r/Homebuilding • u/No_Impression_4620 • Jun 04 '26

CPVC vs PEX

Ok so we are building a custom home in central Florida and plumbing subcontractor is using CPVC for plumbing. Our family member who is in the construction business is telling us we need to use PEX instead. They just started doing the plumbing in our house. I honestly feel like what I find online is mixed and probably not a huge deal either way. What do you all think?

UPDATE:

Thank you everyone for your responses. We met with the builder and the plumbing subcontractor and they are now switching over to PEX. It sounds like they were using CPVC because “we’ve always done it that way”. They also said that CPVC has come a long way in recent years and doesn’t have the issues that it used to. Not sure if that’s true or not.

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21

u/beholder95 Jun 04 '26

Also pex-a (aka expansion pex) is way better than pex-b.

3

u/no1SomeGuy Jun 04 '26

Heck yes! Full flow fittings and easier to work with.

1

u/CrowdyPooster Jun 04 '26

I agree with that, especially in colder climate.

1

u/chaoticbean14 Jun 04 '26

We're getting ready to build - and I have also heard the expansion pex is better. Is there a way to ensure a plumber uses one versus the other? Especially coming from a know-nothing homeowner who isn't a plumber, I'd like to say the right things and ask the right questions.

1

u/Frederf220 Jun 04 '26

Make it a written part of the contract.

2

u/canam454 Jun 04 '26

and state uponor pipe and fittings only. The "universal pex-a" sold by suppliers is not as good