Posted by Vic Famous PlumbingSupply.com on December 09, 1997 at 17:49:08:
In Reply to: Plastic Hot Water Pipe posted by Martin Dietrich on December 08, 1997 at 21:14:50:
"Better" is a relative term with water piping.
There is no "perfect" piping product and both galvanized and copper have their problems.
Copper will get eaten by aggressive water or acidic water or electrical problemed water or in the ground where there are soils that aren't compatible with copper.
Galvanized is illegal in some part of the country due to leaching too much zinc and of course in many areas galvanized piping will clog or even rust.
I could go on and on about both but the above are just some reasons that neither is a "perfect" piping product for all situations.
CPVC has its problems also. IF I was going to install it I'd make sure it was the yellow striped CPVC called Flo-Guard. The resins are made by Goodyear and this will give you some assurance that should the products fail that you might have some recourse (unlike some other brands and other type of products).
NEVER expose CPVC to sunlight (as all plastics will eventually break down from UV rays) and don't use with heavy chlorinated water.
Also, Greenpeace has stated that during the manufacturing of PVC and CPVC that some dioxins are produced. Whether that is true I do not know.
Protect all piping from freezing.