Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 07, 2011 10:26 am Hi Folks, In my new build, they've just done the plumbing and I've noticed the black PVC tubing all over the place for hot and cold water around the house. When did this happen?? I built another house just a few years ago and it was all metal pipes around the house. My biggest concern is that it is running in the cavity along the edge. If I put in picture hooks in the wall with nails, I figure there's a chance that you might one day drive a nail into this tubing and then you've got a water leak in your plaster cavity wall Can someone lay my mind to rest and tell me these pvc tubes are re-inforced and this will never happen? Same with the Yellow tubing for gas instead of the old metal gas line. This plastic revolution is really worrying me. But, needless to say, doing the plumbing hasn't gotten any cheaper at all. SK Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34120 Handover 23 Dec 11 Squatting 21 Dec 11 Fixed 12 Oct 11 Plastered 31 Aug 2011 Framed 7 June 2011 Site Start 7 Feb 2011 Land Titled 18 Jan 2010 Land Deposit 25 Jun 2009 Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 2Jul 07, 2011 10:40 am Pretty sure my water pipes weren't fixed in many spots, so there's some flexibility there which would hopefully avoid them being "pinned" when you stick a massive great nail through the wall. The walla cavities aren't exactly small either...exactly how big are the nails you drive through your walls? Our gas was done in a more traditional fahsion, i haven't seen this yellow tube you speak of. Homestead Homes SA: The Lamont Bayswood Estate; Aldinga Beach Preliminary Signing: April 2010 Floorplans: 13 June 2010 Building Contract: 19 June 2010 Selections: 28 Sept 2010 Scraped; Trenching: 21 Jan 2011 Slab Poured: 28 Jan 2011 Framing: 17 Feb 2011 | Completed 24 Feb 2011 Roof & Gutters: 02 Mar 2011 Bricks: 03 Mar 2011 Wire-up: 12 Mar 2011 Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 3Jul 07, 2011 10:59 am Thanks Rockabilly, It's not that the nails would be large but more that the tubing is in certain walls that will also have insulation in them so they won't move that much. Many of mine are also fixed to the studs as well as hanging in between where pictures would be hung. Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34120 Handover 23 Dec 11 Squatting 21 Dec 11 Fixed 12 Oct 11 Plastered 31 Aug 2011 Framed 7 June 2011 Site Start 7 Feb 2011 Land Titled 18 Jan 2010 Land Deposit 25 Jun 2009 Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 4Jul 07, 2011 11:27 am The plastic has been around a long time and in a lot of ways its stronger than copper pipe. Is the yellow pipe copper on the inside? Success is the result of good judgment, good judgment is the result of experience, and experience is often the result of bad judgment! Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 5Jul 07, 2011 11:30 am Hi flatlined, In what way is the plastic tubing stronger than copper? Can it withstand a nail? I haven't been able to get a close look inside the yellow tube as it is now terminated with the fittings at the gas taps in various rooms. next time I'm at the site I'll see if there are any offcuts I can check. SK Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34120 Handover 23 Dec 11 Squatting 21 Dec 11 Fixed 12 Oct 11 Plastered 31 Aug 2011 Framed 7 June 2011 Site Start 7 Feb 2011 Land Titled 18 Jan 2010 Land Deposit 25 Jun 2009 Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 6Jul 07, 2011 11:50 am The pvc is more forgiving than copper. If you hit a copper pipe it will flatten, if you bend it it will easily kink. You can test it out yourself by trying to drive a nail through an off cut of each pipe. You will find it will be harder to get through the plastic one. Success is the result of good judgment, good judgment is the result of experience, and experience is often the result of bad judgment! Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 7Jul 07, 2011 11:51 am Thanks Flatlined. I might just try that out! It just looks flimsy and, not having seen it in the previous build, just looks like old garden irrigation piping... Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34120 Handover 23 Dec 11 Squatting 21 Dec 11 Fixed 12 Oct 11 Plastered 31 Aug 2011 Framed 7 June 2011 Site Start 7 Feb 2011 Land Titled 18 Jan 2010 Land Deposit 25 Jun 2009 Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 8Jul 07, 2011 12:28 pm Your plastic water pipes are probably PEX (cross-linked polyethylene). I was a big fan of copper pipes and originally had copper pipes in my contract. Changed them over to PEX pipes once I did some research. The main advantage of plastic pipes is that there is much less chance of water hammer and noise while water is running. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 9Jul 07, 2011 3:23 pm Almost 0 chance of water hammer which is great. I assume the plastic pipe is far easier to install than copper too...no need to spend time making bends and firing up the torch to make joins and stuff. Homestead Homes SA: The Lamont Bayswood Estate; Aldinga Beach Preliminary Signing: April 2010 Floorplans: 13 June 2010 Building Contract: 19 June 2010 Selections: 28 Sept 2010 Scraped; Trenching: 21 Jan 2011 Slab Poured: 28 Jan 2011 Framing: 17 Feb 2011 | Completed 24 Feb 2011 Roof & Gutters: 02 Mar 2011 Bricks: 03 Mar 2011 Wire-up: 12 Mar 2011 Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 11Jul 07, 2011 8:55 pm Casa2 Your plastic water pipes are probably PEX (cross-linked polyethylene). I was a big fan of copper pipes and originally had copper pipes in my contract. Changed them over to PEX pipes once I did some research. The main advantage of plastic pipes is that there is much less chance of water hammer and noise while water is running. I was the same Casa, I didn't like the plastic when I first saw it but after some research I found out it was an excellent alternative to copper. I still have some copper pipes in my house though. I made sure all the connections of the taps under benches and vanities were done in copper. I've had one of those stainless braided hoses they use spring a leak on me once before I don't want to go through that again so I won't use them now. darrell81 and yes the yellow gas pipe is just a plastic sleeve over copper piping I thought that's what it would be. Do you know why they use the plastic sleeve? Success is the result of good judgment, good judgment is the result of experience, and experience is often the result of bad judgment! Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 12Jul 07, 2011 9:06 pm My DH (a plumber) has been using PVC for water pipes for about 3 years. He says it has been around for the last 10 years. He prefers it to copper as you don't get water hammer and there is the potential for copper poisoning when drinking out of copper pipes. Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 13Jul 07, 2011 10:02 pm Flatlined Casa2 Your plastic water pipes are probably PEX (cross-linked polyethylene). I was a big fan of copper pipes and originally had copper pipes in my contract. Changed them over to PEX pipes once I did some research. The main advantage of plastic pipes is that there is much less chance of water hammer and noise while water is running. I was the same Casa, I didn't like the plastic when I first saw it but after some research I found out it was an excellent alternative to copper. I still have some copper pipes in my house though. I made sure all the connections of the taps under benches and vanities were done in copper. I've had one of those stainless braided hoses they use spring a leak on me once before I don't want to go through that again so I won't use them now. darrell81 and yes the yellow gas pipe is just a plastic sleeve over copper piping I thought that's what it would be. Do you know why they use the plastic sleeve? im sure its so the pipe is easy to identify. Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 14Jul 07, 2011 10:24 pm Thanks folks, I feel a lot better about it now. I suppose it's like everything; if you haven't seen it used before, you can get a little suspicious. Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34120 Handover 23 Dec 11 Squatting 21 Dec 11 Fixed 12 Oct 11 Plastered 31 Aug 2011 Framed 7 June 2011 Site Start 7 Feb 2011 Land Titled 18 Jan 2010 Land Deposit 25 Jun 2009 Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 15Jul 07, 2011 11:12 pm darrell81 im sure its so the pipe is easy to identify. Cheers Darrell, I thought that would be the reason. Just wondered if it also helped to avoid water hammer. Success is the result of good judgment, good judgment is the result of experience, and experience is often the result of bad judgment! Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 16Jul 07, 2011 11:19 pm Abby My DH (a plumber) has been using PVC for water pipes for about 3 years. He says it has been around for the last 10 years. He prefers it to copper as you don't get water hammer and there is the potential for copper poisoning when drinking out of copper pipes. PVC or PEX? Cos I would of chosen copper over PVC. Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 17Jul 08, 2011 11:23 am Flatlined darrell81 im sure its so the pipe is easy to identify. Cheers Darrell, I thought that would be the reason. Just wondered if it also helped to avoid water hammer. I'd be hoping not to get water hammer in a gas pipe anyway! That'd be a bit of an issue! Homestead Homes SA: The Lamont Bayswood Estate; Aldinga Beach Preliminary Signing: April 2010 Floorplans: 13 June 2010 Building Contract: 19 June 2010 Selections: 28 Sept 2010 Scraped; Trenching: 21 Jan 2011 Slab Poured: 28 Jan 2011 Framing: 17 Feb 2011 | Completed 24 Feb 2011 Roof & Gutters: 02 Mar 2011 Bricks: 03 Mar 2011 Wire-up: 12 Mar 2011 Re: When did they start using PVC for water pipes? 18Jul 08, 2011 8:27 pm rockabilly_kid Flatlined darrell81 im sure its so the pipe is easy to identify. Cheers Darrell, I thought that would be the reason. Just wondered if it also helped to avoid water hammer. I'd be hoping not to get water hammer in a gas pipe anyway! That'd be a bit of an issue! I was still thinking about water pipes hahaha Cheers Rocka Success is the result of good judgment, good judgment is the result of experience, and experience is often the result of bad judgment! Building Standards; Getting It Right! Thank you for the generous offer. I need to get the plumber out to give me an explanation. As mentioned I haven't seen any rain water discharge from pipes 1& 3. It… 7 10834 yep sounds good make the footing bigger to to allow for the pipe in the middle 3 7326 Plumbers 'can be' plumbers, made all the worse by self certification which the building surveyor invariably accepts as proof of compliance! The good thing is that you know know. 3 4872 |