Most of the water pipes in my home are copper. I am planning on adding a new bathroom. Is there any compelling reason to not use PVC instead of copper for this new work?
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I would definitely not recommend PVC for your water lines. You may be confusing PVC with CPVC or even PEX. Copper is not used nealy as often as it was in the past due to the high cost of materials and increased labor cost compared to other methods.
Copper is still used in commercial buildings such as restaurants or businesses. It you can affort a little extra, I would consider going this route.
CPVC is an aweful material that I don’t like to work on. The lines become britle over time and are subject to flooding homes.
Howard,
I am not a plumber, but you've got to check this stuff out > http://www.pexsupply.com/PEX-Tubing-223000.
PEX tubing is AMAZING to work with. It snaps together, and you don't need a blowtorch or glue.
I used it once, and loved it. Ask your plumber about it.Depending on the situation both are great. I have winter summer hook up meaning my oil burner runs the heat and hot water. I have copper pipes which I will be switching out to PEX/PVC.
The reason I want to switch is due to the fact that copper takes forever to heat when wanting hot water. Even if you insulate the copper (if you can reach all of it) it doesnt hold heat very well when not flowing.
To me PEX/PVC is more energy efficient then copper.
The cost is almost equal. The actual PEX/PVC pipe is cheaper but the master control panel needed for proper install will add up quick.
Labor is cheaper though (or should be) for PEX/PVC due to the fact all joints are crimpped or slip joints where as copper is all solder.
If you are doing a small job I would not recommend PEX. It is great for lager jobs and homes, but if you aren’t a plumber, I wouldn’t use it. It is more expensive than PVC, and if you don’t know what you are doing, or are in tight spaces it can be tough to install. Now don’t get me wrong, it is wonderful to use in a house! You can run all of them back to a manifold and can turn the water on and off for every sink in the house, but I wouldn’t go through that much trouble if your house isint PEX already. If I were you, I would go with PVC. It is easy to install, and also easy to fix just in case something happens. Copper is a great choice, but if you mess up, it’s a whole lot harder to fix. I say stick to PVC. Easy install. Easy on the wallet.
I am a fan of both copper and pex water pipe, pex is more cost effective and easier to install although presently all plumbing pex systems will have copper mixed in where it is exposed like under cabinets etc. My opinion is the best thing to do for a water pipeing system is to treat & condition your water to remove chlorine and other harsh chemicles and carcinogens,use a whole house carbon filter, and to soften the water i recamend electronic softners that do not require salt.
For a bath remodel, either copper or plastic (more likely PEX than PVC) should be fine. Copper requires more skills and is more expensive, though the cost shouldn’t matter for short runs. PEX doesn’t have the long history of copper, but the consensus is that it doesn’t have the problems (brittleness and other causes of failure) that some prior plastic plumbing methods have had. For a small project, you should pick the plumber based on experience, trust, and skill, and then ask them to use their preferred pipe.
As mention in other answers copper & pvc/cpvc are just fine to use, bare in mind Pex has not been around as long and correct installation is a top of the list most. Not as easy for a home owner to repair.
Copper. All day long. Funny how many “contractors” aren’t up on the plumbing code. PVC piping should only be used outside the footprint of a building, and with cold water. It gets brittle over time and will break, causing potential major water damage. Copper piping, when installed correctly, (which is usually the problem), will last longer than you will be around to worry about it. Although it’s more costly, it’s legal, and it will last, and it’s the best way to go in my opinion. Remember, you get what you pay for!
Depending on the situation and budget. I have installed both and seen good results. In my house I used copper since I have a history of 20 plus year home ownership but in my rentals I have done PVC since it is a investment that I will not receive a better return on investment by adding copper.
Not sure about others, But I use Copper. It’s been around a while, and I like it’s strength.
copper hands down, that is if you have the budget for it
Use PEX
CPVC or Copper piping are the options for piping a home. It all comes down to the budget of the builder or homeowner.
Not sure if it has been mentioned in the other comments, but you must keep in mind the flow restriction of typical crimp/clamp PEX fittings. The flow of 1/2" PEX is reduced when you insert the brass fitting. While this may not be a concern in all installations, it may be a factor in some. The inner diameter of fittings is only around 3/8", reducing flow.
AquaPex with the expanded fittings is a great system and minimizes this issue.
I use more PEX than copper these days, but I am mindful of its limitations and its suitability. It is not a replacement of copper in all installations. Water heaters would be an example of this, you must use copper coming off of the water heater.
If you are looking to keep cost down i would not recommend using copper it is also very time consuming to install. Pvc you are probably confusing with cpvc. I would not recommend using cpvc because it become very brittle after a few years and prone to leaks.However i would recommend using pex which is flexible plastic pipe, that will outlast Copper and Cpvc, its easy and fast to Install and easy on the pockets leaving your with more time and money for other areas of your project
It all depends on the type of water you have. Copper tends to last longer on city water which lacks acid and iron which will break down the pipe. Where as cpvc tends to last longer on well water which lacks chlorine which tends to cause the cpvc to become brittle. Based on you only needing to pipe a bathroom I would recommend using copper lines.
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I strictly use Copper Type “L” above ground for domestic water supply and No Hub Cast iron for all soil and waste lines. If you looking to cut some costs then use PVC for vent lines if it is code approved in your area.
Also it would be a great idea to test the water supply for minerals or acidity and velocity that can cause premature failure of the piping
No one knows the long term effect of the toxins that may leach into the water supply from plastics.
There are many documented plastic systems that failed
The best way I can answer that question is to tell you what I just did in my own home.
We undertook a major renovation and I replaced all of the copper with PEX!
There are far fewer fittings, far less likely to burst if it freezes and it has less resistance to flow so you also receive increased water flow.
It is also easier to work with.
It should also cost a lot less than copper!
I would not use Cpvc or pvc, my opinion!
Shirley johnson