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wow, sch 80 PVC. I really do not believe it makes a difference with codes or the cold water only requirement. And if it was mine, I'd get it off the hot side, before an electric water heater's element stays on or thermostat fails etc. and you might wish you replaced it. 3/4" PEX would have been better much less expense too and it is code approved and rated for hot water application.
All potable water line material is stamped about every 18-24" with the pressure rating and plastics have the temperature the rating is at. I.E. 420 psi @ 73f.
Before doing anythign about the PVC, check your sch 80 PVC temp/psi rating and then search with Google etc. or for the manufacturer's web site to find how much the psi is reduced by warmer temps.
It is not stamped with anything, which is what tells me it probably isn't suitable for potable water. Previous owner did many things not to code; some of his fixes have held up, some not. Not sure why he didn't use PEX, unless it was done before PEX was being popularly used.
I am too broke to replace it all, it'll have to do for now....
I think what you have isn't pvc. I think it's Qest (PE). By what you said, "grey color", "plumber said I'd have to get it ....all.....taken out" etc. Pex and Qest attatch to fittings with crimp rings. The Pex ones are black and the Qest ones are copper. Qest is the one with all the lawsuits. It blows off on the hot side mostly, and also if the kind that has nylon fittings rather than copper fittings the nylon gets brittle with age and snaps, thus if you have Qest, you probably don't need like an April Air humidifier.
All water line materials are marked every 18-24" as to what they are; PB, PVC, CPVC, PEX, PE, K L or M copper, etc.. And a plumber should know sch 80 PVC from PB. PVC has solvent welded (read 'glued') fittings and PB doesn't.
I think what you have isn't pvc. I think it's Qest (PE). By what you said, "grey color", "plumber said I'd have to get it ....all.....taken out" etc. Pex and Qest attatch to fittings with crimp rings. The Pex ones are black and the Qest ones are copper. Qest is the one with all the lawsuits. It blows off on the hot side mostly, and also if the kind that has nylon fittings rather than copper fittings the nylon gets brittle with age and snaps, thus if you have Qest, you probably don't need like an April Air humidifier.
All water line materials are marked every 18-24" as to what they are; PB, PVC, CPVC, PEX, PE, K L or M copper, etc.. And a plumber should know sch 80 PVC from PB. PVC has solvent welded (read 'glued') fittings and PB doesn't.
As you can see, it's glued, not crimped. The copper goes into a 90 degree PVC elbow and is glued to this pipe, which has no markings. I went to Lowes to see what the Schedule 80 PVC looks like, and it looks and feels just like this. This pipe is hard as a rock and would not bend like PEX, if you bent it, it would crack.
If it is indeed Schedule 80, realistically, will it accomodate 130 degree water under 50 psi?
Last edited by Phish Head; 02-11-2012 at 02:02 PM..
it's....dissimilar materials. that copper was prolly epoxied into that fitting. Will it withstand 130 degrees? Who knows? It's not used properly, so it's not tested for the application.
You want to take the chance, it's your house, it's your belongings ( hope you have a check valve on your main though)
Dissimilar materials need to be joined (accepted materials) with a MECHANICAL connexion...female by something (sweat?)/male adapter by glue, ferinstince. If I was you, I'd cut all that out, go above the copper male in that picture, and go with copper, either sweat if you know how, or even shark bites if you don't....if you want to sleep good at night and not worry about it, hire a licensed plumber, and get it done the right way.
The picture is too dark to see it well but the elbow looks white, as if it is sch 40 PVC. If so it should be replaced.
I would also replace the questionable plastic with CPVC or copper.
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Whut IZIT?
