PEX vs CPVC vs Copper
PEX is flexible, and Resists breakage due to freezing, CPVC is rigid, and has a low resistance to breaking due to freezing. With PEX you need fewer joints to none except from point to point and no messy primer and glue. You can also buy PEX in 100 foot rolls or longer, whereas the longest length in CPVC is 20 feet and you can't roll it up. A drawback for the "do-it yourselfer" is that the crimping tool for PEX is over $100, so it doesn't really make much sense to use PEX if you are doing the job yourself with one exception. You can buy SharkBite TM fittings to make the connections and then you don't need a crimper. You will still need to buy Teflon tape and pipe thread compound or "pipe dope". If you are doing a small job or a short run, CPVC is probably a better choice. The rigidity of CPVC is usually preferred for terminations under sinks and toilets, where there are valves. PEX can be used, it's just more flimsy. I use both CPVC and PEX. It just depends on the job.
Copper pipe - I hardly use it anymore except on real high end jobs, Heating jobs. If I have to tap into copper I will either use a SharkBite tee fitting or sweat on a copper tee and then run CPVC or PEX from the tee.
Copper pipe - I hardly use it anymore except on real high end jobs, Heating jobs. If I have to tap into copper I will either use a SharkBite tee fitting or sweat on a copper tee and then run CPVC or PEX from the tee.
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