Trying to figure out if I should go with PEX or copper for rerouting some lines while swapping my old tub for a walk-in shower. I keep hearing PEX is way easier to work with (and cheaper), but part of me trusts copper more since it's what’s already in the walls. Anyone here done both? Did you notice any difference in water pressure or weird taste? Curious what you’d pick and why.
Did a shower swap last year and went with PEX—honestly, it felt like cheating compared to sweating copper. No torch burns, no cursing at tiny leaks. Haven’t noticed any weird taste or pressure drop either. If you’re not set on flexing your soldering skills, PEX is a breeze.
No torch burns, no cursing at tiny leaks.
- Totally get this—PEX really does take a lot of the stress out of plumbing.
- From an eco angle, less energy used (no torch) and fewer wasted fittings if you mess up.
- I was skeptical about plastic at first, but it’s held up fine for me too.
- Only thing I’d watch is making sure it’s all certified lead-free and installed away from direct sunlight. Otherwise, yeah, hard to argue with the convenience.
Copper vs. PEX always gets folks going. I used to be a die-hard copper fan—old habits die hard, I guess. My first few rentals were all copper, and I got pretty good at sweating joints, but man, I still remember the time I set off the smoke alarm at 2am trying to fix a pinhole leak under the tub. My wife was not impressed.
These days, I lean PEX for most bathroom jobs, especially when it’s a tight space like swapping a tub for a walk-in. The flexibility alone is worth it. I’ve fished PEX through some weird old framing that would’ve been a nightmare with rigid pipe. Plus, no torch means I’m not stressing about burning the place down or accidentally melting insulation.
That said, I do get a little twitchy about hidden connections. I’ve seen a couple of push-to-connect fittings weep after a few years, so I stick to crimp or expansion rings and double-check every joint before closing up walls. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I want to sleep at night, you know?
I’ve also had an inspector give me grief once about UV exposure—turns out a little sunlight through a basement window can mess with PEX over time. Now I make sure it’s all tucked away or covered. And yeah, lead-free is a must. I don’t mess around with that, especially with tenants.
I still use copper for anything exposed or where I want it to last 50 years, but for a quick bathroom reno, PEX is tough to beat. Just gotta watch those details. Funny how what used to seem “cheap” now feels like the safer bet.
Honestly, the only time I miss copper is when I want to feel like a “real plumber” with a torch in hand. PEX just makes life easier, especially in those weird crawlspaces where you have to contort like a circus act. Haven’t noticed any taste issues, but I do get a little paranoid about those plastic fittings behind drywall—double crimp, triple check, then hope for the best. Water pressure’s been fine for me, but maybe I just don’t notice because I’m too happy not to be soldering upside down.
