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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
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    Australia
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    Default plastic pipes for hot and cold water?

    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

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
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    Pambula
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    Default

    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...ad.php?t=43615

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
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    Barwon Heads
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    53
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    Default

    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!
    Cheers,

    Matt Spl@tt
    "Better off the World to Think you're a fool, than open your mouth and prove it!"

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Mattsplatt View Post
    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.
    Ours is not to reason why.....only to point and giggle.

  6. #5
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    Jul 2006
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    Australia
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    Default

    Thanks guys,

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

    Thanks for the advice.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
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    Brisbane
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    Quote Originally Posted by SilentButDeadly View Post
    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.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
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    4,470

    Default

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

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Outer East - Melbourne
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    316

    Default

    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.

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by null & void View Post
    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


    Wheras I was thinking about the domestic fittings like those made by Auspex


    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....
    Ours is not to reason why.....only to point and giggle.

  11. #10
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    Jun 2006
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    Brisbane
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    Quote Originally Posted by SilentButDeadly View Post
    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 ?

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
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    Donnybrook ... sorta
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    Default

    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
    but you have be an online subscriber to get any further sorry ... 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
    Ramps

    When one has finished building one's house, one suddenly realizes that in the process one has learned something that one really needed to know in the worst way--before one began.

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