pex, copper or cpvc?

Question

I'm going to redo the water pipes in my peer and beam foundation house what would be the best method and or, type of piping.

Answer 1

Copper is the most common form of high-quality plumbing. But, don't be afraid to use Pex. I haven't worked with Pex yet, but everything I have read about it sounds great. The last option I would choose is the cPVC, I have heard too many horror stories of people having problems with it. From the articles I have read in Fine Homebuilding and Popular Mechanics I believe that Pex will start replacing copper as top-of-the-line the same way copper replaced Galvanized. Recent EPA regs have changed the mineral content of municipal water sources, reducing the protective patina build in copper pipes, without that layer the pipes can wear out much sooner than they used to. Pex has the benifit of being the most easily modified plumbing system, allowing you to change things around much easier, it is also color coded so that you will always get the hot and cold hooked up properly. I think that Pex should be the way to go.

Answer 2

Pex would be the best. It can swell 20 percent without bursting. If kinked a heat gun will make it return to original shape. Only problem is the expander tool you need is expensive. With cpvc if you use too much cement you can melt the cpvc and weaken the pipe. Copper or course is expensive and easy to have leaks if you aren't good at soldering.

Answer 3

I am nearly done reno'ing my house, and fortunately the new plumbing was installed when I had the house gutted, so it wasn't a matter of having to make holes in walls. I used copper pipe where standard pipe was suitable, in the bathroom, but in the kitchen, the old pipes went through the bottom cupboards. Of course, I didn't want this for the new ones, so it had to be re-routed, and the most efficient type of pipe to use was the flexible pipe, so it could be tucked into the wall in a very small space. I'd use copper wherever possible though, since not too many people (I contracted out for plumbing) are trained in the proper installation of flexible copper pipe, at least not the contractors from the estimates I obtained. Good luck.

Answer 4

I would use "pex". No questoin about it. "Kitec" is what is the best. Go down to your local plumbing distributing center and ask them to show you all their products. Look at all the ones you've mentioned before, I believe you will be more satisfied with the "kitec" system than anything you see. I really wouldn't go with "cpvc" or "copper" for the fact that you are going to have to purchase more fitting than if you went with "kitec". "Kitec" is better to work with in tight areas, in your case a pier and beam house. Please go take a look at this product for yourself. It's great. I work as a plumber. Good luck and go see for yourself. By the way, "Pex" is just a general name. "Kitec" is a brand, great brand.

Answer 5

I've found that pex is great if its a hidden area, then go to at least 1", dap down to copper at your bibs and angle-stops, but at places of ease and readily available space to repair, there's nothing the matter with PVC (cold) & cpvc (hot).

pex is much more durable, but in closed areas, don't loose volumn, use 1", copper is cleaner than galvy, but the pex is flimsey, tie copper into it at the bibs etc for stibility.

with coper, galvy and pvc (cold) and Cpvc(hot) they can be fixed by you, unless you have the equipment for pex.
Have the plumber run the pex to hard copper bibs and anglestops for best results, winterized outerbibs 12", and insulate all lines you can at time of installation. cheaper and easier.

Answer 6

I like PEX, copper is to high. cpvc will freeze to fast, Pex will or might freeze but will return to original shape, copper and cpvc will split then U got trouble

Answer 7

If I were going to replace all the hot and cold water pipes, I would use cpvc throughout.

Answer 8

If you are doing it probably CPVC is fine.
Insulated copper is best.

Answer 9

If the budget allows- Copper

Answer 10

PVC, this stuff is so easy to work with, cuts easy, bonds super fast. I always buy a primer with color in it so i won't have to second guess if i put it on before the gluing procedure.