What to use for plumbing supply lines....

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by jfrederick

Our Lowe's and Menards both carry QPex and MBPex brass fittings and many plumbers around here still use them (I do too). I'm assuming the problems you're referring to are the lawsuits. There's been no recall or settlement that I'm aware of.

Lowe's, Home Depot and many other such stores carry flexible (accordion-type) drain pipes as well. Just because they're carried at these stores, doesn't mean they're a good product and I would never use that argument to support a product.

In any event, I have never witnessed any problems in existing brass fittings, and hundreds of homes (perhaps thousands) in my area are fitted with them. However, they are no longer used by any builders or plumbing contractors in my area.

[Michael Bazzo, CMI]

Dura Pex comes too mind as well. Quite a few problems with water supply lines splitting down the center. If I remember correctly, there was a class action lawsuit on this product.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by mbazzo;793729[COLOR=red

]Dura Pex[/COLOR] comes too mind as well. Quite a few problems with water supply lines splitting down the center. If I remember correctly, there was a class action lawsuit on this product.

Plus:

UPONOR/WIRSBO

ZURN

KITEC.....This system had fittings problems but occasional de-laminating of the Pex-Al-Pex layers in the hydronic heating system pipe.

[Tim Spargo]

I like the idea of a sand embedded soft type K water main and type L installed above grade within a home, copper has some pluses and Bacteriostatic properties.

I wonder... if any studies have been done in regards to having at least some portions of a PEX system installed with copper couplings or stubs present can provide similar water quality advantages.

Pex seems like a good material.. but a lot of these newer systems are used for their reduction in cost and installation, not so much that a significant improvement in quality is present. The fact that the material will last a lifetime is great.. the fittings for much of this newer stuff seem to be an *issue*.

I like copper.. so does the rest of the world, it's expensive.

[Jeff Merritt]

Not a question in Chicago, all copper, no CPVC or Pex allowed.