As a pipe replacement specialist in San Jose, California, for the last decade, I get asked this question all the time: “Which is better: copper or PEX for whole house repiping?” This is a fair question to consider when doing a repipe project. Here are the pros and cons for each material and my two cents on the matter. Contact Gladiator Repipe, Inc today.
Copper Repipe Pros:
- Strong,durable material — Type L Copper piping is warrantied by the manufacturer for 50 yrs and expected to last 80-100 yrs after it is installed, guaranteeing that you will only have to repipe your home once in your lifetime.
- AntiMicrobial Characteristics — Bacteria and funguses cannot grow on the inside of copper pipes as the metal itself has antimicrobial properties that don’t allow these things to flourish, making your water safer and more reliable to drink.
- Chemically Bonded — Copper pipes are soldered together using heat and the bonds of chemistry to make two pipes become one, which is a very strong connection and will produce a high-quality home repiping system with a low propensity for failure.
Copper Repipe Cons:
- Expensive — The cost of materials and labor to install a copper system is greater than most, making it less affordable than PEX; however, in the long term, copper is actually cheaper for a home repiping service given its longevity over PEX piping.
- Pipes can freeze — Here in California, freezing isn’t a major issue, but in other parts of the country where extreme weather occurs, copper pipes can freeze over and split and/or burst.
- Reactive — Copper pipes are reactive to chemicals in the water and can corrode and be broken down over time if water quality is poor.
PEX Repipe Pros:
- Less Expensive — PEX is cheaper than copper from a per linear foot perspective and can help you save money on your overall house repiping project.
- Easier to install — PEX does not require any soldering techniques and requires less skill to install vs copper.
- Flexible — PEX piping is flexible and can fit in hard-to-reach areas, making it a great material to use in tough/tight spots in your San Jose home repiping project.
- Expandable — PEX piping can expand as water freezes in the pipe and then will contract once the water returns to liquid state eliminating pipe splits or bursting in extreme cold weather conditions.
- Non reactive: PEX doesn’t react or break down with chemicals in the water, allowing them to stand up better against poor water quality. In areas of LA, there are high amounts of chlorine in the water, which can eat the copper pipes alive, making PEX a much better option for a whole house repiping service. However in Northern California, it’s almost the exact opposite.
PEX Repipe Cons:
- Mechanical Connections: PEX connections are made mechanically vs coppers, which are made chemically. Mechanical connections, if not installed properly or over a long period of time, eventually will fail, and the failure tends to be catastrophic, meaning 100%. The key word here being “mechanical;” most things that are mechanical are prone to failure over time (cars, appliances, garage doors, etc).
- Life expectancy — PEX piping is warrantied for 25 yr by the manufacturer and is expected to last 30-50 yrs; however, there is some debate on whether or not these systems actually last that long, and we are finding out that the lining of the pipe that protects the water from “leaching” plastic into the water supply breaks down much faster than expected. There is currently a class action lawsuit regarding this matter. See https://www.classaction.org/news/discontinued-red-blue-uponor-PEX-piping-plagued-by-cracking-defect-class-action-alleges for more details.
Overall, each piping system has a good use in plumbing today; however, I am still a huge fan of copper piping over PEX. Copper piping is still considered the “gold standard” in piping systems today and is the most widely used for residential repipe projects in the San Jose and surrounding areas!
For more tips and information about repiping, please call us at 408-444-2696 or visit us at www.gladiatorrepipe.com
About Us:
Gladiator Repipe is the Bay Area’s #1 copper repiping experts for your home or commercial business. Our mission is to ensure you have safe and reliable pipes that bring water to your home and take away the used water efficiently with no worries on your part of leaks or rust. We use the highest quality copper pipes that are solely made in the USA, and once you have a home or office repiping service, it’ll last a lifetime. Our highly experienced team works diligently to offer quick copper repiping service at your convenience. In addition, we also offer drain cleaning, trenchless sewer repairs, water heater services, and more. Get started by contacting us today!
