Copper Vs Pvc Drain Pipe

Cpvc pipe and fittings offer installers a viable alternative to copper.

Copper vs pvc drain pipe. Let s look at the differences in a little more detail. Copper pipes are durable for the long term with non acidic systems. Whereas pvc is typically only available in a sizing system called nominal pipe size nps cpvc comes in this sizing system as well as in copper tubing size cts. That said we put together the following tables to serve as general guides for estimating a pipe s water flow capacity.

Water flow gpm gph based on pipe size and inside outside diameters. Despite public perception that copper pipes last forever the average life of a copper pipe is about 20 years. It is estimated that 98 of homes built after 1970 have copper pipes. Cons of copper pipes.

Copper is bacteria resistant very fire resistant and earthquake tolerant. As the name suggests this sizing system mimics the same size graduations used by copper piping. The issue surrounding. While copper plumbing pipes have been around seemingly forever they do have a few flaws.

Copper piping also has a small internal diameter much smaller than cpvc which lets it fit in smaller tighter places. Pvc or poly vinyl chloride pipes have been in use far longer than abs pipes. The ph of natural potable water should be between 6 5 and 8 5. Unlike copper cpvc piping systems will maintain drinking water quality even if the ph of the potable water source falls below 6 5 ph measures the relative acidity of water.

It can be incredibly flexible and bent around joints. In fact the first city wide implementation of pvc pipes for drinking water and sewer pipes was from 1936 to 1939 in central germany. The use of copper piping in home construction in the us started in the early 1960 s. Pvc plumbing pipes are relative newcomers in northeast ohio but they have plenty of benefits for your home.

Pros of pvc pipes. Drain waste and vent use only pvc pipes. Copper pipes are metal and more durable while pex pvc and cpvc pipes are plastic and tend to have a shorter lifespan. Still copper pipes have been used throughout time simply because it is good material that lasts a long time.

Since cpvc is non metallic it will never pit scale or corrode.