of offset needed.
    A little egg shaping where the compression nut goes causes grief.
    The spring bender is petty economical.
    D107ChrisJ
  • D107
    D107 Member Posts: 1,906
    edited June 2015
    Just to report back, I removed the old flex line, put in a new one for now and rubbed cayenne pepper all over it and made sure my cats licked it once, upon which they shook their heads and I haven't seen them near it since. I assume there's no way they could puncture a chrome-plated tank supply--which cayenne couldn't stick to.
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,280
    David107 said:

    Just to report back, I removed the old flex line, put in a new one for now and rubbed cayenne pepper all over it and made sure my cats licked it once, upon which they shook their heads and I haven't seen them near it since. I assume there's no way they could puncture a chrome-plated tank supply--which cayenne couldn't stick to.

    I don't think anyone could make any promises, but I assume a cat couldn't puncture one. It's chrome plated soft copper.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    D107