Hi folks,

My contractor installed PVC pipes for the hot water storage heater to my 2 upstairs showers. He claims that the PVC pipes he used are hot water resistant. They are not the blue ones.

I was not worried abt this until another contractor happen to go by and saw the pipes. He claims that hot water cannot use PVC but only copper or stainless steel.

Need feedback if hot water CAN use PVC piping or must I now redo my hot water pipes from the central hot water tank heater.

Thanks!

My house use beige color plastics piping for hot water, is call ppr piping if not wrong

Copper and ss is recommend

SS is better than copper overall.

Copper is easier to work on. SS reduces heat lost vs copper

Noted. But do I have to redo the piping? I think copper and SS would be better than PVC too, but since its already done, would it make sense to redo it before I tile the wall up. Seems a waste.

I believe the hot water heater shouldnt go pass 80C. Think PVC should hold up ok at this temp. However, a friend said there would be a plastic smell....

If there is a smell during shower, then I guess PVC gotta go. But if not, then I guess I can live with it.

Comments abt PVC smell during showers?

Thks

If it is PVC replace it with ss or copper since you have not tile it. When PVC get hot it is not about melting, it get soft and with water pressure it get pregnant. Not that it will burst. It wont burst embedded in concrete but the joint will leak. By then imagine you have to hack the whole and all the pipe out. Good luck.

bolded part.. yeah meh ??

PPR is also another alternative

Not really.

ss use copper compression fittings. Copper pipe you can bend and adjust, ss you can not bend easily as copper unless lenghty. And because both use compression its angle can be adjust by simply loosening and tighening. Also you can open the compression fitting and refit whenever there is an elbow. No need to cut and re join. All fittings can be reused except you got to get new rings, the copper rings at RM1 to RM1.50 a piece. The fittings of course is a bit more expensive. Tools to use the wrench and pipe cutter, that's all. No glue no Teflon tape. Teflon tape optional, just for smooth tightening not for waterproofing.

I would prefer cooper for easy work. And solder the joint. Not compression fitting. Solder joint more tough, not easy leak and smaller fitting.

To prevent heat lost, cover the pipe with insulation.

I cover all my copper pipe with insulation since you insisted last time. Previously have to wait 10 to 15 sec turn on full hot water for hot water to reach and come out. Now, no need to do so even after few hours someone come out of bathroom and I go in. Just turn the mixture on the usual center and in 3 sec warm water is out and no more adjust here and there. Also, the water seemed to be hotter now that I have to move more to the cold side. I think this is due to heat lost last time without insulation as the heat is transfer from solar hot tank via copper pipe to the bathroom and as air surrounding is cooler than the copper pipe and heat is lost from copper pipe to surrounding air. Thanks for your insistence. and believe

Sorry did not read properly.

Yes, PPR is better than ss reducing heat lost.

No problem. We here share knowledge.

Insulator is cheap. But have big effect on redeem the temperature. Copper is good at heat transfer than SS. That is why the water get cool faster through cooper heat transfer. Another thing I learn from solar heater is, hot water pipe size should not be over 1". Otherwise the water loss the heat faster. Best is 3/4 top --> 1/2 toilet.

There is another way to insulate the pipe. By using garden hose slip over the copper pipe.

PB (polybutylene) can be use for hot water. But generally 5% more expensive than cooper.

But than PB no need further insulate.

How?

the manufacturer now also coated a pvc layer outside the copper pipe for insulation, but need to pay more $$ lar

It just like sarong the copper pipe with the garden hose. The garden hose is make of rubber material. Which consider 1 of the insulate material. Those thick dark green type.

OIC. Can that be cheaper than buying the aircond insulator? I bought at RM4 per piece. One piece is 6 feet long. I think that is a great idea when you want to insulated the pipe and conceal it in the concrete. The aircond one is so thick and if conceal with it in the concrete it will go too deep not only you have to connect a fitting to let it come out of the wall, it also make the wall weak occupying the wall space and make the concrete at that wall thin.

I don't no what is the garden hose price now. My garden hose for 14yrs never been change before.

As you said, conseal inside the wall is good to use rubber hose insulate. Cheaper way I guess.

My house is using PPR pipes for hot water too!

Thks for all the info. BTW, what is PPR pipes?

Cheers