Originally developed in 1968 by German inventor Dr. Thomas Engel, PEX first hit the European market in the early 1970s and later came to North America in the mid-1980s. Its incredible durability and cost-effectiveness quickly gained popularity with the residential construction market.

Why is PEX plumbing bad?

Potential chemical leaching is another downside of PEX piping. Due to its chemical composition, the PEX pipe material may leach toxic chemicals including bisphenol (BPA), MTBE, tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA), and others.

When did plumbers start using PEX?

PEX was brought to North America in the mid-1980s for use in residential radiant floor heating applications. By the mid-1990s, it was being used for residential potable plumbing as well. During the early 2000s, its use evolved to combine a home's cold-water plumbing with fire sprinklers for a “multipurpose” system.