plastic pipes for hot and cold water?

[McBrain]

Hi there,

Is it normal to run plastic pipes for hot and cold water e.g for water to sink, shower, etc? They don't need to be copper?

Cheers

[silentC]

Yes there are a couple of different plastic pipe products in use: PEX and polybutylene.

All you ever wanted to know: http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=43615

[Mattsplatt]

Hi McBrain,

We had a house built a couple of years ago and when I popped up into the roff space for some therapy, I noticed that the "new norm" is for a plastic pipe.
I checked with a builder mate and apprently "it's the new way" - I guess copper prices are too dear! :)

[SilentButDeadly]

I checked with a builder mate and apprently "it's the new way" - I guess copper prices are too dear! :)

Not in the way you might think....

Given the way houses are churned out these days....copper is too slow. Time is money and many of the brass fittings for the plastic pipe are now push fit.....so not much time required for installs.

[McBrain]

Thanks guys,

It certainly seems sensible in terms of cost, time, corrosion, etc.

Thanks for the advice.

[null & void]

Not in the way you might think....

Given the way houses are churned out these days....copper is too slow. Time is money and many of the brass fittings for the plastic pipe are now push fit.....so not much time required for installs.

I installed 3 taps off a rainwater tank pump in around 3 hours taking it easy using the plastic pipe. Would have spent the whole day doing it in copper - not to mention I prefer to spend as little time as possible crawling around under houses.

I originally thought it was crap, but have changed my mind. The only thing is the size of the elbows and other fittings are huge compared to the copper equivilent.

[China]

Just one thing to remember rodents won't eat the copper pipes

[peter_sm]

I will only do my own house in copper pipe with silver soldered joins. Have only had 100% success and will last forever. I may have spent $300 more on pipe, but I did the labour, and I will not forsee any problems.

All about cost and choice.

[SilentButDeadly]

I installed 3 taps off a rainwater tank pump in around 3 hours taking it easy using the plastic pipe. Would have spent the whole day doing it in copper - not to mention I prefer to spend as little time as possible crawling around under houses.

I originally thought it was crap, but have changed my mind. The only thing is the size of the elbows and other fittings are huge compared to the copper equivilent.

Null,

I suspect that you might be thinking about the irrigation fittings like Philmac's
http://www.philmac.com.au/library/99853300.jpg

Wheras I was thinking about the domestic fittings like those made by Auspex
http://www.auspex.com.au/images/pushfit/pushfitInstStep4Img.gif

I've been using the former for years and it is almost bullet proof and dead easy to work with but totally inappropriate for in house plumbing (too big)

The latter stuff is, in my experience, quite good. Parent's house has the crimped version and it's been there 12 years and counting with no trouble thus far. It is all running under the elevated floor and thus far the rodents that reside in the house haven't been tempted....

[null & void]

Null,

I suspect that you might be thinking about the irrigation fittings like Philmac's

Great photos. Thats the ones I'm talking about. Available in most hardware stores - Like i said, just a few taps for the rainwater tank. I've seen them used at other houses when driving past too.

The later do look better, I take it they use a different pipe too ?

[Ramps]

There's a great article on Pex and other plastics (and how to get the best setup for economic fitting as they specified how exy the connectors are) on the FineHomeBuilding online site. I subscribed ( like the FineWoodWorking online) as I am in the process of building ... finding very good.
The Article is here (http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/articles/pex-pipe-is-copper-on-the-way-out.aspx?langtype=1033&ac=ts&ra=fp)
but you have be an online subscriber to get any further sorry :B ... other than that it was in a very recent finehomebuilding magazine that could still be on the shelf.
Was a good run down on the different plastics and the goos and the bad ... a good read