Are Plastic Pipes Right for Your Philadelphia Home?

It’s a major job, and no homeowner looks forward to it, but eventually, we all face it. The pipes are cracked or worn, and it is time for a major plumbing job. For decades, copper pipe has been the way to go for almost every plumbing job from water to gas.

There is, however, another option available: PVC, or plastic pipe. But is plastic pipe safe? Is it right for your home? There are a lot of questions regarding which pipe to use in your new plumbing. Read about the pros and cons of plastic pipes, and how ServiceWhale Philadelphia plumbing services can help you decide what is best for your home.

Plastic or PVC Plumbing

There are a number of elements in favor of using plastic pipes in your Philadelphia home. They are strong and stable, resistant to corrosion, flame-retardant, and flexible when needed. They tend to be excellent when it comes to reducing pressure leaks at the joints (since there’s often no solder used) and are much easier to deal with than copper pipe.

On the downside, some people think that drinking water from PVC pipes can give the water a plastic or chemical taste. Others claim there are health concerns due to bacteria and contamination, but some research may prove otherwise. Your ServiceWhale plumber can help you weigh the pros against the cons of plastic plumbing to see if this choice would be a good fit for your home.

Copper Pipe

Copper pipe has been the “gold standard” for many decades when it comes to home plumbing jobs. It is durable, fire resistant and can stand up to the elements. Regardless of the local building codes in your Philadelphia community, it’s likely that copper pipe will be up to code. Copper is also less bulky than plastic and can fit into tight areas where PVC might not fit. Its longevity and presence can also sometimes increase the value of your home.

On the downside, copper is very expensive and fluctuates wildly with the value of precious metals. As with plastic, some homeowners report a chemical or metallic taste to their water (which in the end tells you that this is mostly subjective). If your water’s pH is off, the pipes can corrode and spring leaks. It can also be more complicated to install and handle.

Philadelphia Plumbing Services

When you need Philadelphia plumbing services, you naturally want to do your homework about your options. This homework should include looking into the best in local plumbing professionals. A plumber will be able to evaluate the conditions in your home, from the space with which you have to work to the acidity of your water, and can advise you on the best choice for you.

When discerning Philly homeowners need the best in professional services, they turn to the most reliable around. They turn to ServiceWhale. Take some time to review how fast and easy our process for hiring an ideal professional can be, and then give us a call for more information today.