PEX Pipe Failure
Learn the causes of PEX pipe failure and how early detection and repair can help prevent leaks and costly plumbing damage.
Degradation due to contact with locally treated water.
PEX is part of the same polymer family as Polybutylene, and their track records are shockingly similar. PEX has an unproven track record, with several major PEX manufacturers having changed the materials and design of their systems multiple times after several high-profile fitting failures.
Every major PEX manufacturer excludes failures caused by water chemistry from their warranty. Amusingly as well, the intended installation benefit (its flexibility) became its own enemy since it fails even more often when bent inside interior walls.
- Developed in Europe which doesn’t use chlorine to treat water the way the U.S. does
- Many previous class-action lawsuits allege PEX system failures due to exposure to normal drinking water — 12 more are currently underway
- Although different PEX production methods (A, B, C) vary widely in chlorine resistance, it is difficult to figure out which, if any, PEX product is reliable
- No PEX is recommended for use where chlorine levels are greater than 5 parts per million (a miniscule amount that is LESS than what is actually USED)
- The use of PEX piping can be detrimental to household water quality PEX piping is known to leach regulated gasoline components such as MTBE, ETBE, TBA and Toluene into drinking water.
- PEX piping is permeable, meaning that outside chemicals can enter through the pipe wall and contaminate the water without causing a pipe failure
Click here to download our Failing Pipe Systems brochure.
Learn about our pipe replacement process
Is PEX the new Polybutylene?
There are a lot of similarities between PEX pipe failure and Polybutylene pipe failure. For us, the replacement process is similar. You can read more about our process here: Pipe Replacement Process.
Additionally, the reasons for the pipe failure are similar, insofar as exposure to sunlight and chemicals in the water deteriorate the material.
In the past, PEX pipe was commonly used to replace failing polybutylene.
Polybutylene was installed in more than 10 Million homes between the 1970’s and mid-1990’s! (1)
Unfortunately, PEX piping was popular with new home construction for a long time.
As polybutylene began to fail – which ultimately led to a massive class action lawsuit (2) – cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) was a fast and cost effective solution.
Now, within the last few years, PEX manufactures are facing similar class action lawsuits. (3)
So, to answer the question: yes, PEX failure is essentially the new polybutylene failure.
Is PEX plumbing bad?
It depends on how it’s being used. When we say “PEX pipe failure”, we are primarily talking about PEX being used inside the walls.
Specifically, when PEX pipe is used for the interior water distribution system.
Essentially, you have a “ticking time-bomb” inside your walls, because that PEX pipe is going to fail.
If PEX piping is being used for water supply lines to your toilet, then that’s not the same “ticking time-bomb scenario”. In that instance, the pipe is not necessarily part of the interior water distribution system. In those cases, you’ll be able to see when PEX line needs to be replaced.
When PEX pipes ARE inside your walls, then you won’t know it. You won’t see it. There won’t be much warning, before “the time-bomb” goes off.
So, yes, PEX can cause catastrophic damage to your home and belongings. Therefore, we definitely think PEX pipes are bad for the interior water distribution system of your home.
What should PEX pipe be replaced with?
There are trade-offs with all replacement options. Ultimately, our customers want their PEX or poly pipes replaced with a material that’s going to last and not empty their bank account.
We highly recommend replacing PEX or poly pipes with CPVC pipes or Copper pipes; however, we do not put cheap & generic CPVC pipes in your house.
It’s extremely important to us that the manufacture is willing to put their name on their product. So, we specifically use FlowGuard Gold®.
Get the facts about FlowGuard Gold vs. other products
Product Comparison
The FlowGuardGold® website also has some recommended blogs on: identifying signs that a repipe is needed, understanding problems that arise from bending pex, and learning how changing water treatment practices impact plumbing design.
The people at FlowGuard Gold® recently reached out to us for an interview. They wanted to know why we choose to use their product. You can read that interview by clicking here
Is CPVC the same thing as PVC?
No, CPVC is not the same thing as PVC.
PVC is a pipe used mostly for drains. It should not be used as part of the interior water distribution system, because it is not rated to carry hot water.
Is CPVC pipe bad?
It depends on who you ask. A lot of construction companies & plumbers like PEX, because it’s affordable and easily installed.
One of the reasons, PEX is easy to install is because it’s basically a flexible hose that doesn’t have the traditional joints of other pipes.
So, most people that don’t like CPVC complain about the need for properly creating those joints.
Creating the pipe joints for CPVC takes more time & skill. CPVC is not like a garden hose that can easily move around objects. So, we have to carefully plan the route for the CPVC pipes.
Another big difference between CPVC and PEX pipes is the way they connect to other pipes.
CPVC, like many plumbing pipes, needs to have the connection and joints sealed. PEX, however, uses a crimping method, which has its own host of problems.
For example, if PEX is not crimped with the proper tools or methods, then you will have leaks.
CPVC basically uses a solvent to create a chemical weld between the pipe and the fitting. Like any type of plumbing pipe, it’s important that CPVC be installed with the proper tools & methods.
Does Plumbing Express use PEX piping?
We do use PEX for water service lines.
This is the line bringing water from the water meter to the house.
PEX is a flexible tub and it is very good in underground applications which are less critical than in-wall applications. If a pipe leaks in the yard, there is a minimal likelihood of damage to the home.
What if I have PEX piping under my house?
If there is a failing pipe under the house that can’t be accessed because it is under a concrete slab, Plumbing Express will repipe a home and bypass the pipes that are under the slab.
Many plumbers will do a slab leak repair which involves calling a leak detection company to pinpoint the leak, removing the flooring above the slab and then breaking the concrete slab with a jackhammer to access and repair the pipe. We don’t do that.
Rather, for not much more money, all the slab pipes can be bypassed with a complete repipe. After a repipe, there are no more active water supply pipes in the slab.
As with other types of leaks, a leak in a slab is often a sign of widespread failure in the system.
What if I have a PEX pipe leak?
To repair a PEX pipe leak, the best thing to do is cut out the section of failed pipe and re-crimp a new piece of pipe into the line.
If the PEX pipe in the system is failing, then it is likely that another leak will develop on the adjacent pipe.
FlowGuardGold® is the registered trademark of Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What Atlanta Homeowners Say About Plumbing Express
Our 4.9-star rating comes from 2,000+ Google reviews written by real homeowners across Metro Atlanta. Here is what a few of them had to say.
Read more reviews on Google or visit our customer reviews page to see why Atlanta homeowners choose Plumbing Express.
Service couldn’t be completed due to needing a new system. We appreciate the very informative visit as well as insight that could help after a new unit install.
Plumbing Express was great. I had a failed sump pump that had partially overflowed into the basement. Nasty. Josh was the tech that did the work. He was efficient, neat and courteous. I will use Plumbing Express if I have any other plumbing needs and I will recommend them to my family and friends.
The technician was very knowledgeable and professional. I believe they did a very good job.
Ron was our second plumber from this company. The first plumber came, examined pipes and said he found no leak, even though we had experiences a large amount of water leaking from the ceiling in the finished basement. Several days later we had another leak-same area but less water the second time. Ron came in, listened to our frustration and did a more thorough inspection of the pipes and identified the problem. He was very personable and professional. On his third visit, we had several replacement pipes installed and are without leaks again. Our frustration, with the situation, was my son had used your company to replace pipes when he purchased the home and founding out not all the pipes were included with that process.
Tim arrived on time and was very professional. He took his time to explain the problem and the process it would take fix the water line.
Called Plumbing Express as tankless hot water not operating. Their website states "Get Free Plumbing Quote ". When service man showed up an looked at unit he said there would be a $207 charge to look into unit in order to give me a quote to fix unit. Due to not having hot water and time required to get another company to address the problem I agreed to pay $207 for quote. After looking in unit I was told he would not be able to fix due to age of unit and parts not available. I think he should have said parts not available when seeing model number on front of unit and I would not have wasted $207.
Outstanding customer service, we will definitely be using them in the future for any plumbing needs. Can’t thank them enough!
Extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. The team was excellent. The job was completed in 1 day with a great team. Very expressive.
Daniel Perez was great in coming out to check the problem I had with a water leak from my air conditioner line. His recommendation was correct.
Great and informative service while I was in a bind without a functioning water heater.
Plumbing Express is my go-to plumbing support team. They have fair pricing, well-vetted technicians, and a truly exceptional scheduling system. Rod, my technician, was the best. He quickly assessed the problem and gave a fair estimate, working hard to keep to the schedule. He even brought Josh along on the day of service, and the two of them worked well together. They addressed the bathtub drain repair with expertise and caused the least sheetrock damage. It was difficult to replace the broken pipe and get to the upstairs drain, but together they made it a success.
Daniel did a great job and was very professional during his service call last week!
Rod and Josh did an awesome job taking care of my clogged sinks. Knowledgable, professional and great to work with - I really appreciated their help today and would highly recommend them and Plumbing Express!
Daniel was excellent. The work he did was simply superb. I highly recommend your company and hopefully Daniel will get more and more work
Dylan from Plumbing Express came over and replaced our garbage disposal for us. It was older, had a massive leak, and needed to be replaced. He did a great job and was in and out in about 30 minutes! I also asked him to check out a potential leak I had been hearing in my ceiling. He used a thermal camera to investigate and was very honest and upfront about what he found. Rather than immediately cutting into the drywall to confirm something uncertain, he explained that the sound could simply be pipes expanding and that opening the wall might be unnecessary. He recommended monitoring the area and waiting to see if a wet spot appears, which would clearly indicate an actual leak. I really appreciated that he didn’t try to upsell or push unnecessary work. Overall, great service and a great guy. They will definitely be our go-to plumbing service from now on.
Once again we had some problems under our kitchen sink so we called Plumbing Express who were able to get us on their schedule pretty quickly after these storms Tim Robinson came out to do the job. Tim has been to our house for a number of different plumbing problems. He is personable & professional. As usual he did a great job even though this particular problem turned out to be far more difficult than anyone had expected. As frustrating as it was, Tim worked through it until he finished the job. We can't thank him enough.
Anthony was very competent, professional and friendly. He answered all my questions throughly. Highly recommend!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are PEX pipes failing in my Atlanta home?
PEX was developed in Europe, where municipal water is not treated with chlorine the way U.S. systems are. Georgia’s water supply regularly exceeds the chlorine tolerance PEX is rated for. Over time, that chlorine exposure makes the pipe brittle and prone to cracking from the inside. Improper crimp installation and repeated bending inside wall cavities accelerate the process. Multiple class action lawsuits against PEX manufacturers cite these failure modes.
How long do PEX pipes last inside walls?
PEX carries a manufacturer lifespan claim of 25 to 50 years, but that assumes water chemistry within the rated tolerance. In Atlanta’s chlorinated water supply, in-wall pipes can degrade far sooner and often with little warning until a leak is already active. Supply lines you can see and access are a lower risk because you catch problems early. Pipes buried inside walls give you almost no warning.
Can PEX contaminate my drinking water?
Yes. PEX is a permeable material. It can leach regulated gasoline components including MTBE, ETBE, TBA, and Toluene into drinking water when installed near contaminated soil. Outside chemicals can also pass through the pipe wall without causing a visible pipe failure. FlowGuard Gold CPVC and copper do not carry this risk.
What should I replace failing PEX with?
Plumbing Express recommends FlowGuard Gold CPVC or copper for all interior water distribution systems. FlowGuard Gold is specifically rated for chlorinated water, does not leach chemicals, and is not permeable. We do not use generic CPVC. See how materials compare on FlowGuard Gold’s comparison page.
What if my PEX pipe is under the slab?
We bypass it with a full repipe rather than breaking your floor to repair one leak. Plumbing Express reroutes your entire water supply overhead so no active supply lines remain in the slab. A single slab leak is often an early sign that the rest of the system is close behind. Read more on our slab leak detection and repair page.
Does Plumbing Express use PEX in its own work?
We use PEX for underground water service lines only, the buried pipe running from your water meter to your house. In that underground application, PEX handles ground movement well and any failure stays outdoors where damage is limited. We do not install PEX inside walls for any interior water distribution system.
Our Service Areas
Serving Metro Atlanta, North Georgia, and Surrounding Communities
Plumbing Express provides plumbing, repiping, water heater, and drain cleaning services to homeowners across Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Our licensed plumbers know the plumbing systems in this region, from aging polybutylene pipes in 1980s subdivisions to clay sewer lines in older neighborhoods.
We serve the following counties and communities:
Don’t see your city listed? We likely serve your area too. Visit our full service area page or call (678) 439-9540 to confirm availability at your address.
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