Plastic Pipes?

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by Gary Slusser

I didn't say plastic pipes/water lines have been around for hundreds of years. I said plastics will be around for hundreds of years, ya know, water bottles etc.? because they don't deteriorate like metals do.

And PEX has been around for 35+ years (in Europe) and PVC 50+ years.

And all plastics used for water lines are rated NSF Standard 61 for use with potable water, so no, they don't leach whatever some gossip artist said they probably do or can.

Plastic pipes won't last for hundred of years. Hell, the house that it's in won't last that long. You also mentioned that you had copper pipe that had pin-hole leaks after 3 years. If that's the case, it wasn't put in right or it was connected directly to gavanized steel pipe. If it's done right, it will last for 50 years or longer. Plastic pipe doesn't have that track record and we'll never know for sure until it's been around that long.

PEX and other plastics may have been around for a while but many building departments haven't allowed it to be used until recently (a decade or so) and there are some areas that don't allow it to be used.

And yes, plastics can leach chemicals into the water. Plastic (Not) Fantastic: Food Containers Leach a Potentially Harmful Chemical: Scientific American OK, I know this is a different type of plastic, but the chemicals used in plastic can leach out. Running hot water through plastic accelerates the leaching.

[Gary Slusser]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

Plastic pipes won't last for hundred of years. Hell, the house that it's in won't last that long. You also mentioned that you had copper pipe that had pin-hole leaks after 3 years. If that's the case, it wasn't put in right or it was connected directly to gavanized steel pipe. If it's done right, it will last for 50 years or longer. Plastic pipe doesn't have that track record and we'll never know for sure until it's been around that long.

You're right copper or plastic, the house won't last that long.

Actually you must not know how water quality and other things besides galvanic action attacks copper tubing water lines but how could it be put in wrong to cause pin holes except too much flux?

BTW, flux and improper reaming of tubing ends are the two primary causes of pin hole leaks.

It was a new house with only copper, no galvanized. It was owned by an attorney and he called me in to help find the cause(s). That was after 3 large expensive leaks over 6 months in the dining room (2 leaks) and the kitchen (1 between the other two) ceilings and multiple plumbers looking at it with no ideas of what was wrong.

I told him of all the possible causes; high DO, CO2 content, bacteria of various types, electrical grounds on the tubing or a bad ground electrode on the building, or a bad or no ground on the water heater and low pH acidic water which he had, etc. etc.. He didn't believe me on many of those causes and after an electrician checked everything electrical and added another ground rod and found no problems we parted ways but...

No, not all copper lasts problem free or without pin hole leaks for 50 years. You don't have to believe me but you can look it up real easy with Google for "pin holes" + "copper tubing" typed exactly that "...." way. Or Click on (BTW 990 hits)
"pin holes" + "copper tubing" - Google Search

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

PEX and other plastics may have been around for a while but many building departments haven't allowed it to be used until recently (a decade or so) and there are some areas that don't allow it to be used.

That is due to the politics behind plumbing codes.

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

And yes, plastics can leach chemicals into the water. Plastic (Not) Fantastic: Food Containers Leach a Potentially Harmful Chemical: Scientific American OK, I know this is a different type of plastic, but the chemicals used in plastic can leach out. Running hot water through plastic accelerates the leaching.

LOL you're right again on both counts but remember, NSF Standard 61 says PEX, PVC and CPVC water lines do not, and PEX and CPVC are both approved and used on both hot and cold while PVC is cold only.