What are the best pipes to use when building a home?

Question

What are the pros and cons for copper, PVC, CPVC and PEX? Should you use different pipes for different things?

What are the pros and cons of the different types of pipes out there?

Answer 1

I personally suggest copper for your supply and PVC/CPVC for your drain. I assume that your asking for your supply since its pretty standard to use plastic for drain/vent. I agree that 3/4 in is the way to go or if your building a large house you might even go with 1 in just for the fun of it (and added water flow). There isn't much concern about lead solder anymore since most states have laws against it in water lines.
I've got a friend who's done plumbing for a while now and he pretty much swears on PEX (I assume that's the flex stuff). The main problem with that is it requires a special tool for all your couplers, but the added cost might be worth the convenience. I've never worked with it. The absence of chemicals would be a major advantage. Good luck and congrats on the new construction.

Answer 2

Copper - expensive - long life - durable - used mostly for supply lines because of expense...

PVC - Cheap - easy to damage - possible brittle cracks after a few years...

I'm not familiar with CPVC or PEX...

If I build a new home it will have Copper for all of the supply lines (nobody uses lead based solder on copper pipes anymore.. it is all silver)... and where it doesn't matter as much... drains, etc.. PVC pipes...

And, in my opinion Dont Trip is right... use 3/4 Copper, not 1/2... and install the latest in temperature control systems at your shower locations.

Answer 3

Many municipalities do not allow PVC or CPVC pipes for water supplies inside a house. Galvanized iron pipes will rust over time. By far the best is copper, just make sure lead-free solder is used.

Answer 4

copper is best for durability. pvc is for cold water only, cpvc can be used for both cold and hot, both will leach vinyl chloride into the water, which is carcinogenic. pex is short for cross-linked polyethylene, new on the market and I wouldn't use it until it has been proven. look at the polybutylene pipe fiasco, that stuff was supposed to be the wave of the future. both pex and pb pipe are made of polyolefins, which are attacked by chlorinated water. pex is supposed to have a preservative in it to prevent that, but it remains to be seen how long that will last, esp. with hot water

Answer 5

Copper is the only good method for supply lines. Unless your solder is many years old there will be no lead. Copper offers no corrosion or chemical leaching. It also is easy to modify and cut in to later if desired. Installing things like ice makers is easy with a range of standrd fitting available. It has the added benefit, although not code of being a good available ground conductor.
Copper is not good for wastewater because it will corrode and eventually leak. Been There. For wastewater use ABS. It works much like pvc but does not lock up like assembling pvc. The joints stay workable longer and weld together making stronger connections.

Answer 6

I've been responsible for plumbing choices in 2 Habitat for Humanity homes, chose PEX both times. Just got done with a 125 year old farmhouse remodel, chose PEX again. Superior product in my book, it's not that new, been available for a few years. PEX is very quiet (elbows create friction noise) and more economical than copper now.

Answer 7

So I looked through all previous answers before I posted mine. only one person has a clue. PEX is the best product to use in plumbing your home. It is alot cheaper than copper, water flows through it better, and it takes 1/3 the time to install. All of the people on here who say otherwise have never done a plubing project. i would recomend 1" pex run to your showers(direct lines)and 1/2 " run to the sinks, toilets, outside faucets, ect... (also direct lines) I would recomend that you use a MANA-BLOCK to plumb all lines off of. I JUST LOOKED AGAIN AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SAID USE COPPER...GENRAL CONTRACTORS/PLUMBERS = MORE MONEY SPENT, MORE TIME INVOLVED, BIGGER BILL FOR YOU. DEMAND ALL PEX. DONT LET THEM B.S. YOU .

Answer 8

if you're bodily able and would get lower than your position. Hook up a 1500 watt hair dryer to a floor fault interrupter outlet and with lengthy extension twine flow lower than abode (or were freezing is occurring) and search for vents or openings that would enable chilly air to electrify the lines. Use the hair dryer to run up and down the lines (about one foot at a time) have someone in abode to visual exhibit unit water to allow you to recognize at the same time as it starts to run. once you get time or at the same time as climate is extra ideal use pipe insulation to insulate the lines.

Answer 9

The problem with copper is the expense and some still use a lead-based solder.

Plastic is cheaper, but there may be chemical leeching

Answer 10

yo fool, dont let anyone talk u into anything but 3/4 inch cooper. all standard size piping is 1/2 inch and its not enough pressure and the cooper life span is way longer...dont get this twisted. Dont EvenTrip.