What are the Pros and Cons of PEX Plumbing vs CPVC?

If you're invested in the plumbing world, you've surely heard of CPVC and PEX. They are the most common plastics used in portable water piping by a wide margin, but they have different pros and cons. Therefore, it's important to make sure you are using the right plastics for your needs when choosing pipes so that you don't risk extensive water damage due to pipe failure.

If in doubt, you can always get hold of a trusted certified Douglasville plumber with your plumbing questions today, but this guide will give you a quick outline of the pros and cons of PEX and CPVC plumbing.

PEX Plumbing

The main reason people opt for PEX in their new home over CPVC is that it has a few benefits over the latter. One major benefit of PEX pipes is their flexibility, which means they can easily handle being installed in various locations and will withstand water flow easily.

They are also resistant to freeze failures and chemical attacks if your pipe were ever to come into contact with products containing chemicals. That means if your pipes are likely to cross paths with the likes of electrical wires, computer cables, or even abatement chemicals for termites and mold, a PEX pipe will be able to withstand any potential damage.

However, PEX plumbing isn't all perfect. People who install PEX pipes often use bends due to their flexibility, but this may end up damaging the pipes. If the proposed bends are too steep when they're installed, you risk overstressing the PEX, which will inevitably lead it to fail. PEX pipe can also be degraded through oxidation and embrittlement if it's exposed to hot chlorinated water. Due to this susceptibility, PEX pipes often have antioxidant stabilizers as a means of protection.

CPVC Plumbing

The main benefit of CPVC plumbing is that you needn't worry about oxidative degradation. If your pipes are likely to come into contact with hot chlorinated water, then they will be able to continue without failing. With CPVC pipes, you also don't have to worry about overstressing the pipes since they aren't flexible, but this comes at the price of being able to easily install them in difficult places.

The major drawback associated with CPVC pipes is the fact that they can fail when they come into contact with chemical products. That means electrical wires, computer cables, and even spray foam insulation can cause your CPVC pipe to fail, which won't happen with PEX plastic.

Conclusion

PEX pipes are a good solution because of their flexibility and chemical resistance but are susceptible to oxidative degradation. CPVC, on the other hand, is not vulnerable to this but is less flexible and is not resistant to chemical materials, which could cause problems along the line.

If you've got any queries or questions related to which type of plastic you should be using for your plumbing solution, contact a trusted certified Douglasville plumber with your plumbing questions today!