Copper Vs Pex Pipe One Plumbers Opinion
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- Опубликовано: 8 авг 2022
- In this video I describe Some Of the basic Pros and Cons of copper and pex plumbing
My name is Tony, I have been a master plumber for over 30 years! Due to a plumber shortage nationwide, it is the mission of this channel to help others learn the trade. We will be uploading tutorials on popular plumbing needs as well as tips & tricks. Like, comment, and subscribe to our channel!
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Master Flow Plumbing Services and this RUclips channel are not responsible for anyone attempting anything shown in these videos. Plumbing repairs should always be performed by a license plumber, even the simplest plumbing repairs can cause damages in injury to you or others.
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I had Pex fail after only few years in my home...split lengthwise...not happy. It was on hot water side close to boiler. Went back to copper. Worth the extra work.
I’m not a big fan of pex myself. Thanks for watching
Thanks for sharing your wealth of experience!
I am doing a complete rework of the master bath including 3 shower heads, not a cheap project. I am a retired HVAC&R contractor so soldering is no problem PEX will be used due to the cost difference, although copper is preferred.
Sharkbite fittings are prohibited for use in interior (finished) walls in some municipalities. Not allowed anywhere in NYC as they tend to fail and cause flooding. A well soldered copper joint lasts 50 years or longer. Pex? Not sure how long Pex lasts compared to copper. Also, copper has natural antiseptic properties. It resists bacterial growth inside the pipe. I would rather have my drinking water delivered via copper than plastic.
That's not true: www1.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/bldgs_bulletins/bb_2010-010.pdf
Brazing instead of soldering will provide a very tough connection
@davidperry4013 Certainly!! But soldering is more than durable enough for most residential and commercial water lines, both supply and hot water heating applications.
For industrial and high temp hi pressure brazing is required.
For people that don't know, yes copper pipes will disinfect water. It also dissolves in water and will leave green stains in toilets or bathtubs. If you have acidic water like I do, that becomes a real problem and will eat the copper pipes. So those are advantages and disadvantages not listed in the video.
Does anyone know where to find experienced copper pipe plumbers?
I’m new school I use pex b have the ryobi battery tool for stainless steel crimps it hasn’t failed on any joint I installed and nothing so far
Nice work thanks for watching
Pex or copper in a remote cabin? Im concerned about mice chewing it more than freezing issues.
Definitely copper then. Unless there is a fear of theft
Seems as if PEX-A would solve the cons you have with PEX. Also, "plumber" has its root meaning in the Latin word for lead. In our use of it as meaning truly vertical, that comes from the use of a lead plumb bob on a line. Then again, plumb bobs in modern times are more often brass or ferrous. I like copper too, for indoors. I prefer PVC for outdoors, but buried well below frost line PEX-A is an alternative. Nice presentation!
Thanks for watching.
I love pex and around here it's only what even the old plumber uses anymore
it definitely has its place in the world ..
Don't let shoddy work stop you - I installed PEX in my basement and I used a string line to make sure it was absolutely straight. And I left a neat looking expansion loop, it's not necessary to use "wobbly" PEX to do that.
Also, you talk about fittings reducing the diameter of PEX, but properly installed PEX should have almost no fittings at all - it should be a single run of PEX from source to fixture. Even if there are a few fittings contrast it with copper that has multiple elbows that end up reducing water flow far more by comparison.
I will always like copper more, it just looks nicer (the color), but PEX has advantages I just can't ignore.
Thanks for the input. I’m not a pex hater necessarily.
It was pretty clear from your pro vs con list that copper was your preference. You entirely forgot about Pex A. Either way with Pex B you can go up a size. There are clamps now for copper too. They go on the outside. You can install pex straight but you dont have to.
If it is for some reason visible copper is definitely the nicest to look at. Copper pipe done really well looks nice. Pex looks like pex no matter how nice you do it.
Copper if soldered properly hold up better against pressure surges but water hammers are standard now.
Where I live Px A and B are the more popular choice and copper is fairly rare in new builds.
you are correct .. im a old school copper plumber....i didnt really forget about pex A i just wanted to cover the basics in this vid..thanks for watching and commenting
This is a very misguided review when not mentioning PEX A for full diameter through fittings and cordless pipe expansion tools from Milwaukee and DeWalt that make PEX A installation much easier than in this video. Copper piping approaching extinction for residential plumbing due to much higher installation costs for both material and labor. Either PEX A or B will last the life of the home. I have a 50 year old home that sections of copper pipe have been replaced due to pitting/pinholes/scaling. That won't happen with PEX. Oh, and it's a lot easier to screw up one of the million copper fittings you'd need to sweat on for an entire new home, which is a bitch to repair, than to screw up installing much fewer needed push-on PEX A fittings that are very easy to repair. MAJOR HEAD SHAKE HERE.
@@bobbray9666 im just sharing my opinion of the two i discuss ..no need to majorly shake your head
@@masterflowplumbing9812 Yes, sharing a dishonest opinion. If I was to take the opposite view in a similar video, maybe I show how copper needs to be cut with a hacksaw and sweat with a soldering iron. It works but it's a slower and more cumbersome process.
@@bobbray9666 how can my own opinion be dishonest? we didnt mean to hurt your feelings , we had no idea your love of all things plastic ..thanks for watching though
I would use Pex A going forward, I do like the smooth bends/ home runs of Pex. I sometimes watch vids of guys using pex with a million fittings/elbows etc... and think why bother using pex in that case? Use as few fittings as possible with Pex.
Like the way you think. Thanks for watching
Installed a 1/2" Pex-A line to feed my refrigerator ice maker from an RO system. Wife says it makes the water taste like plastic I took a sample from the RO system and she says it's good has to be the PEX. Seems to be after the water sits in the line for awhile if I flush it then taste is better. Also forgot to mention PEX can be chewed by rats, or other rodents where copper can't be chewed.
I’m not a big fan of plastic water lines. Period. Thanks for watching
Rats totally changed my mind about pex , I mostly use copper
Do you have bad experience with rats chewing up pex ? I’ve not heard of that but I could see it possible
Yea once they get a taste for it they will terrorize your house until the exterminator kills the rat , they will bite the pipe at the worst possible times too like 2 in the morning
@@paulfox521 interesting.
Not with pecs A, there are no restrictions? You should have pointed out that difference from the beginning? Pecs B does restrict flow. What happened to schedule 40? PVC pipe? You don't consider that an option? I mean everyone is a master plumber now? Is there some school or piece of paper that declares someone a master?
Move on troll.
@@masterflowplumbing9812 ok I'll move on but you remove Master from your title and we'll call it even, your ego has a few leaks
Pex-A? You don’t loose diameter on the inside.
Thanks for watching
Brass fittings for PEX all the way.
unless you have hard water, then plastic is recommended according to manufacturer.
8:40 you say “plumber” comes from the word “plumb.” Actually it comes from the Latin word “plumbarious” meaning “worker of lead,” and is also why “lead” is “Pb” on periodic table of elements. This egregious error has caused doubt in the entirety of your video. Good day to you sir.
Lol. Whatever cracks me up that only experts watch my vids
@@masterflowplumbing9812 haha glad the sarcasm came through! For what it’s worth, as a journeyman plumber, copper all day hands down! The Wirsbo PEX incidents soured my outlook on PEX for sure… Besides, nothing is sexier than straight lines and perfect soldered joints!
The wealthy Roman's had lead water pipes, all died young. Plumbers need a new name, what can we call them, Tubers, plastic benders, lead was banned 10 years ago.
plumber...plombier...plomo...lead. I also prefer the subtle cupric shine.
Your only comparing pex B . What about pex A. Pex A has same ID as copper.
You are correct I only compare the two.
Hey.. I have to pay for internet so it does cost...... and oh yeah copper with lead solder all the way... in 50 years never ever had a call back..
You do know lead solder is illegal now right ?
Over the decades I've found and learned that COPPER will way outlast any and all PEX plumbing !!!!!! True , COPPER is more expensive than PEX . But if you want it to last a lifetime , pay for COPPER Plumbing !!!!!! Before PEX , there was many other plastic plumbing pipes used in different construction and plastic and PEX Will Fail !!! I'm old school , if you're going to do something , do it Right the first time or don't waste your time , and Money !!! Any and All repairs Will Cost you Money !!! So just do it in COPPER !!!!!!
On what do you base your opinion that copper will outlast pex? Copper is subject to corrosion (google blue stains on sink) which can cause it to fail. Also because of the cost, most copper used in water supply lines is M which is thinner than L and means that there is less material to corrode before the pipe fails. Because that corrosion happens inside the pipe it will look fine until it fails. Pex on the other hand doesn't corrode.
@@artdeco18 Different plastic pipes and plastic water pipes have been used sense the 1960's . I've had to repair and or replace so much more plastic pipes and plastic water pipes than I've ever had to do much of anything to as for copper pipes and copper water pipes !! It's just my hands on experience sense the 1960's !!! I've experienced hands on work from near the Northern Boarder to near the Southern Boarder , from East coast to the West coast and through out the United States of America plus several countries around the world !! I can only speak the truth of my actual work experience of over 5 decades plus . I'm a guy who works with my hands throughout my life . And I told you and everyone who read my comments on copper pipes and copper water pipes !! I've even work with and on galvanized water pipe and cast iron sewer pipes along with concrete & tile sewer pipes which goes back decades before the 1960 when those were installed . It's probably too dirty of work for most people , but I worked and worked hard and on dirty work most people won't even consider . But real and true work is the proof !!! No matter how many books you read or what colleges you went to !! I did the actual work and have seen the results with my own eyes and hands !!! As an Old U.S. MARINE , I have Honor and the Truth !!!!!! Without giving secrets away for free , I'll keep them to myself until I get paid for such information !! So my secrets have thrown out your theories and theories on corrosion as I have several secrets preventing corrosion from both inside and outside the copper pipes and copper water pipes !!!!!! When you get to Heaven's gate come judgement day , you will learn the Truth as I have spoken about !!!!!!
No pex has been broken to last 125 years while copper has alifespan of 75 years
Proven sorry not broken
@@starskorich3673 How sadly some people are when they don't know these highly regarded and secrets which even most plumbers don't know !!!! Much less yourself who don't have a clue as to any of these secrets !!! And NO , you will not find them in your books or even in trade school or even in your college books !!!! Anyone who is that blind to the truthful experience of a real man who's worked in that field for well over 50 years = 5 plus decades = over a half of a century , is truly ignorantly blind !!!!!! I honestly feel sorry for someone like You !!!!! Such a truthful Waste of a human being !!! And to be so closed minded , blind , ignorant is a shameful waste much less to say , such a possible life threatening flat out ignorantly blindness !!! Anytime you care to learn these Special Secrets , I will be glad to teach you these Special Secrets For A Price !!! And these Special Secrets will not only pay for themselves but also set you up to be financially well off in life !!!! But then again You have your collage books written by someone who has never earned the working calluses by actually doing the real work !!!! To You , that is such a shameful way to go through life , ignorantly !!!!!! When you meet and deal with an older Honorable Combat U.S. MARINE whom has always kept his Word , much less relocate 1500 miles with his family to keep an old promise or his Word to a now deceased Honorable Combat U.S. Marine for his family of a wife and three children to complete their first costume built home which they were Totally Ripped-Off by the main contractor who stole everything they had into this home and steal all the building money from the banks escrow account . I am Man enough to keep my promise or my word to a close fellow U.S. MARINE under stressful uncertain under fire combat after over 15 years gone by sense we made our promise and gave our word , as we did not know who would live through this , came down for his funeral after serving this country for 28 years in the UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS , only to pass away from a massive coronary which took his life only a few months after retiring from the MARINE CORPS . I KEPT MY WORD AND PROMISE !!!!!! As President Ronald Reagan quoted " Most People Spend An Entire Lifetime Wondering If They've Ever Made A Difference In The World , THE MARINES DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM !!!!!! And I Certainly Do Not Have Any Problem Which Includes My Word !!!!!