Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Oct 09, 2010 12:03 am Hi, I am considering using the Bunnings Hep2 plastic pipe plumbing system. Pipe and fittings very reasonable price. Any one had any issues with it? Looks very easy to run and now copper sooooo expensive, plastic much quicker to fit, looks ideal. I have spoken to a few plumbers. They said it works OK, but copper much better.... Ged Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 2Oct 09, 2010 9:43 am The concern with using plastic is whether due to the temperature changes of the water if it could possibly crack? Plastic has been around for about 10 years I believe and so far seems fine, but there is little way of knowing how it will hold up in 30+ years from now. Whereas we know that copper has stood the test of time so far. Plastic ends up considerably cheaper due to not only the material, but the ease with which it can be connected. With copper, you pay the premium for the material then also more for labour. This is one of those preference and cost things unfortunately Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 4Oct 09, 2010 11:06 am Yes Bam, agree. I ownerbuilt built a house several years ago using copper plumbing when it was reasonably priced. From an owner builder point of view, not very friendly. I roughed in the straight lengths and did the bends etc. and plumber did the connecting, soldering and clipping. As for plastic pipe life, yes, that is the unknown. But it sure is very quick to run, and fit off, so my plumber bill will not be too great compared with copper. Ged Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 5Oct 10, 2010 12:32 am Hi Ged, the house I built ten years ago the builder used plastic piping in it and had no problems with it just remember to insulate the hot water pipes over long distances and as regards to plastic braking down as long as theres no sun light on it it will last as wilth all PVC products they dont like UV rays. Regards Heath Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 6Oct 10, 2010 12:41 am 1109 and Heath, The plastic piping will be under the house or inside it. Agree, the sun is a killer of all plastics. The solar system will have copper coming from it to the tempering valve and plastic from there. All hot water plastic piping will have insulation covers. Ged Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 7Oct 14, 2010 10:12 pm Ged, You're probably already aware but if you're considering making some significant purchases like this from Bunnings check out their website for an application for their Owner Builder discount card (unless you already get trade discount?) We couldn't get one here in SA due to different state regulations (we don't require an Owner Builder Licence ... just a licensed Building Supervisor) but we have a Bunnings down the road from us and are there almost every day. Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 8Oct 15, 2010 11:16 pm Hi tomandkylie, Yes, I get trade discount. I live at Bunnings due to a few rental places and a recent restore of a 7 bedroom house at present before onto the next place.... When I source materials, I always use the Bunnings cost test. Some suppliers know me and say, "Nah mate, go to Bunnings, we can't beat em"...I also found a some of the frame and truss guys do good deals for stick timber compared with timber merchants. Ged Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 9Oct 16, 2010 1:27 pm Bit of a correction . A previous poster said "as with all PVC products". i am pretty sure that the plastic tubing used for potable water supplies is not PVC. Happy to be told otherwise. As for copper lasting the distance, I beg to differ - corrosion will probably kill copper pipes and especially the fittings long before PEX pipes "wear out". As you can see I am a fan of PEX pipes. Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 10Oct 17, 2010 9:37 am HI. I built my home three years ago and I used PEX pipe in my domestic water supply and in my in floor heating system. [url] http://www.building-a-home-info.com [/url] Thirty five years ago I built a home and used copper some of the copper joints were starting to leak, so this time around PVC was my choice.UV rays are the enemy for plastic,keep the sun off of it and it should last for years. Proof of this is in the land fill sites where plastics last for ever. Just thought I would add my two cents to this form..for what it is worth. Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 11Oct 17, 2010 10:32 am It only takes a creep of sunlight to destroy non UV rated plastic, just ask any mechanic how many windscreen washer bottles they've seen crack along its edge that's closest the bonnet edge. Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 12Oct 19, 2010 9:18 pm frankE Bit of a correction . A previous poster said "as with all PVC products". i am pretty sure that the plastic tubing used for potable water supplies is not PVC. Happy to be told otherwise. As for copper lasting the distance, I beg to differ - corrosion will probably kill copper pipes and especially the fittings long before PEX pipes "wear out". As you can see I am a fan of PEX pipes. The Statue of Liberty has been testing the properties of copper against the elements since 1886, still holding fast, that's a little longer than Legoland at 1968. EDIT: .. I had a thought right after I posted soooooo..ok I'll grant the fact that Legoland is also still standing, if you're patient I'll report back in about 100 years Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 13Oct 20, 2010 11:27 pm I would first make sure that the Bunnings "Hep2 plastic pipe plumbing system" is to AS. I assume its similar to PEX: Rehau, Auspex, Pex Plus, there's many others but cannot remember names now. I have done copper, and still use copper for some applications but mostly use Rehau Pex for water supply. The tooling was not cheap but I agree its not too hard to install and much cheaper than copper. Temp and pressure rating of the PEX is way more than adequate. I have confidence in the PEX I'm using and if the Hep2 is similiar would have no issues using this either. Most plumbers are using pex where appropriate. Cheers Pulpo Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 14Oct 21, 2010 12:46 am Pulpo has highlighted one of the issues with plastic pipe. It's the variety of different systems available that all have there own fittings and tools. It can make future maintenance an issue as your plumber may use and carry a different system than what was initially used. All plumbers carry oxy. I'm a bit old fashioned and still prefer copper. My plumber uses a mix of plastic for the run in and through the roof. Then copper gets chased into the walls (double brick). Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 16Feb 20, 2011 8:34 am We chose Rehau, and have had no regrets. (I believe Rehau is recognised as one of the best systems) Whilst not the sole reason we chose it, I did hear thet some PEX can be compromised by rodents (those buggers will chew on anything) but that copper offers the best protection and that Rehau rated better than others for rodent protection. I believe the Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 17Mar 13, 2011 12:00 am For an "average" house, just how much more expensive is copper over plastic ? I've heard of too many people having leaking plastic systems to be too interested in it ............ Thanks, P_D . Block settled 07 June 2011 Our little piece of the Interwebs on HomeOne....... viewtopic.php?f=31&t=48577&start=0 Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 18Apr 06, 2011 8:13 pm If it helps, I believe Rehau offer a waranttee that states that the pipe will leak or break long before the fittings will let go. The fittings are rated to a much higher pressure than the PEX pipe. (but this is conditional upon propper installation - which with the correct fitting equipment isnt too difficult) Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 19Apr 06, 2011 11:29 pm As everyone has mentioned, the durability of plastic pipes can't be confirmed as yet, but most builders now use plastic pipes. When I advise my clients at prestart that they will be getting plastic pipes instead of copper, almost all of them are actually extremely happy due to the concerns of the copper pipes leaching into the water. It does depend on the water pH in the area you live in, but if the water pH is slightly too low the copper leaches quite badly into the water, so copper pipes do have the potential to be really harmful. Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing system 20Aug 01, 2011 3:25 pm We're trying to find a builder, but one promising lead is that the guys next door to our block has built his house in around three months, and wants me to OB on my block with him acting as Project Manager for us. I told him that while we were prepared to use plastic pipe outside we want all our internal plumbing to be copper. He said "No worries, I'll get you a plumber who works in copper too". Mate of mine went away for a few days and while he was away one of the plastic fitting in his walls let go (or the pipe burst, or an ant chewed through it or something).....anyhow, his instantaneousness gas HWS worked all the time he was away filling his house with steaming hot water. He said that when he came home, the first thing he thought before he went inside was "Why do all the windows look foggy ?" After he opened the front door seems it didn't take him long to work out why !!! P_D . Block settled 07 June 2011 Our little piece of the Interwebs on HomeOne....... viewtopic.php?f=31&t=48577&start=0 Depends how much direct sun it gets. Is there any shading (eaves or trees)? If the sun hits a window directly it doesn't matter too much if it's double or single… 1 13047 the sun master is the solar heating to "warm" the water in the tank the S26 is your hot water system which will heat the water (25 degrees?) so with both turned on you… 2 14805 For our new build in NSW we opted for a heat pump with a 315L storage tank. Early days yet as we only moved in 6 weeks ago. Haven't run out out of hot water though. Ours… 7 4622 |