06/16/2025
Our customers are always asking why we use CPVC over PEX when repiping homes, here is a good explanation of why we repipe water lines in CPVC over PEX.
WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT PEX COULD BE PUTTING YOU AT RISK FACT
The use of PEX piping can be detrimental
to water quality
• PEX piping is permeable, meaning that outside chemicals can enter through
the pipe wall and contaminate the water without causing a pipe failure.
• PEX piping is known to leach regulated gasoline components such as
MTBE, ETBE, TBA and Toluene into drinking water.
FACT: PEX piping can fail due to exposure to water
disinfected with chlorine
• Exposure to UV light from the sun or fluorescent lightbulbs can
dramatically reduce the time-to-failure due to chlorine of PEX piping.
• There have been multiple class-action lawsuits alleging PEX system
failures due to exposure to normal drinking water.
• Every major PEX manufacturer excludes failures caused by water
chemistry from their warranty.
FACT: PEX and CPVC have comparable installation speed
• Research conducted by Home Innovation Research Labs (formerly the
NAHB Research Center) found that PEX manufacturer claims of a 50%
speed advantage are inaccurate.
• With equally experienced installers, the speed difference between the two
systems was negligible and could be favorable to CPVC in common trunk
and branch installations.
FACT: PEX can’t handle elevated pressures
• FlowGuard Gold materials are rated at 400psi at room temperature;
PEX is only rated at 160psi at room temperature.
• At PEX’s max. operating temperature in potable water, 140F, it is only
rated at 120psi vs. 200psi for FlowGuard Gold.
• PEX may experience premature failure due to chlorine at pressures
above 80psi.
FACT: PEX will sustain a flame, while FlowGuard Gold
self-extinguishes when flame is removed
• FlowGuard Gold pipe and fittings require 3 times more oxygen than is
present in air to sustain a flame.
• PEX can easily sustain a flame, even while filled with water. In some cases,
PEX can melt in a fire causing flaming plastic to drip onto surfaces below.
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