Yes, PEX plumbing is good for many residential water-supply systems. It is flexible, lightweight, resistant to corrosion, and usually easier to install than rigid copper pipe. Those advantages make PEX a practical choice for many new homes, remodeling projects, and whole-house repiping jobs. But PEX is not a magic pipe. It has limits. Sunlight can…
How long does PEX plumbing last? In most homes, properly installed PEX plumbing can provide about 40 to 50 years or more of service under normal conditions. However, 50 years is not an expiration date. The actual life of PEX depends on heat, water pressure, sunlight, water chemistry, installation quality, fittings, and physical damage. PEX…
If you’re looking at PEX-C pipe and wondering what the “C” actually means, here’s the short answer: PEX-C is cross-linked polyethylene tubing made using electron-beam irradiation. The tubing is cross-linked after it is extruded, which is different from the manufacturing methods used to make PEX-A and PEX-B. The letter C does not mean that PEX-C…
PEX-B is a type of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing made using the silane, or moisture-cure, manufacturing method. It is widely used for residential plumbing, including hot and cold water lines. The “B” in PEX-B does not mean a lower grade of pipe. It describes how the polyethylene is cross-linked during manufacturing. Compared with PEX-A, PEX-B…
PEX-A is a type of cross-linked polyethylene tubing manufactured using the Engel (peroxide) method. This process gives PEX-A more uniform cross-linking than other PEX types, which makes the tubing unusually flexible and gives it strong elastic memory. That combination is why PEX-A works so well with expansion fittings and is widely used for residential hot…
PEX is popular in residential plumbing because it is flexible, easy to install, and less prone to corrosion than some traditional piping materials. But once you start shopping for it, things get confusing fast: PEX-A, PEX-B, PEX-C, oxygen-barrier PEX, PEX-AL-PEX—what do all these names actually mean? The good news is that choosing PEX doesn’t have…
Yes, PEX pipe can freeze. The water inside PEX can freeze when temperatures reach the normal freezing point of water, around 32°F (0°C). However, PEX handles freezing better than many rigid plumbing materials because its flexible tubing can expand as the water freezes. That does not make PEX freeze-proof. PEX is considered freeze-damage resistant, not…
Yes. PEX can be used for drinking-water plumbing when the specific tubing and fittings are approved/certified for potable-water use and installed according to applicable plumbing requirements. However, “PEX is safe” does not mean that nothing can ever migrate from the pipe into water. Research has found that some substances can migrate from PEX, particularly when…
PEX vs copper is one of the most common questions homeowners face when building, remodeling, or repiping a house. Both materials are widely used for residential water lines, but they have very different characteristics. PEX is usually less expensive and easier to install, while copper offers excellent durability, high temperature resistance, and a long history…
PEX plumbing is a water-supply system that uses flexible cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing to carry hot and cold water around a home or building. PEX is popular because it is flexible, lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and easier to route than rigid pipe. Approved PEX tubing can be used for potable water when it meets the required standards…