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I had a home built in 1992 and it was piped with PB. I have not had any problems with leaks and they used a manifold system almost completlely with the home run system. Joints were with copper and crimped with copper rings. I
am finishing off the basement and will drywall the walls and ceiling and thus cover the access to the pipes. Should I believe my system will fail and replace the pipes now. If so can I use PEX or should I use cpvc or copper. Trying to avoid paranoia with the $950 million class action settlement. My home is located in southwestern va. Any suggests? Kurt
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I am also wondering about the use of PEX? I have an early 1900's home with galvanized plumbing. I plan on replumbing and was wondering about the reliability of these new products. I understand there are diferent ways of attaching fittings depending upon manufacturer. Or is copper still the way to go? It seems like you see more problems with corrosion in copper systems than you used to. Is the quality less than it used to be?
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I had a home built in 1992 and it was piped with PB. I have not had any problems with leaks and they used a manifold system almost completlely with the home run system. Joints were with copper and crimped with copper rings. I
am finishing off the basement and will drywall the walls and ceiling and thus cover the access to the pipes. Should I believe my system will fail and replace the pipes now. If so can I use PEX or should I use cpvc or copper. Trying to avoid paranoia with the $950 million class action settlement. My home is located in southwestern va. Any suggests? Kurt
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There are numerous discussions on this in the archives... if you use the search feature you will find them.
Briefly, there is a difference of opinion here on whether copper or PEX is better, or even comparable. Some feel that PEX has not been in use long enough to be a proven product. Also, some aren't confident in the compression fittings that PEX use vs. sweat fittings with copper.
Personally, I like PEX, and I have installed thousands of feet of it in heating systems, and I feel that it is a good product. My experience has been that the compression fittings work well. I own the equipment for Wirsbo AquaPex, which is what you would be using to re-pipe domestic water. PEX is particularly good in areas with aggressive water that corrodes copper piping. However, you would have to check in your area to see if your municipality allows its use. PEX is also not the cheapest product, and the fittings and tools aren't either. However, the labor to install it is usually less.
I don't think that people who don't like PEX are wrong, it's just that my experience with it has been positive. I think that in the next ten years you will see a large increase in its use.