What to Compare
Ask your plumber what they prefer for your specific situation — and avoid any contractor still using non-certified PEX brands or proposing polybutylene pipe.
Head-to-Head Breakdown
PEX Pipe
Features and considerations
- Handles hot water well; won't burst from freezing
- Long lifespan (50+ years) when properly installed
Limits and questions
- Some PEX types susceptible to chlorine degradation over time
- Cannot be used in direct sunlight without UV protection
- Some older recall-era PEX brands caused Florida claims
CPVC Pipe
Features and considerations
- Long FL track record since 1980s
Limits and questions
- More fittings required = more potential leak points
- Rigid pipe is harder to route through finished walls
Side-by-Side Comparison
| PEX Pipe | CPVC Pipe | |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Highly flexible — bends around obstacles without fittings | Rigid — requires fittings at every turn; more labor to install |
| Installation Speed | Confirm the schedule and conditions with the PEX Pipe provider before booking. | Confirm the schedule and conditions with the CPVC Pipe provider before booking. |
| Heat Tolerance | Ask the PEX Pipe provider to document heat tolerance for the exact offer. | Ask the CPVC Pipe provider to document heat tolerance for the exact offer. |
| Chemical Resistance | Can be degraded by chlorine over long periods (especially in FL's high-chlorine water) | Ask for evidence for the exact CPVC Pipe product or local service; match it to your project conditions. |
| UV Resistance | Ask for evidence for the exact PEX Pipe product or local service; match it to your project conditions. | Ask for evidence for the exact CPVC Pipe product or local service; match it to your project conditions. |
| Lifespan | Ask for evidence for the exact PEX Pipe product or local service; match it to your project conditions. | Ask for evidence for the exact CPVC Pipe product or local service; match it to your project conditions. |
| Cost | Request an itemized quote for PEX Pipe; compare the same scope and payment period. | Request an itemized quote for CPVC Pipe; compare the same scope and payment period. |
| FL Code Status | Verify the current requirements and applicable documents for your address and PEX Pipe proposal. | Verify the current requirements and applicable documents for your address and CPVC Pipe proposal. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What pipe is in most Florida homes built before 1990?
Many pre-1990 FL homes have copper (good, but may have corrosion issues in acidic FL water), galvanized steel (needs replacement), or polybutylene (requires immediate replacement).
How much does repiping a Florida home cost?
Get at least 3 quotes from licensed FL plumbers.
Does Florida have specific plumbing code requirements?
Florida follows the Florida Building Code Plumbing volume, which is based on the International Plumbing Code with Florida amendments. Both PEX and CPVC are approved materials.
Consumer resources
Use these official resources when evaluating an offer. They provide general guidance and do not establish a winner between these options.
- FTC: checking home-repair offers and written agreements — General consumer guidance; not evidence of either brand's price or performance.
- Florida DBPR: license search — Search for a profession regulated by DBPR; this link does not establish that a particular provider is licensed or that every service needs this license.