Figure 1. Water with low pH levels or high CO2 content, often referred to as aggressive water, can prematurely wear out copper piping (top). Thermal-galvanic corrosion, caused by a variety of factors, usually damages hot water pipes first (bottom).

Although I've successfully worked with CPVC, I've recently started using PEX (short for cross-linked polyethylene) because it's easier to install and holds up in almost all conditions. PEX is flexible and can be repeatedly bent as it is pushed and pulled during installation. PEX requires no solder or glue, so there's no danger of igniting a fire...

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