When homeowners call Proverbs Plumbing to ask about plumbing upgrades, one of the first things they often want to know is this: what are the best pipes for house plumbing? It’s a great question—and an important one. The type of pipe you choose affects everything from water pressure and temperature control to long-term maintenance and resale value. Whether you're building a new home or considering a whole-house repipe, understanding your pipe material options can save you headaches down the road. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most common choices—what they’re good for, what to watch out for, and how to make the best call for your home.

Why Your Pipe Choice Matters

Your plumbing system is one of the most critical (and least visible) parts of your home. It’s easy to forget about until something goes wrong. However, the material your pipes are made from affects not just how well water flows but also how long your plumbing will last, how safe your drinking water is, and how likely you are to face future leaks or corrosion. At Proverbs Plumbing, we’ve worked with just about every pipe material out there—from modern options like PEX and CPVC to older systems made from galvanized steel. We’ve seen what works well in Central Texas homes—and what doesn’t.

Copper: The Classic Choice

Copper piping has been around for decades, and for good reason. It’s strong, reliable, and naturally resistant to bacteria. Homeowners often choose copper because it has a reputation for lasting 50 years or more, making it a long-term investment in your home’s infrastructure. But that durability comes at a price. Copper is one of the most expensive materials available, and it requires more labor to install. It can also freeze and burst if not properly insulated—something to keep in mind during those rare Central Texas cold snaps.

Still, if budget isn’t your top concern and you want a material with a proven track record, copper remains one of the best options for house plumbing.

PEX: Flexible, Modern, and Budget-Friendly

PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) is one of the most popular choices in modern plumbing—and it’s easy to see why. It’s flexible, easy to install, and significantly more affordable than copper. The tubing bends around corners without the need for additional fittings, which speeds up installation and reduces potential leak points.

PEX is also more freeze-resistant than metal pipes. If the water inside does freeze, PEX tends to expand and contract without cracking, making it a great fit for our unpredictable Texas winters.

The main downside is that PEX can’t be installed outdoors or in places exposed to direct sunlight, as UV rays degrade the material. But for interior water lines, especially in newer homes or remodels, PEX is a highly reliable, cost-effective option.

PVC and CPVC: Affordable Plastics With a Purpose

You’ve probably seen PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipes in your home’s drainage or venting system. Although PVC is not typically used for drinking water, it works well in non-pressurized applications. It’s lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to work with, but it’s also not designed for high heat or high pressure.

CPVC (chlorinated PVC), on the other hand, is a step up. It can handle both hot and cold water and is often used in place of copper or PEX in homes that want to stick with plastic piping throughout. CPVC offers better temperature resistance and is approved for drinking water. Still, it has its limitations. CPVC is more brittle than PEX, making it more prone to cracking if impacted. And while it’s more affordable than copper, it can be more expensive and harder to install than PEX.

If you’re looking for a compromise between cost and performance, CPVC might be the right choice for your next plumbing project.

Galvanized Steel: A Material of the Past

If your home was built before the 1960s, there’s a chance it still has galvanized steel pipes. At the time, these pipes were considered durable and long-lasting. But over the years, they tend to rust and corrode from the inside, leading to reduced water pressure and poor water quality. In fact, many of the calls we get at Proverbs Plumbing about brown or metallic-tasting water are caused by aging galvanized pipes. In some cases, they can even begin to leach harmful materials like lead into your water supply.

Our advice? If you still have galvanized pipes, it’s time to upgrade. Replacing them with modern materials like PEX or copper can drastically improve your home’s water system and give you peace of mind.