JOIN DIYCHATROOM TODAY!

kbs2244 · 12-23-2007, 08:56 PM

Whole house in new construction in Fla. is the norm now.
It is almost a requirment in areas that have gone to reverse osmosis water treatment because that water can eat up copper pipes.
I did 3 patchs in my copper pipes last winter with pex. The supply house guy said he does a "re-pipe" job a week in the Ft Myres area.

scott.martin · 12-24-2007, 01:17 AM

KBS, you are saying that the water is so bad that it wears the copper pipes or the osmosis requirement wears the pipes?

kbs2244 · 12-24-2007, 11:09 AM

It seems to happen more on horizonal runs than vertical.
What you will see is a spot on the pipe where the water just oozes through. The copper turns sponglike there.
It is very unperdicable. The water is reacting to some kind of small deposit in the copper.
On the outside you will see the typical green stain. But if you look inside the cut out piece you will see a fuzzy growth of some kind. Almost looks like a catipiller.
RO does some kind of chemical change in the water that finds these disposits in the copper that non treated water never knew was there.
I used PEX and Shark Bites to patch mine. But now I am a nervious guy.
I watch the celing for soft spots and turn off the main valve and drain the system if I am gone more than a day.
I cann't afford a re-pipe right now.

scott.martin · 12-24-2007, 11:48 AM

That is very interesting. The good thing is the main supply from the city or main water source can remain copper coming into the house, but everything after that could be PEX. And I hear you on not being able to re-pipe, I am a dumb enlisted guy, so cash doesn't come pouring in. Thanks KBS

kbs2244 · 12-25-2007, 11:42 AM

Something I left out that may be of intrest to everybody.
My Fla place is a 4th floor condo, top floor, so I don't have to worry about bad pipes above me.
But I am liable if my pipes cause damage below me. And most inportant, my insurance no longer covers damage caused by bad pipes.
This is enough of a problem that the insurance cos have quietly dropped covering damage caused by piping from their policies.
I think Fla law says the pipes in a cond building are common property up the the main shuttoff valve for the unit. But anything after that is the unit owners responsibilty and liability.
If any of you are condo owners in an area that has gone to RO water treatment this is something to check out.
And if you are on a condo board you should check your coverage for the piping in the common area.

ranman469 · 12-25-2007, 12:23 PM

pex is a good product as long as the type you chose is alowed by the plumbing code. if its not allowed you will have a problem.
if it is a approved materal and installed as per the instructions. no problem. here we use the uniform plumbing code and pex pipe has to be stamped with astm f876/f877 and the fittings are astm 1807. the fittings look like the ones used for poly pipe. but if you use the ones not listed they will blow apart.

this what we are useing in the asu dorm rooms
http://na.rehau.com/construction/hea...plumbing.shtml

scott.martin · 12-25-2007, 01:47 PM

ranman, are you saying that if I don't use the ones listed as "astm 1807" then they will blow apart? or are you saying if I don't use the ones approved for the REHAU PEX then they will blow appart if they are a different brand?

ranman469 · 12-25-2007, 03:06 PM

sorry scott

i`m saying use only ones listed and approved by your local codes. i would check with the local plumbing inspector for the current approved products.
you also can check with a plumbing supply shop.
the bad thing zurn pex fittings are listed as approved in the UPC and IPC code books, but there is a recall on zurn pex fittings , for them breaking