A: PEX plastic water piping for drinking water has been around for almost three decades. It was introduced in the late 1960s, and its use as radiant-floor heating exploded in Europe in the 1970s.

In the 1990s, PEX started to appear as piping material for use in domestic potable drinking water supply. Copper is a time-tested water-supply line material, but it’s not immune to trouble.

Her plumber tried to supply a luxury shower with 1/2-inch diameter PEX hot and cold water lines. Water dribbled from the body sprays when the shower head was turned on. It was a horrible hot mess.

I have to install new water supply lines in my home. My current home has copper water supply lines. I’m intrigued by the plastic PEX material, but it seems too good to be true.

These are the hot and cold PEX water lines in my own home. I know it appears complex, like spaghetti thrown on a wall, but it’s not. DIY plumbing has never been easier.

Q: There’s a gas water heater inside my house, but it creates too much heat and I want to move the heater out of the house to the garage. But should I use PEX or copper lines for the job? A ...

Her plumber tried to supply a luxury shower with ½-inch diameter PEX hot and cold water lines. Water dribbled from the body sprays when the shower head was turned on. It was a horrible hot mess.