Pipes are some of the most important parts of a plumbing system. We rely on water supply pipes for all our fresh water needs. Drainage and sewer pipes are responsible for the disposal of all liquid waste from the house. As such, you should only install high quality pipes in your plumbing system. Pipes are made from many different types of material. Some older pipes were made of clay and ceramic. As the plumbing industry evolved, lead pipes were introduced. These have been banned because they can cause lead poisoning. Steel pipes are some of the most popular metallic pipes in the market today. But they have one major problem; corrosion. Copper pipes are currently the most popular metallic pipes in the plumbing industry. But copper pipes are quite expensive. Plastic seems to be the best material for manufacturing plumbing pipes today. But not all types of plastic pipes are perfect. Cross-linked polyethylene or PEX tubing is the most recommendable type of plastic for plumbing. Here are six reasons why you should consider installing PEX pipes and upgrading your plumbing system.
No Corrosion
Plastic does not corrode or rust with time. Corrosion is one of the main reasons why steel pipes are not so popular in the plumbing industry. Corrosion eats away the steel pipe causing leaks and also undermining the quality of water carried in these steel pipes. One of the most amazing things about plastic is that it doesn’t corrode.
Flexibility
PEX pipes are very flexible and are hence very easy to install. You can install PEX pipes anywhere with minimal hassle. This means that plastic pipes are versatile when it comes to installation. Some plastic pipes like PVC do not carry hot water. But stronger materials like CPVC and PEX can handle hot water.
Cheaper Than Metallic Pipes
Plastic is far much cheaper than metal. Plastic pipes are hence several times cheaper than metallic pipes. Comparing the price of PEX plumbing pipes with copper plumbing pipes, PEX pipes are up to 30% cheaper. As you can see, plastic offers a cheaper alternative to metal. Installing PEX pipes in your plumbing system will save you a fortune when purchasing the materials.
Lower Risk Of Frozen Pipes
Plastic plumbing pipes are not as susceptible to freezing as metallic pipes. This is due to the fact that plastic does not retain as much cold as metal. You can easily test this theory by leaving a plastic spoon and a metallic one outdoors during the cold season. The metal spoon will be far colder than the plastic one. When it comes to the plumbing system, plastic pipes lower the risk of bursting during the cold season. This does not mean that your plastic pipes will not freeze if left un-insulated. It only means that the risk is greatly reduced.
Minimal Risk Of Leaks
Unlike other types of plastic and even metal, PEX plastic does not have a problem with pinhole leaks. The material is tough and strong and it doesn’t crack or puncture easily. This means that installing PEX pipes in your plumbing system will minimize the occurrence of leaks significantly.
Durable
As any professional plumber who specializes in DC drain services will tell you, plastic is very durable. As we have already stated, plastic does not corrode. PEX plastic is very strong and lasts for a very long time.