PEX Vs. Copper

MALCO.New.York

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ8imPmQ0js

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Ethos

It all depends. It seems like on long runs you're supposed to install rubber expansion joints, and in that case I'd imagine they'd last.

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Inner10

As much as I love cast I had a cracked piece in my hundred year old house and 3 years ago I replaced all of it with ABS. Why? Price, weight, install speed, and I don't plan on living here another hundred years.

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Cuda

Cast iron stacks are one thing but cast iron underneath a slab or in the ground is money to me

Builttolast

Sticking to the subject of the thread.

I prefer copper over PEX because it looks cleaner and more professional in my opinion. Oh yea, and a damn RODENT CANT CHEW COPPER!!!!!! (I mention that because i just recently fixed a leak in a basement where pex was used - the hole in the pipe was chewed... I dont know why, but it was...)

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Leo G

Because there was water in there for the thirsty rat to drink.

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904sorock

BuiltToLast do you think rodent/animal problem could happen on buried underground PEX?

Rich D.

In some places the unions outlawed peck because of the ease and quickness of instalation..

overanalyze

Been personally using pex for 13 plus years and requiring plumbers that we hire to use it in our new homes for 11 years. Not one problem or complaint! When done correctly you get faster hot water delivery. Have it in my own home installed with the manabloc. To me that is the way to go. We still use copper for water heater connections and shower heads and tub spouts. Also if reno is copper we will match it.

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Rich D.

Isant Orangeburg pipe failing across America?

Orlando and Tampa is estimated to have 200,000 miles of Orangeburge pipe. Pipe inspections yield egg shaped pipes and roots growing straight through.

And why not copper for pressure lines???

Builttolast

Thanks Leo, never thought of that lol

904SoRock - I personally wouldnt. I've used pex indoors, but I wouldnt run it underground. I'd go with a rigid pipe instead and under the frost line, especially where Im at in PA.

Im not as well versed with PEX as others here probably are sp my answer of using PVC might be wrong, but from what Ive seen PEX IS effective for both cost and ease of installation. I just do not like how it looks from my Point of view - liking things to be clean looking.

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Measure twice, Cut once.
If it was easy, EVERYONE would be doing this and we wouldn't have jobs.

Cole82

Pretty much feel the same way haven't seen anything other than pex in a new home since 98.

Personally have down about a dozen retro fits with pex in old homes. Never had a problem.

Depends on who installs pex on how nice it looks, some look very messy others look pretty dang good.

Google image:
pex bundles look nice

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904sorock

Looks very clean! Nobodys mentioned anything about pipe insulation, does PEX get insultated on the hot side anywhere?

KillerToiletSpider

I can install hub and spigot cast iron in about the same amount of time as plastic, it requires a lot fewer hangers on the horizontal runs.

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Inner10

Yeah the long and the short of it is I'm cheap and don't like heavy stuff.

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MikeyJP1980

I hate when people can’t read sarcasm! Orangeburg, who would ever use that?? Back to the subject. Pex is great stuff you just have to find which one works for you. There are different options. I’m a wirsbo fan. In residential it only makes sense and money to use pex in my area.

Ethos

Time for a summarized list!

Pex:

Pros:

Cheaper - Costs almost 1/10th what copper costs on materials alone, saves customer money.
Faster -Saves customer money on labor.
Longevity - Polyethylene is corrosion resistant, and has been used for a long time.
Freeze resistant.
Not a target of thieves.
Troubleshooting - Fixing a leaky joint during testing is typically as simple as re-crimping it. Often you don't even have to turn the water off.
Safety - No flames required with the exception of coming off of original copper in remodeling.
No air chambers are required as the PEX itself absorbs the sound (although some jurisdictions still require it, it is unnecessary.)

Cons:

Less durable to things like animals chewing on it.
Doesn't have the nice appearance that comes with sharp 90 degree turns unless you install extra fittings.
Not as time tested as copper.

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KillerToiletSpider

You don't need flame to solder copper.

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Carly

First time I used pex was in a 2 story house in IA, plumbed the entire house in about 6hrs by myself. Used one line to run from the manifold to the upper level shower, no fitting or connections in between, no fittings to leak. Stub out is a copper fitting so it does look "professional" to all of you who expect to see copper. Down in FL in a condo I stayed in the pex came right out of the wall on every fixture. You see it enough and it becomes the norm.

Rich D.

You can either stub out of pex with copper.. or they make chrome sleeves that slip over the pex to make it look "pretty".. either way you can hide it.. I don't know how I feel about the ridgidness of a pex stub out..