Not sure if this has come up on the board yet or not. My buddy was inspecting a new home today, and the builder told him they're pulling PEX off the shelves by New Year's. He said they are finding chemicals in the water and that the collars are failing in hard water areas. Is this just rumor mill or for real?

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Never heard anything like that, ever.

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Jim Luttrall
Mr. Inspector.net, Inc.
Allen, Texas 75002

Haven't heard anything.... and you'd think we would have it were a big deal.

If there were really chemicals in the water why would they wait until year's end to pull it stop using it?

The builder said the manufacturers want to quietly remove it from the shelves so as not to create widespread panic and lawsuits. And I just installed a run of PEX behind my tiled in shower too. I thought I waited long enough for any problems to be discovered. Gotta say, it sure is nice to work with compared to copper. Well, as they say, if it's old it's gold, if it's new, it ain't true. I normally won't try any building product unless it's been out for ten years.

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Joseph P. Hagarty
Main Line Inspections, Inc.
http://www.householdinspector.com

Add the contamination issue to the fittings failure issues addressed in the mInnesota class action suit and it's a wonder that they don't pull it from the shelves.

And did I mention that I have yet to see it installed properly?

Aaron

If it's the brass fitting that is possibly defective why should the PEX be removed?

Michael:

The fittings and tubing are desinged as integral parts of a system. If one does not work, neither does the other. I also have not seen anyone demostrate to me why this procut is superior to copper other than it pads the pockets of the manufacturers and makes money for the installers who can hire even bigger idiots (read: plumbers) to install it for even less money.

Copper works. If it ain't broke; dont' fix it.

Aaron

I have to say that I'm not all that happy with the pin hole leaks I had in my copper pipes - 14 YO house.

Jack:

I am about to retire the mortgage on my fourth house here in 2011. All had copper. The last one was 50 years old, the first one 70. No leaks.

I'd need to see more of a track record on this plastic crap to make a decision in its favor. The courts in Minnesota may decide for me.

Aaron

PEX has an excellent track record. Do the research. The only problem fittings may be the Zurns.

BTW-If you have corrosive water it might be prudent to treat it.

Copper is fine. The price has become high so other alternatives are more attractive at this time.

No need to denigrate hard working plumbers Aaron.

Michael:

And what about the contamination issues? It's yet to be seen what the long-term effects of the use of this material will be. I like to err on the side of caution when it comes to the protection of the life, limb, and property of myself and clients.

You may not agree with my statement about plumbers. And, that's OK. After building homes for 20 years and doing this for another 11 I have my own pet opinions about some tradesmen. The saying in my neck of the woods used to be, and still holds for me: "Plumbers only need to know two things: stuff (actually, sh*t) runs downhill and payday's Friday."

There are, I'm certain, though can no longer verify, some able hard-working plumbers about even these days. They don't work in North Texas though. All we have here is fontaneros who occasionally do good work between siestas.

Aaron

Aaron, does it bother you at all that the owner of the web site you posted is used as a hired gun in lawsuits?

Do you have any other information that would demonstrated the ill effects of PEX plumbing?

In some areas of the country you better get used to either PEX or CPVC. 95% of the new homes being built [around Atlanta] have it thanks to the thieves. Around here you can't cover the copper up fast enough before the bottom-feeders steal it. Though CPVC is much more common around here than the PEX.


Also if you think PEX has a chemical issue, then I'll bet most other products do as well. They are all made from a chemical base/substance, except copper. But I'm sure Al Gore would not agree.

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Brian K Doles
www.colbyinspections.com
Atlanta Home Inspection Provider

I'm not Al Gore, but I don't agree with your statement, either. Copper is a chemical. Water is a chemical. Oxygen is a chemical. Chemicals are not just plastic-like materials. What if water had some property that leached a bunch of copper out of pipe? We need a little copper, but too much is toxic.

Maybe in your area, it does.
Around here copper pipe is just a sieve in disguise.

Plumbers and plumbing contractors prefer CPVC because you can train a "helper" to swab glue in 5 minutes. Teaching the proper crimping methods and supplying a crimp tool costs both time and money.

Dom.

I have to agree with John. Well water is common in NH. If the water has a low pH, high Hardness or elevated Chloride, you know the plumbing is being damaged (ever so slowly). Most likely it will cause leaching of Copper, or in the case of our older homes, Lead into the water supply.
I think the industry does it's best to make products available to do the job. Since any plumbing seems to have the ability to allow something to get into our drinking water, then those concerned should simply use filter and treatment systems as an added precaution. Let's face it, unless you're ready to start lugging water from the river, you have to accept the limits of perfect water quality in todays homes.

Michael:

Oooooo, that's frightening. I've been doing expert witness work for years, charge $250 per hour and am worth more. And your point is?

Aaron

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't drink the water in any river I'm close too.

My point Aaron is that you have not provided any credible study of on harmful affects from the use of PEX tubing in drinking water systems.
I'd be happy to read if you did so I'll be patient.