4 ms·

Research indicates PEX leaches significantly. E.g., https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135414006289 https://www.sciencedirect.com/scien

Research indicates PEX leaches significantly. E.g., https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135414006289 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00431...

rsync 5y ago
I was not proposing replacing proper, copper drinking water lines with PEX. I was proposing replacing PVC lines with PEX. I'm thinking irrigation, utility supply, etc. ... I wouldn't expect a house to be plumbed with PVC for drinking water ... Although the sharkbites are also really, really handy to have in your copper water system - if only to have a handful of caps in case of line breaks ...
- ThenAsNow 5y ago
  Understood. I wasn't trying to shoot down your point with a drive-by, just want more people to be aware that PEX, which is quite common in new construction for household drinking water plumbing, is a questionable choice for at least that purpose. PVC, CPVC, and PEX are all commonly used in drinking water plumbing. I can't offer a qualified view on irrigation or utility plumbing; not sure if PEX leachates are worse than PVC, etc.
- webmaven 5y ago
  >... I wouldn't expect a house to be plumbed with PVC for drinking water ... Manufactured (AKA mobile) homes are typically plumbed with PVC or PEX[0], and PEX is pretty popular for traditional (AKA site-built) houses as well[1]. [0] https://mobilehomeliving.org/plumbing-in-manufactured-homes-the-basics/ https://mobilehomeliving.org/plumbing-in-manufactured-homes-... [1] https://www.bobvila.com/articles/pex-pipe/ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/pex-pipe/
  - throwawayboise 5y ago
    Yes, most new homes are plumbed with PVC (or actually, CPVC, which is a variant that tolerates higher temperatures and is sized like copper pipe) or PEX. I wouldn't trust sharkbite fittings for anything really permanent (inside a wall, etc) but they are super handy for quick repairs.
nitrogen 5y ago
> As TOC decreased, the ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm increased. Pipes consumed as much as 0.5 mg/L as Cl2 during each 3 day stagnation period. Both of those results mentioned in the abstract are really fascinating. I'm really curious why UV absorbance increased as leachates were released, and the chlorine consumption kind of makes me think that if I ever have a house with PEX, I will want to install a whole-house purification system to remove chlorine, or run copper to at least all drinking locations.

Research indicates PEX leaches significantly. E.g., https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135414006289 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00431...

rsync 5y ago

I was not proposing replacing proper, copper drinking water lines with PEX. I was proposing replacing PVC lines with PEX. I'm thinking irrigation, utility supply, etc. ... I wouldn't expect a house to be plumbed with PVC for drinking water ... Although the sharkbites are also really, really handy to have in your copper water system - if only to have a handful of caps in case of line breaks ...

ThenAsNow 5y ago
Understood. I wasn't trying to shoot down your point with a drive-by, just want more people to be aware that PEX, which is quite common in new construction for household drinking water plumbing, is a questionable choice for at least that purpose. PVC, CPVC, and PEX are all commonly used in drinking water plumbing. I can't offer a qualified view on irrigation or utility plumbing; not sure if PEX leachates are worse than PVC, etc.
webmaven 5y ago
>... I wouldn't expect a house to be plumbed with PVC for drinking water ... Manufactured (AKA mobile) homes are typically plumbed with PVC or PEX[0], and PEX is pretty popular for traditional (AKA site-built) houses as well[1]. [0] https://mobilehomeliving.org/plumbing-in-manufactured-homes-the-basics/ https://mobilehomeliving.org/plumbing-in-manufactured-homes-... [1] https://www.bobvila.com/articles/pex-pipe/ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/pex-pipe/
- throwawayboise 5y ago
  Yes, most new homes are plumbed with PVC (or actually, CPVC, which is a variant that tolerates higher temperatures and is sized like copper pipe) or PEX. I wouldn't trust sharkbite fittings for anything really permanent (inside a wall, etc) but they are super handy for quick repairs.

nitrogen 5y ago

> As TOC decreased, the ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm increased. Pipes consumed as much as 0.5 mg/L as Cl2 during each 3 day stagnation period. Both of those results mentioned in the abstract are really fascinating. I'm really curious why UV absorbance increased as leachates were released, and the chlorine consumption kind of makes me think that if I ever have a house with PEX, I will want to install a whole-house purification system to remove chlorine, or run copper to at least all drinking locations.