Polyethylene pipe opinion?
Question:Plumbers or those with plumbing experience, what do you think of polyethylene versus copper? Some plumbers are telling me they don't trust polyethylene, that it might fail like polybutylene pipes have, but I'm looking at it as a less costly alternative to using copper. My use will be half underground and half above ground applications. Thanks
Answers:
USA PEX piping is the acronym for cross linked polyethylene pipe. It has taken the building industry by storm the last few years. It is less expensive than copper. If a system with a manifold is installed, there are no joints to leak. It is a nice system. But, it is a form of plastic. If you do not have any hang-ups with plastic, I would go with the PEX in lieu of copper. The PEX should not be exposed to sunlight.
plastic pipe may be cheaper,, but the fittings are a lot more expensive,
its a case of 6 of one and half a dozen of the other.
id only install plastic under the floor because it looks unsightly going up the walls. and if your using it on heating , check with the boiler manufacturers that its ok to use. specially with the pottertons,,, they need a different stat put into the boilers, and also worcester will void gaurantee on some of their boilers if plastic is put in.
don't use either as long as your above ground pipe will not see the sun use PEX pipping. PEX pipe dose not like ultraviolet rays
use plastic for drains, copper for water supplies
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