Perfect You protected the copper pipe.

 

Rather than start a new thread... I have a related question. Coming in through the exterior block wall with copper water supply into water heater closet. Same method as in original post.
Anywho, 3/4 copper will come through the wall, 90 elbow and up the wall, tee off to water heater, and continue up into drop ceiling to supply 3/4" PEX (A) trunk line.
A plumber I had over told me I should keep it copper in the water heater closet all the way up into drop ceiling to avoid PEX being exposed to UV... even the UV from indoor kitchen lighting. Okay. Sounds reasonable, being that PEX should not be exposed to UV. BUT... I was thinking... Pipes within 5' (California) of water heater (cold and hot) are supposed to be insulated anyway, right? Meaning, couldn't you just wrap all PEX that is exposed in the closet with pipe insulation - therefore protecting the PEX from UV exposure?

Would PEX covered with pipe insulation be permissible in a water heater closet? I imagine it would. Door would only ever open to service heater. Just wondering, since I originally planned to run PEX in the water heater closet.

 

Rather than start a new thread... I have a related question. Coming in through the exterior block wall with copper water supply into water heater closet. Same method as in original post.
Anywho, 3/4 copper will come through the wall, 90 elbow and up the wall, tee off to water heater, and continue up into drop ceiling to supply 3/4" PEX (A) trunk line.
A plumber I had over told me I should keep it copper in the water heater closet all the way up into drop ceiling to avoid PEX being exposed to UV... even the UV from indoor kitchen lighting. Okay. Sounds reasonable, being that PEX should not be exposed to UV. BUT... I was thinking... Pipes within 5' (California) of water heater (cold and hot) are supposed to be insulated anyway, right? Meaning, couldn't you just wrap all PEX that is exposed in the closet with pipe insulation - therefore protecting the PEX from UV exposure?

Would PEX covered with pipe insulation be permissible in a water heater closet? I imagine it would. Door would only ever open to service heater. Just wondering, since I originally planned to run PEX in the water heater closet.
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You can paint pex to protect it from UV.

 

I figured it would just get wrapped in pipe insulation and taped after pressure testing... but I was also curious about the mechanical damage aspect of it being exposed, though I don't see how it would differ from exposed copper. So as long as everything is strapped and secured, I don't see an issue. I'll probably sweat copper up to about tank height and transition to PEX and insulate all PEX that is exposed.

 

Wrap it with insulation and you'll be fine. I understand that CA was a little slow getting onboard with PEX so your local inspector may be a little reluctant. 😉 Anchor and wrap it well- shouldn't be a problem
Side note, verify that you can connect to the heater with pex. My state requires pex be kept 18" developed length away from the heater- we typically use 18'-24" flex connectors