TheMaster

Micro split running with the pipe about 3/8" long and it was misting water. No pics but i still have the section of pipe in my van.....you want it?

Protech

Chlorine damage

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TheMaster

If its chlorine damage then its exclusive to durapex here...its the only brand i've found with splits unless they didn't have thermal expansion control. The durapex was and has been in an open system.

Protech

That's correct. The problem with durapex is that they put very little UV protection or anti-oxidants in the pex. There where several problems here in central Florida due to our high chlorine content. UV exposure breaks down the anti-oxidants too. Very short exposures may reduce the anti oxidants even though the pipe does not visually look different.

Uponor is some what similar in this way. The Engle process they use to make the type A pex limits the amount of inhibitors they can put into the mix. As a result the pipe is far more sensitive to UV/chlorine than most other types of pex out there. Thats not to say they can't last. They just can't have ANY exposure to UV and can only be installed on low chlorine water supplies (kinda like polybutylene).

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RW Plumbing

I have personally had 10 or so calls to replace brittle CPVC. I only use PEX myself as I haven't had a single issue with it in over 2 years. As far as cheaper goes, Pex is alot faster to install(at least for me) so that makes PEX cheaper.

Also CPVC can have micro cracks in it from bouncing around in the truck or whatever, and you don't know until you turn water on. Suprise instant sprinkler system.

Will

CPVC is king in apartments where I've done most of my plumbing. I don't see much wrong with it when its installed right. I've worked for a company that has done miles of CPVC piping in apartments, and it has held up great. I do remember having to cut out a section of the CPVC in a apartment that had been in service a year or so. The fittings was leaking. I'm going to blame the leak on a poor glue joint. I wouldn't say CPVC sucks, just because 1 in a few thousand glue joints leaked. I'd blame that more on installer error. You have to use brass males or females with CPVC inserts and never use compression stops on CPVC. Make sure you strap it down good and you shouldn't have a problem with CPVC. At least I haven't.

Now PEX is the piping that is going in houes. I personally hate the stuff. Not because I think it is a poor product, it seems to hold up well. Its just when I install it it makes me like a sparky more than a plumber. And I think it looks like crap when installed. I've only used Wirsbo(very good product imo) and Vanguard. I prefer Wirsbo. I've seen and heard that Vanguard has a problem with the plastic nuts leaking on the Manabloc. I'm pretty sure they have fixed that problem, not sure cause I haven't installed a vanguard house in 2 years now. Wirsbos all I use. Even then I get more leaks on Wirsbo to Vanguard than I do CPVC. I like PEX when there is a chance it might freeze and I always install it as a water service now. Better than PVC cause its not rigid and moves with the soil.

Anyway if I had my choice I will always pick copper in the slab. I can install copper on my ruff in, then on top out I can run water faster with copper than I can with PEX.

Allen02

CPVC can be used as the water heater discharge lines as well. It is approved for this application by all major plumbing codes, including the Standard Plumbing Code..

Protech

See no harm in that as it's a low/non-pressure application. I use it for pan drains too.

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easttexasplumb

I like to use copper couplings to transition from copper to copper on my water heaters. I bought a torch, and just hate to let it go to waste.

GREENPLUM

do a google search,

" Lawsuits CPVC "

then do

" Lawsuits PEX "