We generally believe that Plumbing PEX Tubing is much better than Copper for most, if not all, plumbing systems.
The Good Points
Why most People prefer PEX Tubing over Copper - there is a less risk of leaks with PEX Tubing. PEX doesn't degrade like copper, higher PSI rating freezing pipes will still burst, but PEX will be able to handle more freezing water than copper. PEX Tubing is much more resistant to freeze-breakage than copper or rigid plastic pipe. PEX Tubing is cheaper because it takes much less labor to install.
PEX Tubing is quickly becoming the industry standard.
PEX is cheaper/easier to install and you generally don't need as many fittings.
Flexible PEX tube is manufactured by extrusion, and shipped and stored on spools, where rigid plastic or metal piping must be cut to some practical length for shipping and storage. This leads to several advantages, including lower shipping and handling costs due to decreased weight and improved storage options.
PEX plumbing installations require fewer fittings than rigid piping. The flexible tubing can turn 90-degree corners without the need for elbow fittings, and PEX tubing unrolled from spools can be installed in long runs without the need for coupling fittings.
Attaching PEX tube to fittings does not require soldering, and so eliminates the health hazards involved with lead-based solder and acid fluxes.
PEX is also safer to install since a torch is not needed to make connections.
Water flows more quietly through PEX tube, and the characteristic "water hammer" noise of copper pipe systems is virtually eliminated.
Installing fewer fittings reduces the chances for expensive callbacks.
FAQ
Can PEX be buried in ground?
Direct Burial of PEX Tubing. PEX tubing is approved for direct burial outdoors, a practice most often necessary when running a water supply line to a house. PEX, since it can expand, resists freezing more effectively than rigid pipe.
What temperature can PEX withstand?
Maximum Safe Temperature. The tube can withstand a maximum heat temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit for applications for heating. In a plumbing project, the PEX can withstand a maximum heat of up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Usually, the highest temperature limitation is listed on the PEX tubing in small prints.
How long does PEX last for?
PEX piping is more durable than copper piping, and it is used in an innumerable number of applications, such as radiant heating systems for residential and industrial plumbing. The average life span of PEX for plumbing purposes goes well over 50 years.