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Posted by Eigenvector on December 23, 2006, 12:22 pm
>
> Doug Miller wrote:
>> >
>> >> Fact is it just is not as good as copper you can sugar coated anyway
>> >> you
>> >>want. It is cheaper, and faster to install.
>> >
>> >Not challenging you, I just want to understand. Why is PEX not as good
>> >as
>> >copper?
>>
>> "Cheaper" and "faster to install" sound like good reasons to me...
>
> "Cheaper" and "faster" aren't _necessarily_ synonymous w/ "better".
>
> I doubt Sacramento Dave has any real data to back up the contention but
> is more stating an opinion/prejudice (which in some ways as noted below
> I share).
>
> The one thing against PEX at this point imo is that it doesn't have the
> history behind it yet. We'll know in 20, 30, 50, 100 years how good it
> _really_ is. Personally, my expectation is it won't be as durable for
> the long run, but that's just one guy's guess. I have a prejudice
> against it because it just looks cheap in my eye but that has
> absolutely nothing to do w/ it's actual quality as a plumbing system.
>
And there's nothing wrong with that method of choosing what you use. I
agree with you, I feel that PEX does in fact look cheap, chintzy, and
half-assed but I'm still using it because it is so much easier to install.
The way I look at it, if the PEX I've installed lasts 20 years - which I
think is reasonable, it will still be a snap to correct it. How much time
does it take to install - it takes me less time to get over my fear of "what
lurks in the crawlspace" than it does to install it - an hour if I'm feeling
particularly jumpy? Will copper survive an earthquake? Quite possibly not,
PEX will no problem if done right. Earthquakes are not uncommon where I
live.
For those experienced working with copper you all might feel the exact same
way. But I'm not experienced with copper, I'd have it installed then spend
the next day tryinig in vain to close all the leaky joints because the
silver solder didn't flow well. Or I'd spend the next week talking to the
insurance agent on why I burned my house down with a propane torch.
So unless I have about 1000+ to pay a plumber to do the job right, I do the
same thing every other homeowner does and spend 75 bucks and install PEX
(plus the cost of the crimper - if needed).
It's all a matter of what you are more comfortable with. As for my own
house. Copper from the meter to the first junction - PEX there on in.
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