House hot water heater.

[alwaysFlOoReD]

It occurs to me that PEX is plastic and must leach something into the water, too. And how many years will it take to get brittle or crack?

There was plastic pipe that had problems many years ago. I don't remember the name but I've dealt with it in RVs from the 80s. Pex has been around decades now and doesnt "seem" to be having any problems.
As far as leeching goes, I'd be more concerned with the bottled water that you buy at the grocery. That water could potentially sit and absorb chemicals for years...
Have you ever seen the inside of a water main? I had a nasal infection and was using tap water to clear my nose. Doc told me dont, use distilled water. I ended up buying a "teapot" with purified salts and mixed it with bottled water. That and antibiotics cured me. But I dont look at tap water the same way. I still drink it tho...

 

[Blmpkn]

There was plastic pipe that had problems many years ago. I don't remember the name but I've dealt with it in RVs from the 80s. Pex has been around decades now and doesnt "seem" to be having any problems.
As far as leeching goes, I'd be more concerned with the bottled water that you buy at the grocery. That water could potentially sit and absorb chemicals for years...
Have you ever seen the inside of a water main? I had a nasal infection and was using tap water to clear my nose. Doc told me dont, use distilled water. I ended up buying a "teapot" with purified salts and mixed it with bottled water. That and antibiotics cured me. But I dont look at tap water the same way. I still drink it tho...

Tap water can be TERRIBLE, well water too.

The parents of a few kids I went to school with (whole family is bat shit insane) just had the water from their faucet tested.. tests came back with beyond dangerous levels of lead and radiation.

 

[James Morse]

I have what I think is a soldering iron (not electric). You would heat it up then solder with it, I guess. Might be good when you're next to studs etc.
I like soldering.

 

[Roert42]

Pex is definitely not cheap. At least compared to CPVC. PVC is dirt cheap, but the most time consuming to install, you have to wait for the chemicals to set.

PEX is the fastest way if you are not familiar with plumbing. Can use what bite fittings or compression fittings.

If you know what you are doing I would argue copper is the fastest, especially for adding/repairing older plumbing.

 

[Curious Hound]

It occurs to me that PEX is plastic and must leach something into the water, too. And how many years will it take to get brittle or crack?

You ask too many questions. Keep drinking the Kool-Aid.

 

[19Walt93]

You ask too many questions. Keep drinking the Kool-Aid.

With a water softener the Kool-Aid will dissolve faster.
If you have hard water like I do, the improvement in the taste of coffee justifies the price of the softener.

 

[superj]

those sharkbite fittings are nice, if you happen to grab them for the replacement stuff.

when we added a bathroom to the shed, we used the sharkbite stuff to install the water heater. i had never used it before (been out of plumbing, other than my own, since 04) but its very easy. push on till it clicks twice and its locked on. no glue and primer messes anymore

 

[superj]

i agree that pvc/cpvc is the cheapest. copper is probably the most expensive but it lasts forever, same as pvc/cpvc/abs. i think copper takes longer because of soldering everything together. unless you are talking about that push together copper but those seem to leak more often because it appears that people do not seat the fittings properly, from what my brother tells me (he is a master plumber, like my step dad).

 

[Roert42]

i agree that pvc/cpvc is the cheapest. copper is probably the most expensive but it lasts forever, same as pvc/cpvc/abs. i think copper takes longer because of soldering everything together. unless you are talking about that push together copper but those seem to leak more often because it appears that people do not seat the fittings properly, from what my brother tells me (he is a master plumber, like my step dad).

I think the labor part you will break even on time between PVC and Soldering, plus you have to consider that you need to wait four hours before you can pressure test a PVC joint.

I think the biggest advantage of the Solder is that you can easily take the joint apart and resolder it. convenient of replacing an old water heater or something. PVC you have to cut then joint out, then add an extension to the pipe to get it to reach, and redo everything.

If you can't tell I have a bunch of old CPVC plumbing in my house and I hate having to fix it.

 

[superj]

you are right about that. pvc gets really old to have to cut and add to fix something. it looks really crappy too when you have limited space and multiple adapters on because someone cut the first one really close to the wall.

four hours? what did you do that required that much cure time? purple oatey primer and clear glue dries almost immediately and can be pressurized by the time you finish screwing the gauge and air the line up.

 

[Curious Hound]

you are right about that. pvc gets really old to have to cut and add to fix something. it looks really crappy too when you have limited space and multiple adapters on because someone cut the first one really close to the wall.

four hours? what did you do that required that much cure time? purple oatey primer and clear glue dries almost immediately and can be pressurized by the time you finish screwing the gauge and air the line up.

It's supposed to have the cure time. Varies by which glue you are using. Full strength after 24 hrs.

I actually had a training course and got certified for "solvent welded PVC connections".

 

[Roert42]

On the jar it says it tacks in less then a minute, but you need to give it four hours to let it cure before testing.

If I remember I will get a picture of the jar when I get home.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

My house run on propane. I did my water heater recently. Accidently bought the bigger one, but whatever...it fits and works fine. I have little one under the sink of the master bath as well, it come in handy. Instant hot is nice. My rental house has a tankless electric. It is not so great and uses a lot of electricity.

 

[superj]

well, that tells you i never read the bottle on the pvc or cpvc cans. we would put the stuff together and air it up so we could start the air pressure tests for the city inspector. had to be on test for 24 hours for the city guy to buy off on supply or sewer systems here.

 

[19Walt93]

well, that tells you i never read the bottle on the pvc or cpvc cans. we would put the stuff together and air it up so we could start the air pressure tests for the city inspector. had to be on test for 24 hours for the city guy to buy off on supply or sewer systems here.

City inspectors come into private homes and have to approve plumbing??