Plumbing for Remodel


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Old 05-14-10, 10:06 PM
V
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Plumbing for Remodel

I am remodeling my home and I will be doing much of the plumbing myself. I have a few questions:

Water Main To House
------------------------
1) I am replacing 50' of CPVC with 1" copper type K. If I use
soft copper, it reduces my fittings by only 1. Should I
still use soft or go with rigid (which I have experience
with)??

2) I will be installing a hot water recirculation system. The
fixture farthest from the water heater is a double shower.
I was contemplating running 1" (hot and cold) to the
shower and then 3/4" from there. Since I am not
planning on using "low flow" shower heads in the
double shower, is 1" the correct size (from W/H)
or can I get away with 3/4"??

3) Do I need to take into account that typically a "warm"
flow is more cold than hot? That might make me
size the hot water smaller than the cold.

4) Has anyone had any experience with gravity-fed recirc
systems? In summary, the hot feed goes through
the attic and down to the first fixture. The return
goes from the fixture closest to the W/H back to the
W/H. Everything is insulated except for the last
15' of the return to the W/H. The water in the
un-insulated section cools and contracts creating the
slow flow. The main disadvantage
is that it runs all the time rather than just during peak
periods. I figure if it does not work I can always add
a pump.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Victor
 
  #2  
Old 05-15-10, 10:01 AM
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Originally Posted by VictorValencia
I am remodeling my home and I will be doing much of the plumbing myself. I have a few questions:

Water Main To House
------------------------
1) I am replacing 50' of CPVC with 1" copper type K. If I use
soft copper, it reduces my fittings by only 1. Should I
still use soft or go with rigid (which I have experience
with)??

2) I will be installing a hot water recirculation system. The
fixture farthest from the water heater is a double shower.
I was contemplating running 1" (hot and cold) to the
shower and then 3/4" from there. Since I am not
planning on using "low flow" shower heads in the
double shower, is 1" the correct size (from W/H)
or can I get away with 3/4"??

3) Do I need to take into account that typically a "warm"
flow is more cold than hot? That might make me
size the hot water smaller than the cold.

4) Has anyone had any experience with gravity-fed recirc
systems? In summary, the hot feed goes through
the attic and down to the first fixture. The return
goes from the fixture closest to the W/H back to the
W/H. Everything is insulated except for the last
15' of the return to the W/H. The water in the
un-insulated section cools and contracts creating the
slow flow. The main disadvantage
is that it runs all the time rather than just during peak
periods. I figure if it does not work I can always add
a pump.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Victor
1: If it is permitted where you live I would use pex for your incomming line. Soft k copper is a PITA to run because of being prone to kink, plus it costs $$$$, if you decide to run the copper remember that most areas require the joints to be brazed.

2: I don't like the gravity recirc. systems ( personal preference), I would rather run a circ. pump with an aquastat and timer.

3: That's normal practice to run the hot smaller then the cold, if you aren't running a long distance I would use 1in. for the cold and 3/4in for the hot, (remember this is long distance advice without knowing your exact set-up).
 
  #3  
Old 05-15-10, 01:52 PM
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I only have a comment....why in the world would you want to change out cpvc to copper? Copper is, as shacko mentioned, expensive, proned to leaks, must be brazed, and proned to sand wear through. Pex is the first choice, the cpvc. They both will have more longevity than copper and are too easy to use compared to copper.
 
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Old 05-17-10, 01:50 PM
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Thanks for your responses Chandler and Shacko. Interesting about copper vs CPVC. I had to pull out the old stuff since it
has to be re-routed and there was a leak at the meter (in the metal no CPVC). I always got the impression that copper
was "better" than the plastic stuff. I guess I should have
did a little more research. I would certainly prefer to run
CPVC since 1" type K copper costs a fortune.

Sounds like it would be prudent to use CPVC instead.

Thanks again.
 
 

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