Are Copper Supply Lines Better?

Copper piping is the most common in our area due to the sheer number of homes built between 1995 and 2015. Obviously, copper pipe is very durable, but the type of copper used in main yard lines and under the home is called “Type M.”

Type M copper has slightly thinner walls, allowing it to be purchased in large, continuous rolls. The benefit is that there are no sweat joints from the meter shut-off to the main water shut-off valve, and no sweat joints under the slab. Any type of joint where a fitting is used to join pipe together is typically considered the weakest point in the pipe. Not only is it a weak point, but it could also leave room for error and/or improper installation.

But because the Type M copper walls are thinner, sharp aggregate in the soil or concrete can cause wear points and create a leak. That said, most yard line leaks on a copper pipe are not in the pipe itself but at one of the joints or connections (irrigation tee or shut-off valve/PRV).

One advantage copper has over any of the other pipes is that in the event of a leak, it can be traced, located, and marked. The tester has the ability to get directly over the line with their acoustic listening equipment. Therefore, there is a much better chance of locating the leak and completing a spot repair versus a full main yard line replacement.

There is nothing wrong with copper pipe, and we use both copper and PEX depending on the application and requirements. However, there are many minor advantages with PEX pipe versus any other product on the market. The most important advantage came full circle in February 2021’s freeze event. PEX might freeze but it will not burst or rupture—at least we haven’t seen it happen yet.

At Earl’s Plumbing, as it pertains to main yard water line replacements and new installations, we feel that PEX is the overall superior product for this application should this scope of work be required.