Pex vs copper and galvanized?
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URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=212204
Printed Date: 16 Sep 2026 at 12:42pm
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Topic: Pex vs copper and galvanized?
Posted By: Lars(wi)
Subject: Pex vs copper and galvanized?
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2026 at 12:08pm
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Finished up the ‘water softener addition’ project. Used a combination of Pex and copper(L grade) for this job. Not entirely sold on the ‘pex is more convenient/quicker’ mantra. Did have a couple pex fittings that leaked, and boy those are a royal pita to replace. PVC for this job was not in consideration due to findings that PVC taints water. CPVC is getting more of challenge to acquire in sizes larger than 3/4”, at least around anyway. Got two small leaks in the laundry room, both at transition points from one product to another. ------------- I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science. |
Replies:
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2026 at 1:01pm
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we built a house in 1980 and i used cpvc for all the internal H and C lines.. 3/4 and 1/2 inch.. 30 years later i was replacing a shut off valve on the sink and POW , the plastic exploded.. Found it was real brittle .... ended up a new project to replace everything in the house with PEX... I got the kind you use brass elbows and Tees with barb fittings... Got a hose clamp type thing that you PINCH tight with a special crimping tool... Worked great... that stuff will FLEX in areas when you need a little BOW... and i was told if it ever Freezes, the pipe expands and will not fail....( no freezing my house expected).
i used this type... not the stretch and compression type..  ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: Lars(wi)
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2026 at 2:32pm
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This is the same style I used. The crimper, although marketed as ‘one handed’ is a bit tough after arthritis sets into your hands. ------------- I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science. |
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2026 at 3:06pm
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What I see 'wrong' with PEX is that 1/2" PEX has 3/8" elbows and couplers. Doesn't that make 1/2" PEX actually 3/8" water feed lines ??
------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2026 at 4:45pm
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Lars.... the crimpers i have are about 18 inches long and definitely take two hands.. you just squeeze them like a pair of pliars till it hits and STOP lug... that SEATS the clamp.. I probably did 100 of them and dont remember any leaking.. your right Jay.. the PEX has the same OD as copper pipe so you can use Shark Bits to connect them, if needed....... the OD is slightly smaller... and you have some restrictions at the elbows... i used a minimum of those and have no problem with water flow..... most showers , sinks, valves flow less than 2 GPM these days anyway. ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2026 at 4:51pm
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this is what GOOGLE said... PEX tubing is used in approximately 60% of new home construction and modern residential plumbing installations. [ https://www.parkerandsons.com/blog/pex-plumbing-the-ups-and-downs" rel="nofollow - 1 , https://state-journal.com/2025/07/07/why-more-homes-are-being-plumbed-with-pex/" rel="nofollow - 2 , https://birminghambenjaminfranklin.com/pros-and-cons-of-pex-plumbing/" rel="nofollow - 3 ] Why PEX is Popular
------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: Lars(wi)
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2026 at 5:49pm
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It is true the sizing of pex is deceiving, was always advised if using pex, to ‘step up a size’ from what would be considered a normal feed run. That why I used 1” pex to go 30’ to supply the water softener and laundry room. Will be utilizing the existing 3/4” pvc that runs 30’ back to the utility room where all the plumbing splits originate to all the other bathrooms, kitchen, outside faucets, etc. Later on if I notice a drop in flow with multiple taps running, I will switch out that 3/4” pvc with something larger. Municipal water psi is a steady 62. ------------- I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science. |
Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2026 at 5:54am
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One of the problems with Pex is that is sometimes almost impossible to get the crimping tool into tight spaces to crimp the clamp. I always keep a few of the pinch type clamps for close quarters, but I prefer the smooth crimp clamps. Our old house had all galvanized water pipes in it when I bought it in the late 80's. I replaced everything with PVC. Now 90% has been changed to Pex. It still amazes me that the fittings never blow apart with just a simple crimp.
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Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2026 at 6:54am
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I am required by a few inspectors to upsize 1/2" pex to 3/4" pex wherever 1/2 " copper was required. Kitchen sink Washer Tub or Tub /shower faucet Outside faucets I argue that the openings inside said faucet, fixture are only 1/4" or 3/8" at best. So does it really matter. My issues with pex are more about logistics. When I started 39 years ago we only had 2 boxes of copper fittings in the van ,1/2" and 3/4" . That was it . Today I have 3 boxes (1/2",3/4"& 1") of copper, cpvc,pvc,crimped pex, expandable pex and copper pro press fittings. You have to buy "extras" for every job so you end up stocking all the different types of pipe and fittings. Hardest part of the job is gathering said pipe and fittings for each application. Menards carries some, Lowe's some and the 3 wholesale houses each carry some but none of them stock everything. All these systems are approved and all work well ,just wish it was simpler. ------------- You only need to know 3 things to be a plumber;Crap rolls down hill,Hot is on the left and Don't bite your fingernails 1964 D-17 SIV 3 Pt.WF,1964 D-15 Ser II 3pt.WF ,1960 D-17 SI NF,1956 WD 45 WF. |
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2026 at 7:39am
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'Simple' would be a hand pump at the well and 2 buckets. I'm pretty sure 99.44% of the people wold NOT like 'simple'. As for tubing size, I'd hate to think how long it'd take to fill the 'stock pot' or 'boiler pot' if fed from a PEX line ! ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2026 at 7:47am
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Built home in 2014, 1" Copper off Main entrance line of 1 3/4" PVC thru basement wall off a HDPE Feeder. 1" Necks to 3/4" for most Feeder Lines then 1/2" lines to assorted use functions. ALL Copper from the PVC and ALL Soldered with No lead Solder. |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2026 at 9:26am
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1/2 inch PEX is plently big for 90% of the applications.. AS PAT said, the hole in the shower head, faucet, toilet, are all smaller than 3/8 inch.... You can fill about 2 gallons per minute if needed, but almost ALL faucets are less than that... The only place i have anything bigger than 1/2 inch PEX is the outside faucet that i use to fill 5 gallon buckets, etc.... It has a 3/4 inch black plastic and probably will run 10 GPM.
i used a 1 inch copper manifold with several 1/2 inch valves mounted on it for the OUTLETS.. I ran 1/2 inch pex to several locations.. Kitchen, bath, bath, laundry, all have a different 1/2 inch feed.. Each can be shut off individually.. Longest run is probably 40 ft.  ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2026 at 11:36am
This is inbound. 1" T is flow in to Softener and to outside Spigots(3) header, Out of Softener is 1" to WH and supplies of Cold to remainder of House, necks to 3/4" just prior to split offs thru house drop to 1/2"
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Posted By: HudCo
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2026 at 6:12pm
| i am a believer in keeping the line size up then fricton lss isnt so much at the end and the volumm helps maintain a steadyer preasure |