PEX Outdoors

[jackellis]

We have new neighbors up here - two families that bought the home next door and hardly ever come up. They forgot to turn off an outside water line and after three days of temperatures just below freezing, the copper pipe split. I was lucky enough to find the shutoff valve but now they're going to have to at least repair the line.

I know PEX is being used more and more for indoor plumbing (we have it) but can it be used for outdoor water lines and if so, what are the limitations?

[LinuxRandal]

Are you talking exposed or not exposed? (like outside lines that would run up the outside of a building)

[Stytooner]

No matter what pipes you use outside, they either need to be insulated or winterized or both.
I am not sure if Pex is UV resistant or not, but I know it is used here under beach houses without insulation and does get some Sun. They must be drained for the winter.
It rarely gets that cold for long down here, but does occur and anything exposed with water inside will fail.

[BigguyZ]

PEX should never be in direct sunlight. You can, however, enclose it in conduit or some covering to protect it. Underground, I would think is fine. Though I'd still insulate it.