PEX versus Copper

[Aumint]

I am in a rural high elevation area of Wyoming installing my own plumbing. Is there any reason why I should install copper rather then Aquapex in my water distribution system?

Thank You.

[geniescience]

no. final answer.

[prashster]

Lots of arguments for PEX (easier install, maneuverable around obstacles, fewer seams, no oxidation, etc). Only argument I've heard for copper is that it has a longer proven track record.

That being said, I'm adding a bar sink in my hall and considering pex vs copper, and I gotta say I'm leaning towards copper just because if and when I sell, it won't be questioned by a prejudiced prospective buyer.

[Aumint]

Thanks, I plan to use PEX and just want to be sure I am not overlooking anything.

[Gary Slusser]

I gotta say I'm leaning towards copper just because if and when I sell, it won't be questioned by a prejudiced prospective buyer.

By then more folks may hear more about all the pin hole water leaks and water damage problems with copper, and may be prejudiced toward it.

The use of PEX etc. is called progress and only fear of the unknown, a dictatorship or ignorance (lack of knowledge) stops mankind from progressing.

If it were me, I'd go with homerun PEX using a central manifold, no branch and tee type install.

[Dunbar Plumbing]

There are reports coming from out west that they are doing testing on the top 3 manufacturers of PEX to see if certain chemicals are leaching basically POISON into the potable water systems.

The only reason why I would venture to say this is being done is due to an elevated rise in cases of CANCER.

70+ year copper systems in my area without problems, no pinholes. If your water is eating through copper pipe in your area.....you're not going to live long anyway. GOOD LUCK

[prashster]

'Murder for a jar of red rum' spelled backwards...

If yr scared of Polyethylene, use cpvc - oh wait, that has phthalates. Cancer there too.

Use copper - oh wait, copper leaching into the water can cause kidney damage.

Pick yr poison.

Gimme a break. I subscribe to the "Dread Pirate Roberts" school of building up immunity through small doses of poison over a long time But I'm no doctor.

Who drinks tap water nowadays anyway

[Dunbar Plumbing]

We're all dying.

I quit drinking tap water years ago after we did a tour at the water treatment plant.

Main reason: what they can't remove from the water. Certain chemicals no matter what aggressive treatment you give, it does not come out. The chlorine levels are so high coming from the plant it's deplorable. There's a reason why they call my area a cancer belt.

[Gary Slusser]

There are reports coming from out west that they are doing testing on the top 3 manufacturers of PEX to see if certain chemicals are leaching basically POISON into the potable water systems.

The only reason why I would venture to say this is being done is due to an elevated rise in cases of CANCER.

WOW, I learn something every day! Dumb me, here I thought it was politics and wanting an excuse to replace all their pinhole leaking corroded copper with more copper and job/income protectionism.

BTW, did you hear someone say that fumes from soldering fluxes and solder causes cancer? If we don't stop all the honey bees from dying, we won't have to worry about it very long. We'll get slim'n trim and starve to death before cancer can git us. I heard someone says sunlight and preservatives in store bought donuts, cupcakes and pies gives you cancer.

[Dunbar Plumbing]

Make sure you contact the ones doing the tests on PEX for CANCER and make sure you include cupcakes donuts and pies.

Good work gary, you're on target for the bait I just threw out in the mud puddle.








*heads to hostess outlet*

[Gary Slusser]

I quit drinking tap water years ago after we did a tour at the water treatment plant.

Main reason: what they can't remove from the water. Certain chemicals no matter what aggressive treatment you give, it does not come out.

Absolutely incorrect.

A.... Steve, you been breathing flux and solder smoke too long. You sure that wasn't the waste water treatment plant?

[geniescience]

so the summary is if you know of some reason why copper isn't suited to the local water conditions, you have Pex. And if pex becomes, in the long long term, a product that doesn't perform as expected, you'll have other options then.

FWIW, I'd install the nominally designated as 3/4" diameter pex since its inside diameter is quite small, both 1/2" and 3/4". There is no downside, not even cost. Advantages are less pressure required to get the same volume of water, perhaps less noise when water is flowing.

david

[dubldare]

WOW, I learn something every day! Dumb me, here I thought it was politics and wanting an excuse to replace all their pinhole leaking corroded copper with more copper and job/income protectionism.

BTW, did you hear someone say that fumes from soldering fluxes and solder causes cancer? If we don't stop all the honey bees from dying, we won't have to worry about it very long. We'll get slim'n trim and starve to death before cancer can git us. I heard someone says sunlight and preservatives in store bought donuts, cupcakes and pies gives you cancer.

And this from the people who say:

"Yeah, it's safe to drink softened water. A daily serving of softened water has no more sodium in it than a piece of white bread...But don't use softened water on your lawn, 'cuz the sodium will turn the grass brown"

[Gary Slusser]

And this from the people who say:

"Yeah, it's safe to drink softened water. A daily serving of softened water has no more sodium in it than a piece of white bread...But don't use softened water on your lawn, 'cuz the sodium will turn the grass brown"

They're correct too.

FYI, there's 7.85 mg/l added sodium per grain per gallon of ion exchange; that's roughly a quart of water. Example, 20 gpg*7.85=157 mg of sodium; a slice of whit bread, 120=160 mg of sodium. Check food and beverage lables and you'll see much more sodium than that.

Proof...
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sodium/AN00317
http://www.awqinc.com/sodium_softening.html
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/H20QL2/MF1094.PDF

[master plumber mark]

everything is trying to kill you

the air , the water, the soil, other animals,
inscets, microbes......

but because of our advanced medicines,
everyone is living the longest ever known

200 years ago people natrually died like flies
on every street corner. at 35-40 yrs old..

very few people lived to be 80 or 100...
children died all the time at childbirth or
from the diseases that were around...very sad times.....

mother nature herself sends all sorts of
microscopic viruses, plagues, ect at us all day long
trying to erradicate us...... to thin us out........

So dont worry so much about whats in your PEX or COPPER water because its probably as near to perfect as possible.

Just Look at the quality of the water systems from around
the third world..... you might as well be drinking from a sewer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------



So...I would rather die quickly than have a slow death
being cared for in some nurseing home at 95 years old.....


Go out and have a doughnut , some coffe, a couple strips of bacon and smoke a cigarette....

you will feel much better...


something has got to kill you....

why die healthy???