Have you been thinking about repiping your home lately? Are
your home’s pipes damaged or corroded? If so, you may be wondering whether you
should use pex or copper to get the job done correctly.
In this article, we’ll talk about the differences between
pex and copper pipes so you can make a more informed choice. We’ll also go
through the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you answer the
questions about whether to choose pex or copper for your repiping job?
Pex vs Copper Pipes – The Difference Between the Two
Materials
Don’t worry if you have no idea which type of pipe to use in
your home! There are really only two options and neither one is the wrong
choice; each material has its pros and cons.
Pex piping is a flexible material that’s easy for plumbers
to install. It’s made of cross-linked polyethylene, which ranges in size from
1/4-inch to 4-inch, but 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch are the most commonly used sizes. Most pex that you see
comes in red or blue and relates to whether the water in hat section is hot (red)
or cold (blue).
Pros of Using pex pipe vs copper
* Pex piping has fewer joints, which lowers your overall
repiping cost
* Pex can be used with hot and cold water
* Pex has a higher resistance to breaking during extreme cold
weather, so it’s less likely to burst, since it’s a much more flexible material
* Pex has a shutoff valve at each supply line (which is convenient
in the event of repairs)
* Lower shipping and handling costs, as pex pipes are stored
on spools and weigh less
* Cross-linked polyethylene can turn 90 degree corners and
doesn’t require plumbers to use elbow fittings
* Pex piping is safer to install (it doesn’t require a torch
to make connections)
* It more efficiently keeps heat inside
As you can see, there are many advantages to using pex
piping within your home; however, there are also many advantages to using
copper pipes within your home.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of using copper in your
repiping job…
Advantages of Using copper pipes
Copper pipes have been used by plumbers for quite a long
time for hot and cold tap water, as well as within home HVAC systems. There is
soft copper and rigid copper, both of which are ideal for different piping
purposes.
Soft copper is ideal for air conditioners and heat pumps;
rigid copper is more commonly used for water lines, as it can be heated and
bent without cracking.
The pex or copper debate – a few reasons to choose copper
* Copper is the only material that comes with a 50-year
warrantee from the manufacturer
* For more than 70 years, plumbers have been successfully
using copper for piping
* More than 80% of modern homes are built using copper piping
* Copper is a natural material that’s environmentally
friendly; you can count on it staying in good condition, even years after being
installed
* Color coding makes it easy to know which pipes are hot and
cold (again, red is hot, blue is cold)
* Copper fittings create joints that are leak proof when
they’re installed properly
* In the event of a fire, copper tubing will not give off any
toxic gases
* Copper tubing prevents harmful bacteria from growing
* You can use copper outside, as it’s not affected by ultraviolet
rays
Pex pipe vs copper – the disadvantages to consider
Now that we’ve gone through the advantages of using both pex
material and copper material when repiping your home, let’s be sure we cover
all the bases by looking at the disadvantages of both.
Cons of using pex
* Pex piping can’t be used outside
* Water damage is possible, as the material is not impermeable
(copper is)
* As far as sustainability, pex cannot be recycled after use
Cons of using copper
* Copper can corrode over time
* In cold weather, copper pipes can freeze and burst
* Copper is more expensive than pex (pex costs 1/3 of what copper
costs)
As you can see, there are good reasons to use pex piping in
your home, as well as good reasons to use copper piping in your home.
If you’re performing the repiping job yourself, you would
have an easier time using pex piping material. If you’re hiring a professional plumbing company to get the
job done, copper may be a better choice since it requires soldering, or
connecting pipes together using a propane torch.
After reading this detailed article, we hope you’re walking
away with a better understanding of the differences between pex and copper
piping. In the end, it’s up to you! Just be sure to consider the pros and cons
of each material before investing. Ultimately, if you have any questions or
need help choosing, ask your friendly, professional plumbing friends at Anthony’s Plumbing. We are here 24/7 and if we can’t take your call [because we’re out in
the field], we will be sure to get to you as soon as possible.
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