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We have a kitchen island with a faucet/sink and the existing copper pipe under the tile floor has sprung a leak.

The plumber is suggesting to run a PEX pipe through the existing copper pipe to restore the water supply to the island without the need to break the existing tile floor.

I did some searches but haven't seen any discussions on this. On the surface I don't see a problem since the copper pipe will only act as a conduit and there are no fittings in the copper run (it is embedded in a concrete slab and local building code states that all copper in concrete must be a continuous run.

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    Well, it's going to be smaller pipe, but that might not be a problem. And assuming local code was actually followed on the lack of fittings.
    – Ecnerwal
    Commented Oct 1, 2021 at 13:19
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    The problem I foresee is any 90 Degree turns which will be too sharp. If these turns are exposed, the elbow could be cutoff and reamed and a loop put in the plex at these junctions.
    – Programmer66
    Commented Oct 1, 2021 at 14:45
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    We must be talking about soft copper, which would be the only way to achieve a continuous run and wouldn't have fittings in the slab.
    – isherwood
    Commented Oct 1, 2021 at 15:37
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    @manassehkatz-Moving2Codidact -- 3/4" copper pipe goes throught the floor. Showed photos of another install where the PEX fit.
    – DavidG
    Commented Oct 1, 2021 at 19:54
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    Standard practice in California. All 90s in slab are sweeps and continuous soft copper . All tees are above slab inside walls usually near fixtures .
    – Rocky
    Commented Feb 18 at 23:18

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