Hearing a plumber say you might need a whole-home repipe can make your stomach drop, especially when you do not know whether copper, PEX, or CPVC is really the best choice for your Orlando home. You may be picturing torn-open walls, surprise costs, and wondering if you will be right back in this position again in a few years. That is a lot to process when you are just trying to stop leaks and protect your home.
We talk to homeowners across Orlando and Central Florida every week who are asking the same question you are right now. Many have heard strong opinions from friends, contractors, and online forums, but those opinions rarely explain how our heat, humidity, and water actually affect different piping materials. You deserve clear, local information so you can choose what really fits your home, not just what sounds good in theory.
At ServiceOne Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we have been working on plumbing systems in Orlando, Seminole County, and the surrounding Central Florida area since 2003. We have repiped homes that started out with copper, CPVC, and older materials, and we have seen how PEX performs in our attics and walls over time. In this guide, we will share what two decades of hands-on experience have taught us about choosing the best piping material for Orlando homes, so you can make a confident, informed decision.
What Makes Orlando’s Plumbing Needs Different
Before we compare copper, PEX, and CPVC, it helps to understand why Orlando is not just like any other city when it comes to plumbing. Our climate puts unique stress on piping systems. Attics in Central Florida can reach very high temperatures for long stretches of the year, and those spaces often carry the bulk of a home’s water lines during a repipe. That constant heat, combined with humidity, slowly works on any material, especially plastics.
Our water also has its own personality. Central Florida water often contains dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium, which people refer to as hardness. Hard water can lead to mineral buildup inside pipes and fixtures over time. Water is also treated with disinfectants such as chlorine. Those treatment chemicals are good for safety, but they can influence how metals and plastics age inside your plumbing system. The combination of minerals, treatment, and pressure shapes how long different materials stay in good shape.
Construction styles around Orlando and Seminole County play a big role too. Many homes are built on slab foundations, which means original water lines often run under the concrete. When those lines start failing, repairing individual leaks under the slab becomes messy and expensive. At that point, many homeowners choose to repipe through attics, closets, and walls instead. The material you pick for that new overhead or in-wall system needs to handle hot attic air, long runs, and our water conditions without becoming fragile or corroded too quickly.
Because we have spent more than 20 years in Central Florida homes, we see the same patterns across neighborhoods and build years. Some areas have older copper running under slabs that is now developing pinhole leaks. Others have CPVC routed through attics that has turned brittle from years of heat. Understanding those patterns is the first step toward deciding what is truly the best piping material for your Orlando home, not just on paper, but in real life.
Copper Piping in Orlando Homes: Pros, Cons, and Common Failures
Copper has a long history in residential plumbing, and many homeowners still think of it as the premium choice. Copper is a metal pipe that handles high temperatures well and does not soften around water heaters and hot water lines. It is rigid and strong, and when it is installed and supported correctly, it can give many years of service. That track record is a big reason why some Orlando homeowners lean toward copper when they hear the word “repipe.”
However, our local conditions can change the story. Over time, water rushing through copper lines can wear at the inside walls, especially if the water is more aggressive or has minerals that encourage corrosion. That wear can lead to small, pinpoint openings in the pipe wall that we call pinhole leaks. In Orlando, we often get calls from homeowners who notice damp spots on ceilings, bubbling paint, or wet areas on carpets, only to find that an aging copper line has developed these pinholes above a room.
Slab leaks are another common issue. Many older Central Florida homes have copper lines buried under the slab. When one of those lines starts leaking, the water can travel under the floor and show up far from the actual hole. Locating and fixing a single slab leak is time consuming and disruptive. If more leaks follow, constantly chasing them under the slab becomes a losing battle. In those cases, many Orlando homeowners decide to abandon the under-slab copper and repipe through the attic or walls using a different material.
Cost and construction also come into play. Running new copper through an existing Orlando home often means more cutting, soldering, and sometimes opening up more walls and ceilings than with flexible materials. Copper typically costs more per foot than plastics, and the labor to fit and solder each joint adds up. That does not mean copper is never the right choice. In some cases, using copper around the water heater or for short, exposed runs makes sense. Our technicians are trained to evaluate whether your copper issues are localized or part of a bigger pattern so you can decide whether targeted repair or a full material change is likely to be the smarter move for your home.
PEX Piping for Orlando: Flexibility, Performance, and Tradeoffs
PEX has become a very popular repipe material in Central Florida, and for good reason. PEX is a flexible plastic tubing, made from cross-linked polyethylene, that bends around corners and obstacles instead of needing a fitting every time the pipe changes direction. That flexibility is a big advantage when we are routing new lines through tight attic spaces, around trusses, and down inside existing walls without tearing your home apart.
In an Orlando home, PEX’s ability to run in long, continuous lengths means fewer joints hidden in ceilings and walls. Every fitting is a potential leak point, so reducing them is a practical benefit. When installed correctly, with the right supports and insulation, PEX performs well in our heat and typical residential water pressures. Florida codes allow approved types of PEX for residential potable water, and inspectors across our area see it regularly in new construction and repipes.
There are tradeoffs to understand. PEX does not tolerate long-term direct sunlight, so any sections that pass near roof penetrations or are exposed during construction need protection from UV light. It also needs to be supported properly to prevent sagging in long attic runs. The quality of fittings and the tools used to connect them matter a lot. Some of the PEX problems you hear about in stories or online come from poor installation practices or incorrect fittings rather than the material itself.
We use PEX in many Orlando repipes because it gives us options that fit the way local homes are built. In many cases, we can create a manifold system, where all the lines branch from a central location, such as a mechanical room or closet. This can make future shutoffs and changes easier. Our team has repiped homes across Orange and Seminole Counties using PEX, carefully routing lines through attics and drops so we minimize opening finished surfaces. For many homeowners, that combination of durability, flexibility, and less invasive installation makes PEX a strong candidate when they search for the best piping material Orlando has to offer for their specific situation.
CPVC in Central Florida: Where It Works and Where It Struggles
CPVC, or chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, is a rigid plastic piping material that many builders used heavily in past decades. It glues together with solvent cement and fittings, which made it attractive for long straight runs and for builders looking to cut material and labor costs compared to copper. If your Orlando home was built in the early 2000s or later, there is a good chance you have CPVC somewhere in your plumbing system.
When CPVC is new and installed correctly, it can perform quite well. It resists corrosion and does not develop pinhole leaks the same way copper does. For many years, it served Orlando homeowners without major issues. The challenge shows up as CPVC ages in our climate. Long-term exposure to high attic temperatures and pressure can cause the material to become brittle. Instead of flexing slightly when moved, older CPVC can crack when we try to adjust it or when the house shifts slightly.
We see this brittleness most often in attic spaces, where CPVC has baked under roofs through many Orlando summers. Homeowners call us for leaks that start at fittings or elbows where the pipe has cracked. In some cases, just cutting out and gluing in a new section becomes tricky because the surrounding pipe is so fragile that it fractures when disturbed. That is usually a sign that the system as a whole is reaching the end of its comfortable service life in that environment.
None of this means CPVC is automatically a bad choice. In certain protected, conditioned spaces, and when installed with proper support, it can still be a reasonable option. Many current homes are working just fine with CPVC and may continue to do so for some time. The key is to pay attention to what you are seeing. Multiple breaks in hot attic runs, or difficulty making solid repairs because the existing pipe crumbles, are signals that it might be time to think about a repipe. A big part of our repipe work in Orlando involves replacing original CPVC systems that have reached this brittle stage, especially in homes where leaks are becoming a pattern rather than a one-off event.
How Florida Codes and Best Practices Shape Your Piping Options
Your choice of piping material is not just a personal preference. It has to line up with Florida plumbing codes and local inspection requirements. The good news is that copper, approved PEX products, and CPVC are all commonly used and code-accepted for residential potable water in our state when they are installed correctly. The key is not just what material you choose, but how that material is supported, connected, insulated, and protected in the house.
Inspectors around Orlando look for very practical details. They check that pipes are properly supported so they cannot sag or rub against sharp edges. In attics, they will pay attention to how close lines run to heat sources and whether combustible materials are clear of water heaters and flues. PEX needs protection from UV light where it might be exposed. CPVC and PEX both have specific temperature and pressure ratings that installers must follow, especially in hot spaces and near water heaters.
Permits and inspections are not just paperwork. They are a safeguard for your home’s safety and value. A DIY repipe that does not meet current code can cause issues when you sell the property or if there is ever a water damage claim. Having a system that was installed under an old code does not mean it is wrong, but when you replace or modify it, the new work needs to meet today’s standards. That is where working with a licensed and insured contractor becomes crucial.
ServiceOne Air Conditioning & Plumbing holds the required licensing and insurance (License # CAC1813760), and we stay current on Florida and local requirements for piping materials and installation practices. Our technicians know what Orlando and Seminole County inspectors expect to see, from the type of hangers we use in attics to how we route lines around mechanical equipment. That knowledge helps your project move smoothly from permit to final inspection, with a system that is built for how you actually live in your home.
Comparing Copper, PEX, and CPVC for Orlando Homes
Once you understand how each material behaves in Orlando conditions, it helps to step back and compare them side by side. Copper brings metal strength and long history, but it is more vulnerable to pinhole leaks and slab issues in certain homes and often costs more in both material and labor. It tends to shine in areas that handle very hot water or near equipment where a rigid, high temperature resistant material is preferred, but it is less flexible when we are snaking through attics and tight chases.
PEX performs well in many Orlando repipes because its flexibility allows us to run long, continuous lines through attics and down walls with fewer fittings. That helps reduce potential leak points and can shorten installation time. PEX also tolerates our typical residential pressures and, when insulated and protected properly, holds up under attic heat. For many homeowners, PEX ends up being the most cost-effective balance between performance, installation impact, and total project price.
CPVC sits somewhere in the middle. It has served as the main piping in many Central Florida homes for years and resists corrosion in ways copper cannot. However, as it ages in hot attics, it can become brittle, which makes repairs and modifications more challenging. New CPVC installed under current best practices can still be a valid choice in certain applications, but in older systems that are already showing signs of cracking, putting more money and time into patching may not be the best long-term plan.
From an installation standpoint, copper typically requires more opening of walls and ceilings because every turn needs a fitting, while PEX can often be fished through smaller access points. CPVC also needs fittings at each change of direction and is less forgiving if we need to move it after it has been glued in place for many years. In broad terms, copper generally carries the highest material cost, PEX often provides efficient installation with competitive overall cost, and CPVC is more often a material we are replacing in older homes rather than choosing for new repipes. These are patterns we have seen across many homes in Orlando and Central Florida.
How to Choose the Best Piping Material for Your Orlando Home
So how do you take all that information and choose what is right for your specific house? Start with your situation. If you have an older home with copper lines under the slab and you are dealing with repeated slab leaks, routing a new system through the attic with PEX or a combination of materials is often a smart move. If your home has attic CPVC that is already cracking in multiple places, a full repipe, typically with PEX for the long runs, usually makes more sense than chasing leaks and patching brittle sections.
Next, think about your priorities. Some Orlando homeowners want to minimize wall and ceiling openings as much as possible. In those cases, flexible PEX routed in long runs can help us keep the project cleaner and less disruptive. Others are more focused on having metal near their water heater or in exposed mechanical areas, so a mixed approach that uses copper in targeted spots and PEX for distribution lines might be best. For families planning a major remodel, we can coordinate piping changes with open walls so you get the benefits of material upgrades while the house is already under construction.
Our evaluation process looks at your entire plumbing picture. We check your current materials, the routing of existing pipes, attic access, the type and location of your water heater, visible signs of past repairs, and water pressure. Then we talk with you about your goals and budget. From there, we can lay out the pros and cons of each material option in the context of your specific home, not just in theory or based on what someone else chose.
Cost is always part of the conversation. Different materials affect both the cost of parts and the labor involved. At ServiceOne Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we use flat-rate, no-surprise pricing. That means once we diagnose your system and walk through the options together, you get a clear price for the recommended solution before any work begins. You can see how choosing copper in one area and PEX in another, for example, changes the project total, so you can make a decision that fits both your home and your budget.
Why Orlando Homeowners Turn to ServiceOne Air Conditioning & Plumbing for Repipe Projects
Deciding to repipe your home and pick a new piping material is a big step, and you do not have to figure it out alone. Since 2003, our family-owned company has been serving Orlando and the greater Central Florida community. ServiceOne Air Conditioning & Plumbing is Navy veteran-owned, and the military values of dedication, precision, and doing the job right the first time shape how we approach every repipe. We treat your home the way we would want someone to treat ours, with clear communication and respect for your time and space.
When you call us about leaks or repiping, we start with a thorough look at your existing system and an honest conversation about what we find. We explain how copper, PEX, and CPVC would each work in your specific layout, and we answer your questions in plain language. From there, we handle the permits, scheduling, and installation, keeping you updated from the first phone call to the final walkthrough. Our highly trained technicians work carefully in attics, walls, and mechanical rooms to leave you with a clean, code-compliant system built for Orlando conditions.
Our customer-first approach means you are not surprised by hidden fees or rushed through a decision. With 24/7 live phone support, you can reach a real person any time, day or night, especially if you are dealing with an active leak. Many homeowners also choose to join our ClubOne membership, which offers 15% off repairs, a five-year service warranty on our work, priority scheduling, and a transferable agreement if you move within Central Florida. It is one more way to protect the investment you make when you upgrade your home’s piping.
If you are trying to decide on the best piping material for your Orlando home, a conversation with someone who has seen it all in local attics, slabs, and walls can make the choice much clearer. We are your neighbors, and we have worked with many families across Orange and Seminole Counties through this same decision. Let us help you find the right solution for your home and budget.