Pvc pipe vs pex. Are you confused about choosing which type of plastic piping is best for your home? Generally, both PVC piping and the pex piping are good to install in the home for the drainage system of water.
Most people prefer plastic piping in the home and other projects because it is available at less cost in the market, is long-lasting, and is pliable to install.
Because of all these qualities, plastic piping is a well-liked choice by the owners.
There are two many types of plastic piping available in the market but here we will discuss in detail the two most popular types. The first is PVC and the second is pex.
Both these have their own pros and cons. The PVC piping is very cheap and easily available in hardware stores.
The pex piping is mostly used in those buildings where you need to install flexible pipes and the area where there is very hot or cold water flowing through the pipes. Let’s talk in detail about the comparison of both piping systems.
Pvc pipe vs pex
Plastic piping is good to install in new buildings and homes because it is very long-lasting and cheaper than copper pipes.
Plastic pipes are preferred most because they are long-lasting and their life span is up to 50 to 60 years.
Pvc pipes
PVC means polyvinyl chloride. It is a kind of thermoplastic and is mostly used in homes for the drainage of water and waste. It is used for the dispersion of hot and cold water.
You can install these pipes outdoors also without any hesitation. The one good thing about these PVC plastic pipes is that there is no danger of rusting them.
Pex pipes
Pex stands for polyethylene pipes and is very popular because you can modernize your home after installing them. If you want the flexibility of pipes in the walls, then go for pex pipes.
These pipes are also used in radiant floor heating. Pex pipes fulfilled all the main plumbing codes, and you can fix them for the distribution of water.
Comaprison of PVC pipes and PEX pipes
Cost
If you want to compare the cost or price of both pipes, then pex pipes are more costly than PVC pipes. The PVC pipes are available at less prices in the market compared to the others.
Now point to note is that there is less labor cost required to install the pex pipes, so there is not such a difference in cost factor on both of them.
Installation
As it is mentioned above, pex pipes are more flexible, so they are very easy to install on every side of the building. The plumber can easily bend them to turn the direction of the pipes.
While PVC pipes are not flexible, therefore, they are difficult to install, which eventually increases the labor cost.
Affinity with the metal pipes
If you want to join the connection of a plastic pipe to a metal pipe, then the pex pipe is better than the PVC pipe because it will not wear out after joining with the metal pipe.
Noiseless
If you are installing the pex pipes, then it will finish the issue of noise during the plumbing because of the water hammer. Pvc pipes generate unusual sounds and make noise of banging sound in plumbing.
Durability
The durability and life span of the PVC piping are more than the pex pipes. The normal longevity of the PVC pipe is a minimum of 70 years, while the pex pipes have 50 years.
Water leakage
Pvc pipes are rigid and not flexible, so, therefore, connections of two pipes will need an elbow. There will be a chance of leakage of water from the joints.
In pex pipes, fewer elbows are installed, so they do not leak the water most of the time.
Outdoor security
You can use the PVC pipes in outdoor conditions even if you can install them above the ground level. On the hand, pex pipes cannot bear the sunlight in outdoor conditions.
This lack of exposure to sunlight limits their usage by homeowners.
Conclusion
The final thought of all this information is that both plastic pipes are equally good to install in the plumbing of the home. Although they have some pros and cons, you can choose any of these two pipes.
Generally, pex pipes are used in indoor conditions, and PVC is preferred on outdoor surfaces for drainage of water.
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