Copper vs. PEX Piping

If you’re in the market for some major plumbing work due to repairs or a dream remodel, in addition to looking up the best company to contract for the work (might we suggest Third Generation Restoration?), you should take some time to consider what material you want the new pipes to be made of. 

Right now there are two primary materials used for plumbing work in homes – copper piping, and PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) pipes. We’re going to attempt to break down some of the benefits and drawbacks of both so that you can make the best decision for your project and your home.

Which option is better? Copper pipes, or PEX? We’ll give you a brief overview of both so you can approach your remodel with more knowledge and make the best decision for you and your needs.

We’re all familiar with copper piping. We’ve seen it when climbing under our sinks, and visiting older houses, and we all know the stories of holes being torn in abandoned houses for the copper piping to be removed for scrap. And though it has long been the traditional choice for the water systems in our homes, it still has a lot of benefits that haven’t diminished over the years. On average, copper pipes will last about twenty years longer than PEX. They can last from 50 to 70 years with good maintenance, as opposed to 30 to 50 years (which is still a decent length of time of course) for PEX. Because of this fact, it’s still usually the default piping option for new construction. They are sometimes, based on the chemistry of the water passing through them, susceptible to pinhole leaks and general corrosion. If you find your copper pipes getting leaks often but without extremes of temperature, you might want to get your water tested for acidity and other harmful materials that could be damaging your pipes.

Of course, the biggest known flaw of copper piping is how it can freeze and burst in very cold weather. If you were here in Cincinnati around Christmas of 2022, you probably remember the deep and intense cold snap. We had a lot of calls about burst copper pipes in the area at that time, because they couldn’t withstand the -30℉ temperatures we were experiencing. And the middle of a freezing winter is the last time anyone wants to struggle to access hot water in their homes! PEX piping would have prevented many of those burst pipe emergencies.

However, despite the history of copper pipes freezing and breaking, new homes built with copper pipes are having them installed with protections in place to insulate the pipes, and thus reduce this problem. Burst copper pipes are a problem more often found in older homes, so if your home is a new construction, you can rest easy and enjoy the longevity of the original copper plumbing!

PEX is growing in popularity, especially for remodeling work. It’s cheaper than replacing copper by a good amount, and best of all for an already finished building, it’s more flexible. Copper takes more time to install because it isn’t a flexible material. It must be cut to size and then joined in order to get around corners and in odd spaces, adding additional time and cost for labor, not to mention the inherent risk of the use of open flames to join the pieces. PEX, however, is flexible and can thus be made to fit your space much more easily and quickly, no fire required. To replace a large section of copper piping, drywall will need to be removed to get at the space, while the PEX piping can be snaked in with much less trouble and damage.

The thing people hear the most about in regards to PEX pipes is that they are less likely to freeze and burst in below zero temperatures, and that is true. Due to their design, they have more ability to expand and contract with the cold, rather than just bursting and leaving you without water in the deep winter. Anything that reduces the odds of flooding in your home is a positive thing! However, that ability to expand and contract, that flexibility, will wear off over time and so they aren’t as burst-proof as some of the advertising will lead you to believe. They burst less than copper pipes, but they also wear out faster because of that ability to expand and contract. However, laying new pipes with proper insulation will extend the lifetime of your PEX piping and reduce those risks. Good construction up front will save a lot of trouble down the road, no matter what materials your home is made with, and that goes for remodeling projects as well.

You will want to ensure that any PEX pipes are being used in or under the home, as direct prolonged exposure to UV rays from the sun will erode them much more quickly. As most of their uses are going to be your internal home plumbing, this shouldn’t be a major concern. And a major benefit is that PEX pipes come in different colors, so if you need to go in and make some adjustments to your water pipes, you can easily tell which pipes lead to the hot water (red) and which to the cold (blue). They are by far the ideal choice for DIY plumbing projects, because they are easy to use, cheaper, more adaptable, flexible, and don’t require fancy tools to cut and connect.

PEX may not last as long as copper piping, but as it is both cheaper and easier to install, so too will the repairs and maintenance be less of a hassle down the line. More and more plumbing companies are going to PEX pipes as their default option over copper piping for repairs and remodels. And as stated above, a lifespan of 30 to 50 years is still pretty good! Either option will, when installed and maintained correctly, give you years of trouble free use. Copper may be classic, but it’s no longer the only option on the table, and we think that’s great!

While neither option is perfect (yet), our personal experience leads us to recommend PEX for your water lines. The benefits it offers, especially in terms of cost and flexibility, gives it our vote. If you contract with us to work on your plumbing, we’re happy to sit down with you and discuss your options in much more detail. Rest assured, if copper pipes are what you want, that is what you will get from us!

Third Generation Restoration is a family owned home remodeling company located in Cincinnati, Ohio and serves the city and the surrounding neighborhoods. We’re proud of our home city, and think of our clients as not just jobs, but neighbors. It is our sincere pleasure to meet you and help you realize your home remodeling dreams, so we can make your house into the home you’ll want to live in for this generation and beyond.