If you’re about to get some new plumbing put in, chances are that it will be made of PEX instead of copper.

PEX is quickly becoming the go-to material for plumbing, but does that mean that you can use it for your showerhead as well?

Here’s Can You Use PEX for Shower Head:

PEX is a great material to use in the pipe leading to your shower head, both for hot and cold water.

However, you can’t use it everywhere because of its flexibility. Strategically placing PEX in your shower fixture is more effective than copper or PVC, but it’s important to understand it so that you can use it appropriately.

What is PEX?

PEX is short for cross-linked polyethylene. It has become increasingly popular for plumbing since it was first invented in the 1930s, and is now the standard for bathroom and kitchen pipes.

In fact, plumbers often repair old copper or CPVC pipes with PEX because it’s a lot more versatile and malleable! However, you need to make sure that you’re using the right kind of PEX, namely PEX A.

You might get it mixed up with PEX B, but keep in mind that it’s a lot more rigid. That means that your pipes will have a greater chance of bursting if the pressure exceeds a certain point.

Also, PEX can sometimes leach chemicals if exposed to high external temperatures, be careful while placing them and make sure they’re not close to any heating elements.

Why PEX is Better Than Copper for Shower Heads?

Older homes still have copper plumbing, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Copper has been a trusted and reliable plumbing material for a really long time. It’s not getting replaced by PEX because it’s bad, but rather because PEX is a lot better.

The primary benefit of PEX is that it’s easier to work with. It doesn’t need to be soldered like copper pipes which makes it more suitable for DIY plumbing, and it’s a lot more flexible so you can create a continuous line from manifold to showerhead without needing elbow joints.

If you’re trying to connect your showerhead to the manifold with copper piping, you would likely have to cut the pipes up. With PEX, you can just bend it whenever it’s required. The lack of joints will make your pipes less prone to leaks, and more importantly, it can boost water pressure!

Your water will get to your showerhead directly without any interruptions or joiners getting in the way. This results in a more effective flow rate which gives higher pressure jets from your shower head.

PEX is also generally more weather resistant than copper. Copper piping is notorious for freezing in the winter which can make your showerheads unusable, but that’s not something you’d face with PEX.

Even PVC pipes tend to be quite rigid which makes them prone to freezing. These pipes often break after they defrost, but PEX is so flexible that this never tends to happen all that often.

Finally, copper will usually cost up to twice as much as PEX. The price advantage is important to consider because it really supplements the other benefits of using PEX for your showerhead connections instead of copper.

What Size PEX Should I Use for the Shower?

It’s important to use the right size PEX for your shower because this can affect water pressure and flow. As we’ve mentioned earlier, you need a thick line connecting to the manifold.

A ¾ inch line should work wonderfully. It’s thick enough to allow the passage of large quantities of water, so if you’ve done this correctly your shower line can be a bit slimmer.

Adding a ¾ inch PEX line to your shower might make it bulky. No one likes looking at a thick, ugly pipe underneath their showerhead after all, so a ½ inch variant might be better in this instance.

Since you’re using a thicker pipe to bring water to your showerhead from the manifold, a thinner line that leads to your shower can still produce adequate water pressure.

Can I Run ¾ PEX to Shower?

While we’d recommend using a ½ inch line to the shower and a ¾ inch line from the manifold, there’s nothing wrong with using a thicker line for both.

In fact, if you get low water pressure you might be better off running a ¾ PEX to your shower! The ample space lets more water flow through, though this makes running a ¾ PEX from the manifold even more important.

You can connect a thinner PEX to a thicker one, but not the other way around. If you’ve been using a ½ PEX from the manifold, now’s the time to change it. You shouldn’t face any problems as long as your PEX sizes decrease sequentially the further away from the manifold you go.

That said, certain areas get incredibly high water pressure. Using a ¾ PEX in such areas might damage your showerhead by letting too much pressure through.

Can I Use PEX for Hot Water Showers?

Do you like showering with hot water? Of course, you do! We do too, and we feel like facilitating hot water connections for shower heads is an important part of setting them up.

Now, we’ve already mentioned that you need to keep your PEX pipes away from heat. Does that mean you can’t use PEX pipes for hot water?

The answer is yes! PEX pipes come in three colors: blue, white, and red. White pipes can be used with both hot and cold water, blue is specially for cold water and red is for hot water.

However, you should know that all of these pipes are more or less the same. The colors are only there to make it easier for your plumber to know which line they are looking at, so the short answer is that you can use PEX for hot water showers with no issues. Read Also: Why can’t showerheads be shipped to California?

It’s external heat that these pipes should be kept away from. In fact, the different colors that PEX comes in are a lot more convenient than copper.

Copper only comes in one shade, so it can be difficult to find the difference between hotlines and cold ones at a glance. You can make DIY shower repairs a lot easier with colored PEX.

Simplified DIY with PEX Pipes

Not having to solder your pipes is a great advantage in itself, but PEX pipes can simplify matters in other ways too. Unlike with copper pipes, you don’t need to cut PEX into appropriately sized pieces. Instead, you can just connect it directly to your showerhead and secure it with clamp fittings. Chronic home remodelers tend to love PEX because it lets you sneak new piping into tight spaces, so if you want to change your shower area’s design PEX can be a great fit!

Lighter and Versatile Alternative to Copper

It’s also noticeably lighter than copper. If you’ve never held a bunch of copper pipes before, just know that they can get quite heavy. That can make setting up your shower head an exhausting experience, but you won’t have to go through that if you use PEX. PEX offers greater flexibility, allowing you to navigate challenging spaces effortlessly. With PEX, you have more options to change up your shower head’s water connection, even if it’s behind a wall. Embrace the benefits of PEX and enjoy a convenient and versatile DIY plumbing experience.

How to Size PEX Pipe for Home Plumbing?

Where You Should/Shouldn’t Use PEX for Showerheads

Suitable Applications of PEX for Showerheads

PEX pipes are ideal for connecting your pressure valve to the showerhead, providing a seamless and efficient water flow. They offer flexibility, ease of installation, and compatibility with various connections. Consider using PEX for your showerhead installation to enjoy the benefits of DIY plumbing.

Limitations and Considerations for PEX Usage

While PEX is suitable for most shower fixtures, it is not recommended for use with the bath spout, as its flexibility can result in reduced water pressure and slow filling. Additionally, PEX should be protected from heat exposure to prevent leaching of chemicals into the water supply. Be mindful of these limitations when considering PEX for your showerhead installation.

Are There Any Downsides to PEX for Shower Heads?

Nothing in this world is perfect, and the same goes for PEX. While PEX is the perfect material for a noiseless showering experience without any of the creaks and groans that copper can bring, it does have its fair share of downsides.

If your home has thirsty rats, they might chew through the PEX pipes to get a drink of water. However, they usually tend to stay away from open and well-lit spaces, so they’d mostly chew on your pipes inside the walls. Try to take care of your PEX pipes if you have a rodent infestation.

Apart from that, PEX isn’t very durable against sunlight, but unless you’re planning on building an outdoor shower it seems unlikely that this would worry you. One thing to note is that PEX has a lower maximum life expectancy than copper pipes.

Copper pipes can last up to eighty years if they’re taken care of, but it’s unlikely that PEX would last longer than forty years or so.

That said, copper pipes also tend to require a lot more maintenance. They’re prone to cracking and are less durable than PEX overall. Given these factors, the lifespan of your copper and PEX showerhead connections should be relatively similar.

Fewer maintenance requirements for PEX can also make up for their shorter life expectancy. This is a tradeoff that we find acceptable, although it could be different from your point of view. Just keep both pros and cons in mind while making a decision.