Plastic Water Pipes

Plastic water pipes have become much more common recently. Most new homes or remodels use plastic pipes in the basement for drainage rather than the traditional cast iron. The advantages to plastic are: lower cost, won’t rust, and easier to install.

For the rest of the home the benefits of plastic piping are still being debated. Some people claim that plastic supply lines impart a plastic taste to drinking water. Some are also concerned about the chemicals used to bond two pieces of plastic pipe together. You should also be aware that not all plastic pipe is suitable for supply lines. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is only approved for cold water while CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) can be used for either hot or cold water. Most plumbers will stick with the more proven copper piping for the supply lines in your home.

More recently variations of flexible plastic piping have made inroads in the plumbing market. PEX is the most common one seen and it is a crosslinked HDPE (high density polyethylene) polymer. It offers the same advantages as conventional plastic piping with a few additional benefits. First, it uses fewer connections because it is flexible unlike rigid plastic pipe. Second, it uses mechanical fittings rather than solder or chemicals. Third, it is more resistant to damage from freezing than either copper or rigid plastic.

If you would like to know more about plastic water pipes give the professionals at Mies Plumbing a call.