Rigid
copper pipe and flexible copper tubing are not inexpensive, but
the quality and application of the products may be worth the price
to a homeowner. Both products can be used for hot and cold water
supply, drain, waste, and vent systems, and for heating and cooling
applications. With adapters, the pipes can be connected to existing
copper, plastic, and galvanized steel pipe runs.
Copper
when compared to galvanized steel pipe is lightweight, readily available,
easy-to-fabricate, strong, noncorrosive, and resistant to very high
temperatures. If you have hot water (hydronic) heating, you can
make repairs with copper pipe.
CAUTION:
Copper pipe sometimes is assembled with solder, which requires high
heat from a propane torch (as detailed below). Be extremely careful
with the torch; plan your project so the flame and heat is kept
away from flammable building materials. It is strongly recommended
that a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher be handy when working
with the propane torch. Heed all warnings provided by manufacturers
on torch use.
TYPES
OF COPPER PIPE:
Copper pipe is available in 10- and 20-foot. lengths and in three
weights: Type M is thin wall; Type L has a medium-thick wall; Type
K has a thick wall. Unless otherwise specified by local code, Type
M is sufficiently strong for the water supply system in your home.
Copper
pipe is always 1/8-inch larger than the nominal size. Example: 1/2-inch
pipe measures 5/8-inch. outside diameter. The actual inside diameter
varies with the thickness of the pipe wall. The thicker the wall,
the smaller the inside diameter of the pipe.
In
the 10- and 20-foot lengths, Types K,L, and M are available in "drawn
temper," which is the rigid form of pipe. In the plumbing trades,
this usually is referred to as "hard" tubing because it's rigid.
The three types of tubing are also made in annealed (soft) temper
in almost all the same sizes as the hard tubing and in the same
lengths.
However, the soft tubing comes packaged in rolls rather than in
straight lengths as hard pipe.
For
your shopping information, rigid or hard cop per pipe usually is
termed "pipe" in home center stores and building material outlets.
If you want flexible copper tubing, ask for it as "flexible."
Hard
temper Type M or soft temper Type L is recommended for underground
water services, although local codes may call for the thick-walled
Type K for this service. Type M usually is recommended for the water
supply system in you home, as mentioned above.
Another
class of copper pipe, called DWV (for drain, waste, vent) is available
only as rigid pipe in larger sizes.
As
the name implies, this pipe is used for drain, waste, and vent lines
in the drainage system in your home.
Pipes
in sizes of 3/8-, 1/2-, 3/4-, and 1-inch are suitable for home water
supply systems. The 1-1/4-, 1-1/2-, 3-, and 4-inch sizes are for
DWV.
Still
another class of copper tubing, designated ACR, is for air conditioning
and refrigeration field service. ACR is designated by the actual
outside diameter, as opposed to other types of copper pipe. It is
available in uncharged lengths of 20 feet in draw (hard) temper
and 50 feet in soft temper.
