Plumbing is the home’s vascular system, and making major upgrades can be intimidating. When it’s time for new pipes, many homeowners prefer copper, the age-old standard, or PEX, the simple piping solution. Find out what makes these materials stand out and which comes out on top.
Installation Ease and Cost
First things first: what financial and structural damage can homeowners expect with installation? You need to know the cost before calculating value. Installing new pipes can be frustrating, and ease of installation is a major factor in choosing the right plumbing solution.
Installation Challenges
Copper piping does not bend. Professionals cut it to size and weld it into custom shapes to fit individual homes. Installation usually requires cutting into drywall, putting the actual pipes in place, and then repairing the wall and any associated cosmetic damage.
PEX piping is flexible. In many cases, it’s possible to snake it through walls with little to no cosmetic damage. This potentially eases homeowner concerns about installation and appeals to DIY renovators as well as professionals.
Overall Cost
Ease of installation also affects cost. Copper piping not only uses a more expensive material, but it also requires more labor hours to put in place. PEX takes less time and effort to install in addition to being cheaper to manufacture.
- Copper piping averages between $4-$12 per foot.
- PEX piping averages between $1.50-$4 per foot.
This goes without considering variables like location and difficulty of access. If plumbers must tear up concrete or cut through brick to put in new pipes, the heavy repairs add to the homeowner’s bill.
Maintenance
Every home has problems, and homeowners almost always need repairs of their home’s plumbing during its lifetime. To understand the real risk of leaks, consumers need to know the strengths and weaknesses of each system. This is also crucial to picking the material best suited to the area and project.
Leak Risks
Copper and PEX piping are both quality products that should last as long as advertised provided nothing goes wrong. Accidents happen, though, and understanding leak risk relies on knowing each type of piping’s weaknesses.
Copper is incredibly sturdy, but it isn’t indestructible. It handles high temperatures well, but if a home has hard water, copper pipes can develop blockages from mineral deposits. These build up pressure that bursts pipes. Because they’re metal, copper pipes also develop rust over time, especially in acidic water. Copper pipes handle freezing temperatures poorly, and winter can be a tough time for homeowners with water lines in exterior walls.
PEX piping can’t stand up to UV rays, so all lines must be entirely indoors. It’s also not as resilient as copper in the face of high heat, pressure, or friction. There are concerns about degradation from harsh chemicals and solvents, and it may be possible for rodents to damage PEX pipes.
Repairs
As with installation, access is a consideration. Plumbers may need to reach copper pipes through drywall or flooring to make repairs, and those may be more complicated than comparable patches to a PEX line (like rewelding joints). If any section of piping needs replacement rather than repair, homeowners can expect higher material and labor costs for copper than PEX, as during installation.
Lifespan
Provided they’re properly maintained and correctly installed, copper pipes will nearly always outlast PEX pipes. PEX piping lasts 25-40 years, while copper can last 40-70 years.
It’s worth noting that copper piping is more prone to leaks with age, so maintenance and repair costs often rise with time. However, copper needs replacing far less often than PEX products.
Sustainability
Each type of piping has specific ecological benefits and drawbacks at different points of production and use. Energy use, lifespan, and reusability are all relevant concerns.
Copper piping costs more to the homeowner and the environment during manufacturing than PEX. Copper’s long-term benefits are its recyclability and durability. Because it needs replacing less often, the associated energy costs of manufacturing and installation drop though they remain high overall.
PEX has a lower initial carbon footprint, but it is ultimately made of plastic. It trades lower energy costs with a non-recyclable product that requires replacement roughly twice as often as copper.
However, a case study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production investigated the lifetime costs (including financial, CO2 emissions, and more) of copper piping and PEX piping in a real-life housing complex. PEX came out ahead with less damage to water, air, and soil. It also reduced CO2 emissions by roughly 42%.
Final Thoughts
PEX and copper piping offer homeowners different advantages, and the best option depends on what a homeowner needs.
Copper’s value is in its lifespan and strength. It handles pressure and hot water better than PEX, but those benefits come at a price. Region-specific variables like water acidity and hardness may threaten the system’s longevity. However, copper piping can boost a home’s resale value. It’s a worthwhile investment depending on location, layout, and demand.
PEX is a fast, affordable option. Based on the research currently available, it’s also the greener option for eco-conscious buyers. It won’t last as long as copper, and it’s more prone to external damage, but it’s less susceptible to hard water build-up and freezing.
Local experts can help determine which material is best for your unique home. Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing for a consultation to discuss your preferences, needs, and options.