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    pwd77's Avatar
    pwd77 Posts: 185, Reputation: 3
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    #1

    Jan 13, 2008, 01:08 PM
    Plastic or copper for outside water supply?
    I live in cold winter climate. I want to run water from inside the house to outside for watering in summer. I have black HDPE to a brass valve, then connecting to 3/4 PEX to service the house.

    As per the picture, I want to tee in and run 1" cold water outside to connect to a watering system. The plumbing is in the wall safely insulated; I plan to include valves to drain the water from the pipes outside and leading out from the inside.
    Name: plumbing pic.jpg Views: 4134 Size: 15.0 KB
    (all the plumbing shown is inside; the pipe to outside runs perpendicular to the page)

    I was going to use copper, but after reviewing some posts, was considering PVC instead. It is obviously WAY cheaper and easier to use.

    My concerns are
    - is PVC acceptable for plumbing behind walls (including valves
    - is PVC acceptable for outside, exposed to the sun

    Any other suggestions?

    Thank you!
    doug238's Avatar
    doug238 Posts: 1,560, Reputation: 62
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    #2

    Jan 15, 2008, 07:20 PM
    Pvc is not acceptable for water pressure lines exposed to air or sunlight. The only place I see them accepted is under a mobile home and that mainly is because the inspecter can not inspect it, a mobile home falls under D O T rule and they ain't watching. I prefer pvc for water service piping but I put mine inside a 2" sleeve underground. if there is no rocks and no root problem i will run 1" pvc underground by itself.
    iamgrowler's Avatar
    iamgrowler Posts: 1,421, Reputation: 110
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    #3

    Jan 15, 2008, 08:13 PM
    I'm with Doug -- Most plastic piping materials are less than ideal for sun exposure.

    Exposure to ultraviolet rays will degrade PVC, CPVC and PEX tubing.
    pwd77's Avatar
    pwd77 Posts: 185, Reputation: 3
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    #4

    Jan 15, 2008, 08:13 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by doug238
    pvc is not acceptable for water pressure lines exposed to air or sunlight. the only place i see them accepted is under a mobile home and that mainly is because the inspecter can not inspect it, a mobile home falls under D O T rule and they ain't watching. i prefer pvc for water service piping but i put mine inside a 2" sleeve underground. if there is no rocks and no root problem i will run 1" pvc underground by itself.
    Good, info, thanks!
    PalmMP3's Avatar
    PalmMP3 Posts: 321, Reputation: 28
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    #5

    Jan 15, 2008, 08:33 PM
    For an outdoor partially-or-completely-buried sprinkler system, you should consider using PE tubing which is rated for that purpose.
    pwd77's Avatar
    pwd77 Posts: 185, Reputation: 3
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    #6

    Jan 15, 2008, 08:46 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by PalmMP3
    For an outdoor partially-or-completely-buried sprinkler system, you should consider using PE tubing which is rated for that purpose.
    Good point, I'm planning on flex pipe for the outside.

    My concern at the moment is the transition from inside to outside. Even though it would be a conduit for heat loss, I am leaning toward copper for structural purposes: it can be bumped without cracking

    Any thoughts?
    PalmMP3's Avatar
    PalmMP3 Posts: 321, Reputation: 28
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    #7

    Jan 15, 2008, 09:09 PM
    "Heat loss"? Aren't we talking about cold water to begin with?

    As for it not breaking, it's not so much the material you use as how you support it: instead of having a pipe just make a "jump" over open air into the ground, it should be securely strapped to the wall of the house or to a post the whole way down.
    pwd77's Avatar
    pwd77 Posts: 185, Reputation: 3
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    #8

    Jan 15, 2008, 09:59 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by PalmMP3
    "Heat loss"? Aren't we talking about cold water to begin with?

    As for it not breaking, it's not so much the material you use as how you support it: instead of having a pipe just make a "jump" over open air into the ground, it should be securely strapped to the wall of the house or to a post the whole way down.

    Yes we are talking cold water; I was referring to having a metal pipe running from outside (freezing in winter) to inside. Ignore the comment if you like.
    PalmMP3's Avatar
    PalmMP3 Posts: 321, Reputation: 28
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    #9

    Jan 15, 2008, 10:19 PM
    Oh, I see what you mean. Nah, I wouldn't worry about it too much - one small pipe is not going to make your home lose a whole lot if heat, I think.
    doug238's Avatar
    doug238 Posts: 1,560, Reputation: 62
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    #10

    Jan 16, 2008, 06:09 PM
    My concern at the moment is the transition from inside to outside. Even though it would be a conduit for heat loss, I am leaning toward copper for structural purposes: it can be bumped without cracking

    Any thoughts?

    Quote Originally Posted by pwd77
    yes we are talking cold water; I was referring to having a metal pipe running from outside (freezing in winter) to inside. Ignore the comment if you like.
    What climate are you doing this in? What area of the country?
    pwd77's Avatar
    pwd77 Posts: 185, Reputation: 3
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    #11

    Jan 16, 2008, 06:50 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by doug238
    what climate are you doing this in? what area of the country?
    N.E. Wyoming: hot summers; cold, freezing, snowy winters.

    For what its worth, the interior portion of the plumbing is within conditioned space. The outdoor part will come out perpendicular to the wall about 18" off the ground, make a turn down about 3-4" from the wall, then go down into the ground for the landscape watering. Obviously everything outside the house will have to be drained for the winter.
    doug238's Avatar
    doug238 Posts: 1,560, Reputation: 62
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    #12

    Jan 16, 2008, 07:05 PM
    Obviously everything outside the house will have to be drained for the winter.
    [you answered my next question]
    pwd77's Avatar
    pwd77 Posts: 185, Reputation: 3
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    #13

    Jan 17, 2008, 06:27 PM
    So-o-o...

    After all the exchanges, what do the veterans suggest?!

    All copper?

    CPVC inside, copper outside?

    :confused:
    doug238's Avatar
    doug238 Posts: 1,560, Reputation: 62
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    #14

    Jan 18, 2008, 04:49 AM
    CPVC inside, copper outside
    pwd77's Avatar
    pwd77 Posts: 185, Reputation: 3
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    #15

    Jan 18, 2008, 10:27 AM
    Thank you!
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