In this day and age, there are many interesting and creative piping methods. One of the most popular materials for home plumbing right now is PEX (cross-linked polyethylene), an intuitive system of tubing and fittings that is flexible enough to move around obstacles in floors and walls while also being tough enough to withstand corrosion and hot water. PEX piping connects to plastic or metal fittings at hubs in the system with crimps instead of glue or welding. When it comes to PEX piping vs flexible PVC, which is the better option?
Flexible PVC is exactly what it sounds like. It is a type of flexible tubing with the same sizing as regular PVC and that can be attached to PVC fittings with flexible PVC cement. Flexible PVC is usually much thicker than PEX tubing, as it has schedule 40 dimensions and wall thickness. Keep reading to find out whether PEX tubing or flexible PVC is better for your application!
Material Composition
These two materials may seem similar due to their flexible nature, but their composition, application, and installation, are totally different. We will start by looking at the materials. PEX stands for cross-linked polyethylene. It is made from high-density polyethylene that has cross-linked bonds in the polymer structure. This sounds complicated, but it just means that this material is flexible and can handle high pressures (up to 180F for plumbing applications).
Flexible PVC is made from the same basic materials as regular PVC: polyvinyl chloride. However, plasticizers are added to to the compound, making it flexible. Flexible PVC can withstand temperatures from -10F to 125F, so it is unfit for hot water. Despite this, it is still extremely useful in several applications, which we will cover in the next section.
Applications
The differences in these two types of piping are greater than their construction. They are used for completely different applications as well. PEX tubing, due to its minimal space requirements and high temperature tolerance, is most commonly used for home and business plumbing. PEX is so great for these jobs because it can be so easily curved and bent in any direction without the use of excessive amounts of fittings. It is much easier to install than copper, which has been the hot water standard for generations.
Flexible PVC pipe may not be able to handle hot water, but it has other strengths. It's structural and chemical toughness make flex PVC ideal for pools and irrigation. Chlorine used for pool water has little to no effect on this tough piping. Flex PVC is also great for garden irrigation, as it can snake wherever you need it to go without dozens of annoying fittings.
As you can see, pitting PEX piping vs flexible PVC is like having a baseball team play against a hockey team. They are so different they can't even compete against each other! However, this isn't where the differences end. We will look at one more distinctive feature of each type of piping: installation. Read more about PEX applications from this article by The Family Handyman.
Installation
This time we'll start with flexible PVC, as it is installed in a way that is very familiar to us at PVC Fittings Online. This piping is installed with the same type of fittings as regular PVC pipe. Because it has practically the same chemical makeup as standard PVC, flex PVC can be bonded to PVC fittings with primer and cement. Special flexible PVC cement is available, which is designed to withstand the vibrations and pressures commonly found in pool and spa systems.
PEX piping uses a unique method of connections. Instead of glue or welding, PEX uses barbed metal or plastic fittings placed at intervals or hubs. The plastic tubing connects to these barbed ends with metal crimp rings that are squeezed tight with a special crimp tool. Using this method, connections only take seconds to make. PEX systems take less time to install than copper or CPVC when it comes to home plumbing. The image to the right shows a polyalloy PEX tee, a brass crimp ring, and a crimp tool, all available on our store!
Now you know how to approach the topic of PEX piping vs flexible PVC. They are both great methods of piping, but have completely different chemical makeups, applications, and installation methods. For high quality flexible PVC and PEX products, check out our online store where we offer low prices and fast shipping!