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Of the the three major pipes used in residential homes, PEX is the least expensive and the easiest to install, (though CPVC is very close in price of materials.) These are the two most desirable aspects of PEX. PEX is a dream to install, there is no glue or solder involved in connecting the joints and the pipe is the most flexible of the three, making installation much easier. So what’s the catch? Of the the three pipes, PEX is arguably the most controversial. There is definitely less confidence in the safety of PEX, in terms of the chemical contamination of the water at the faucet and shower. Each of the three pipes has this issue to some degree. We only recommend using PEX-A and not PEX-B. PEX-B has joint couplings that reduce the water flow and really doesn’t make sense to use over PEX-A. PEX-A has become the go-to product of choice, when copper is not an option.
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Since copper piping has been found in archeological sites as early as 2400 BC in Egypt, I think we can safely say, copper pipe is the oldest technology of the three. Copper pipe started being used in the 1930’s in homes in the United States. By the early 1960’s, copper pipe became the pipe of choice for residential homes by contractors throughout the country. It is generally thought of as the most reliable of the three, because there is a longer history of residential use and it is a metal product, instead of plastic. A main difference between the three products, is that copper is a mined and smelted metal material that is also traded on the stock market, and CPVC and PEX are chemically created plastic products. This is the reason why copper pipe is the most expensive of the three. In addition, copper pipe is the most labor intensive of the three to install, also adding to the overall cost of the repipe job.
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Surprisingly, PVC plastic (PolyVinylChloride), was discovered as early as 1838. PVC pipe however, wasn’t really implemented until the early 1950’s mostly in the landscaping business, because it could only support cold water use. It quickly became the dominant product for sprinkler systems all over the world. CPVC (ChlorinatedPolyVinylChloride) is PVC pipe that has been chlorinated in the production process. Adding chlorine to the chemical process allows the pipe to withstand higher temperatures and be stronger and more flexible. Being able to withstand higher temperatures allowed it to be used for residential use requiring hot water to flow through the pipe without issues. There are long term issues with CPVC. Some contractors say that the joints get brittle and crack over time.
The expert plumbers at Repipe Masters will make sure you don’t have to worry about any old pipe problems. We provide fast, affordable service for all repiping needs in the area.
