So, it is an interesting thing... Perceptions are hard to change. The gold standard of house plumbing is copper piping. We didn't know we would be getting copper. I kind of assumed we would do the less expensive and longer lasting thing and go with plastic piping. Jason went over to the house this week and saw that copper pipes had been installed. Apparently, this is what the builder always uses and didn't think to ask. She has gotten enough feedback from real estate agents that copper significantly helps the "re-sale" value of a home. Well, while that may hold true- copper doesn't necessarily perform better. In fact, metals corrode over time (hence the water stains in your toilets and tubs). Also, in this day and age- copper is risky. Over the last week, the copper in the electrical wires was stolen out of the Solvay plant's power sub-station (shutting the plant down in sub-freezing weather for several hours) and here in Atlanta, the copper rings used in the HVAC of several big stores was stolen, closing these stores for hours. So, we were a bit surprised by her decision to use the copper. But, what's done is done and if for some reason we need to sell our house, we have that selling point. That is, until perceptions change and people realize that plastic is as good or even better.
2 comments:
As a totally qualified materials scientist (who might possibly prefer metals to polymers) and frequent home-seller/home buyer, I am 100% with your builder.
Yes, there have been thefts of metals recently (AC coils at the church and man hole covers around here when ferrous scrap prices were over $300/ton), but once it's all closed up in your house, that will not be a problem. And, they tend to hit the large loads like industrial units, not residential (and certainly not the plumbing because dismantling it is too hard...they'd be more likely to steal it prior to installation when the bundles of pipes were just lying about).
Copper is the gold-standard for potable water supply. PVC is fine for waste water, but there are serious concerns about long-term use of polymeric piping for potable water distribution.
Copper has been used for 1,000 years for water and aside from some concerns with lead solder (which is no longer used for new construction and the effects can be mitigated in older homes by letting the water run before drinking (and never drinking hot water from yours pipes...use cold and heat it), there is nothing controversial about copper. In fact, copper is highly regarded for its inherent anti-microbial proerties, so even water standing in your pipes overnight is safe to drink.
We are just learning about how PVC disintegrates over time and what kinds of chemicals are leached and off-gassed. The recent outcry over BP-A is an example of a chemical that was thought for 30 years to be safe, but new research is showing may not be, especially for children.
So, I say, Woo Hoo. A little corosion under the sink or behind the toilet is great peace of mind.
My husband just told me that supply lines would be PEX if they were plastic, not PVC. PEX is what they use for icemakers. Personally, I love polyethylene, but not for my everyday water supply.
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