PEX vs. copper at a glance
Both are proven, code-approved materials for home water supply lines. The differences come down to flexibility, cost, lifespan, and how each one holds up to Florida's hard water:
| Factor | PEX | Copper |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Lower | Higher |
| Flexibility | Flexible, fewer fittings | Rigid |
| Corrosion resistance | Resists corrosion | Can pinhole in hard water |
| Install speed | Faster | Slower (soldered joints) |
| Sun / outdoor use | Not UV-rated | Tolerates sun |
| Track record | Newer | Long, proven |
| Recyclable | Limited | Yes |
PEX: pros and cons
PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) is flexible plastic tubing that has become a default choice for many modern repipes. Its strengths and limits:
- Flexible, fewer fittings: it bends around corners, so there are fewer joints that could ever leak.
- Lower cost: the material and labor are typically less than copper, which matters on a whole-home repipe.
- Corrosion-resistant: it won't pinhole the way copper can in aggressive or hard water.
- Faster install: a flexible run goes in quicker, meaning less time and less disruption in your home.
- Con — UV-sensitive: sunlight degrades PEX, so it isn't used for outdoor or sun-exposed runs.
- Con — newer track record: it performs well, but its real-world history is shorter than copper's decades of use.
Copper: pros and cons
Copper has been the trusted standard for generations and still has real advantages — along with a couple of Florida-specific drawbacks:
- Long, proven track record: decades of use mean its behavior is very well understood.
- Durable: it tolerates heat and pressure well and isn't affected by sunlight.
- Recyclable: copper is a recyclable metal, which some homeowners value.
- Con — higher cost: both the material and the soldered-joint labor cost more than PEX.
- Con — pinhole leaks: hard water can corrode copper from the inside over time, creating tiny pinhole leaks.
Which makes sense for a Florida repipe?
For many Brevard County homes, hard water, slab routing, and budget all point toward PEX — it resists the corrosion our water can cause, flexes easily through a slab home, and costs less. But it's genuinely situational.
Copper still makes sense for some homeowners, especially where a proven material is the priority or for specific exposed runs. Hard water is the recurring theme either way — it's why a softener often comes up during a repipe. Start with do I need a repipe? and how hard water affects Brevard homes.
What does a repipe cost?
Repipe pricing depends on your home's size, how many fixtures and bathrooms it has, how accessible the lines are, and which material you choose — so any single number is a range, not a quote.
About pricing
Because every home is different, we won't print a figure that won't match yours. A whole-home repipe is a meaningful investment, and PEX generally costs less than copper for the same job. We'll measure your home and give you a clear, written number before any work begins. [GATHER: confirm/adjust local pricing with Anna's]. See how we approach pricing in our plumbing cost guides, and 0% financing is available on approved credit.
How Anna's helps
We install both PEX and copper, so our recommendation is based on your home and water — not on what we'd rather sell. Our licensed plumbers walk you through the trade-offs in plain language and size the repipe to your fixtures and layout.
Anna's is a woman-owned local team serving Melbourne, Palm Bay, Viera, Rockledge, and the Space Coast, licensed and insured, with 0% financing available on approved credit. Explore our plumbing services to get started.
Already have a repipe quote?
A repipe is a big decision, so a second look is smart. Get a free second opinion and we'll confirm whether the material and scope fit your home before you commit.