Quote from @Account Closed:
Quote from @Randall Brooks:
Quote from @Thomas S.:
I do all my own plumbing so can not comment on pricing. I have not used copper for at least 6 years at this point in time. Would not use anything but Pex and in your case would hold off replacing the plumbing for now if there is any possibility of codes changing in the next few years to allow PEX.
No way I would be installing copper at this point in time.
Absolutely agree. I do my own plumbing as well and would never use copper. It's crazy to me pex isn't allowed in Chicago. Unless you're in a rush I'd wait to see if they allow pex as it's much cheaper and a lot easier to work with. As a side note... I've worked on repairing two houses this year that had small fires and both of them were saved because the pex lines melted and sprayed the fires down. These were my first two fire rehabs ever and I find it interesting that melted pex was credited for saving both of them.
Plastic leaches chemicals into the water, copper does not.
I discussed this with a plumber once. I agree that's true but kind of a mute point imo... if you're concerned with the pex leaching chemicals then you should be concerned with the piping that city water travels in before reaching your pex lines and the quality of the city tap water in general.... as well as anything you drink that's bottled and any food that's bagged in plastic even those labelled as food safe which have been shown to leach chemicals. If the copper makes you feel better then use it, plumbers in my area pipe their own houses in pex and only care for copper because they make more on material upcharge and labor to install.
As a side note- acidic water breaks down copper, which ingesting can cause health issues, and can cause pinholes in copper piping. It's not perfect either... but the fact that we are able to get water into a house and waste out, is in itself, pretty awesome.