Ask Jon Eakes

Last Updated: Monday, January 15th, 2001, Created: Monday, January 15th, 2001

Copper versus PEX plumbing pipes.

Salim from Ottawa discovered that his builder used Aquapex Piping rather than copper and he wondered if this was a good idea. For years we have had "plastic" plumbing pipes -- some good, some not. And the general feeling was that you would use it in your cottage but not in your home. Is it a good product today? Is it as good as standard copper piping?

Most of the "plastic" piping that gave us problems in the past is no longer on the market. Even then, some problems were related to very hot climates and high chlorine levels while most were related to poorly installed connectors.

The primary "non-metallic" piping used today (they don't like the cheap sound of the word "plastic") is one form or another of something called PEX -- Cross Linked Polyethylene. This is really rather amazing stuff. You can get it in straight PEX or in aluminum piping with PEX both inside and outside. All of it is used for everything from under-the-floor heating systems to drinking water.

We showed on the show the amazing "memory" of PEX that is used to create tight joints. In one method for making connections with PEX, a special spreader stretches open the end of the PEX tube that has an additional PEX collar over it. Then you slide a connector in while it is open and the piping closes almost immediately to a permanent seal because it ?remembers? how it was originally formed. There are a number of other methods for making the connections, including by crimping, where you slide in slightly smaller connectors and then clamp them into place. Both of these techniques require professional tools.

One of the advantages of PEX is that it is flexible, which means that you need many fewer joints than with copper pipe, and you can run it through walls like electrical wiring. It goes in faster, and some claim that this PEX type of piping will last longer than copper. Most jurisdictions now accept it as equivalent to copper. The only drawback for the moment might be that it is more difficult to make DIY additions to your plumbing.

Another alternative is "Pex-Al-Pex" piping which is a PEX inner liner, aluminium core and a PEX outer liner, giving you the best of both PEX and Copper type piping. This is found under the brand names of Kitek or I-Pex Auqa. Like Salim, this is what I have put in my own house. For DIY plumbing I suggest you check out I-PEX Auqa.

Keywords: Copper, Pex, Pipes, Plastic, Plumbing

Print Send To A Friend

Article 1055

Privacy | Ruby on Rails Development by Isnor Creative