Copper or PVC?

[Gary KW4Z]

Thanks, in advance, for your comments and input regarding my question.

That said, I'm considering going with PVC pipe throughout our next house that we will build but I've not had much experience, over time, with PVC used on the hot water side. I know that there are PVC pipes that are made for Hot Water Use but I don't know if there has been much reported as to their durability. Not knowing much about plumbing I had hoped that some of you might comment on your feelings about using PVC over Copper. Some, before, have said PVC is being used more because of cost and I'm wondering what the trade off is of using PVC over copper if any, other than cost? If there is another term for the PVC Hot Water pipe forgive my ignorance but hopefully you will know what I'm talking about.

[Ned Flanders]

I think you might mean PEX not PVC or CPVC. PEX is the flexible plastic like stuff. I use Wirsbo brand and swear by it. Most of my new construction uses copper for all water and pex for the radiant heat. You can use AquaPex for your domestic water and it is cheaper than copper now. There are a lot of strong arguements for the use of PEX theese days especialy with the price of copper going so high. If you are on a well and have hard water then you would definitely want to use PEX so it dosen't rot out like copper will.

IMHO bottom line don't use anything but copper or a good brand PEX. stay away from any other plastic.