Serious question about copper vs plastic pipe for plumbing.

[Ross365]

I have heard suggestions on a number of occasions that copper can react with concrete, so should be wrapped in a suitable plastic (PVC would probably be unsuitable).

 

[angellonewolf]

I have heard suggestions on a number of occasions that copper can react with concrete, so should be wrapped in a suitable plastic (PVC would probably be unsuitable).

think you are right on the sleve its also for the movement of the pipe in heating up and cooling down as that would rub on the wall, of the pipe

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I'd mix and match personally. Long runs from a single plastic pipe makes more sense than multiple joints.

 

[Robotstar5]

it saves you earth bonding the water from stop tap to electric service supply you cant bond plastic .everything should be rcd protected though

Are you sure?

 

[brightspark]

yep ive seen that when the electricians didnt know what the score was when the regs changed .so they got the plumbers to put 6 inch of pipe in to bond across the hot and cold taps

 

[Blobber]

I have noticed modern copper pipe seems less coppery and thinner wall section than pipe of old?

There is some shocking copper about, only buy quality or you would be better off with plastic

 

[KemppiFrog]

Soft solder, as in Yorkshire, is recipie for problems. My only flood was on an old leg in our house done years before we got here. It froze and blew out a coupling. When it defrosted, that end of the house flooded. (minus 12°C for three weeks mind you...)
Using hard solder on a part I did on a new bathroom, the copper expanded in the same freeze, but didn't leak. (Looked quite interesting...)
Corrosion with copper is a problem. Found a leak in a local friend's house. The copper was in contact with slightly damp concrete and corroded. several pinholes. It has to be protected if passing through brick or concrete walls.
On plastic. I use the pex stuff for air lines in the w/shop, so 120 PSI. The fittings are good for that, so the heating circuits are fine with 20psi or so.
They are rated for 6 bar.
The Aquatherm stuff is equally good. They say 50yrs and over 6 bar at 90°C And, the welding process is quick and never a hint of a leak. Out of interest, I cut a joint in half. There was no sign of the join of the two parts. True welding.

What on earth is the point of those bonding wires??? Box ticking?

 

[Kayos]

I have heard suggestions on a number of occasions that copper can react with concrete, so should be wrapped in a suitable plastic (PVC would probably be unsuitable).

It reacts with the cement and will corrode

 

[brightspark]

What on earth is the point of those bonding wires??? Box ticking?

if all the pipes were copper you would bond all the metal extraneous parts so there all at the same potential. less chance of getting electrocuted including metal handrails windows steel beams the list goes on. it was called the silly season . fitting an an rcd on the supply eradicates the need apart from you still need to bond incoming supplies gas water and oil lines that are metal entering the building

 

[KemppiFrog]

I have heard suggestions on a number of occasions that copper can react with concrete, so should be wrapped in a suitable plastic (PVC would probably be unsuitable).

I did a bit of gas piping in Portugal. The copper pipe came with a PVC sheath. Rules were very strict out there after a British paper ran some stories about CO accidents with gas heaters and other problems. No hidden joints in walls and all hard soldered. Walls and floors were all concrete or brick, so corrosion was def a risk.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I have noticed modern copper pipe seems less coppery and thinner wall section than pipe of old?

The stuff you get these days is terrible...I've even switched to using copper olives in compression fittings as I found the brass ones easily score the pipes because they're so thin.

 

[Kayos]

With a high degree of accuracy I (mentally) predicted a large portion of the replies on this thread

Not sure what that says about me, or this place

 

[brightspark]

youngsters are in the plastic camp. old timers that have been around are for copper tried and tested

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

youngsters are in the plastic camp. old timers that have been around are for copper tried and tested

Plastic has been around for a long time mate.

 

[Agrismith]

I don't have a lot to do with internal plumbing but deal a lot with external water pipes. Which are exposed to a great deal harsher conditions so fail alot easier.
The thing that I have noticed is plastic rarely seems to get problems with the pipe but often problems with the joints. Whereas copper the pipes will split corrode or get damaged but the joints seem to be more reliable. The advantage with plastic coming on such long rolls is that you can put joints in clusters behind a panel.

 

[mike os]

youngsters are in the plastic camp. old timers that have been around are for copper tried and tested

I'm 62 and been doing this since about 83.... the rest of you must be really old

 

[brightspark]

Plastic has been around for a long time mate.

never remember when they brought it out for heating 53 years ago and it was ****e . after a few years it had to be replaced it shrunk went brittle and leaked im 68 and started work when i was 15

 

[brightspark]

2 things are crap in houses plastic pipes and chipboard floors

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

never remember when they brought it out for heating 53 years ago and it was ****e . after a few years it had to be replaced it shrunk went brittle and leaked im 68 and started work when i was 15

Don't be obtuse

 

[brightspark]

i must say though its everyone to there own if thats what they want .its just my opinion on the subject