Did I accidentally drill into a PEX water pipe?
Asked by DIY_Dabbler123
I'm new to DIY projects and living in Canada. While I was drilling into my drywall to put up some drywall anchors, I hit something bouncy that felt weird when I poked it with an Allen wrench. It seems to resist drilling at about 2 to 3 inches deep, and I noticed similar resistance 2 feet away horizontally. I'm worried that I might have drilled into a PEX water pipe. How can I know for sure if I've hit a water pipe or not?
Answers
It could also be a duct. Sometimes air vents or ducts can give that bouncy feeling when you drill into them!
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If you didn't turn off the water first and you hit a pipe, you’d probably see water leaking out. Also, if you're in a condo, you might have hit electrical conduit instead!
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You could grab a small inspection camera; they’re pretty affordable now, around $20. Really useful for checking what's going on behind your walls without creating a big mess!
CuriousCameron: Totally, or you can just shove your cell phone camera against the wall to peek inside!
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WorriedWendy: Yeah, sounds like it could be electrical rather than plumbing, so be cautious!