Water Pipe replacements

[mikecjn]

I have a 1986 double wide with the Quest pipe and after having 2 fittings let go this winter I have decided to just completely replace all the water lines. <br />The question I have is whether to replace with PVC or copper pipe. <br />Major price difference between the two with PVC being the cheaper route.<br />My concern with the copper pipe was that if it froze it would split pretty easily and with Maine winters and losing power being a common problem I worry about that.<br />My concern with PVC is that it is so much cheaper than copper that it makes me wonder if it isn't as good to have as copper pipe would be.<br />Any suggestions?

 

[tommays]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

IMHP plastic pipe stinks for pressure lines its great for drains<br /><br />I have a lot of both at work The plastic is required in some areas and it's allways a PITA <br /><br />tommays

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

I like copper. It is easy to thaw and dam durable. If you are concerned with any freezing due to an outage install a low point drain and just open it when you loose power.... do a drain on the system until you regain power. Being in Maine you are no stranger to insulation.... installing new pipes can be a dream come true... you put them where you want them, you insulate them.... far away from outside skirting.

 

[mikecjn]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

I do plan on wrapping the pipes with heat tapes and copper makes me feel better with the safety factor with them. <br />I never thought of the low point drain. Really good idea. Being in Vermont you have some of the same issues that I do with the weather. Insulation is definitely going to be replaced.<br />The fittings that let go this winter I don't think were due to freezing. Those crappy Quest pipes (as I have been reading online) are a nightmare. I was just reading up on the class action lawsuit that they have out. The fittings deteriate over time and just let go. Friggin awesome 'eh...mine let go on the output Tee from the hot water tank on Christmas eve at 3:45pm while all the stores closed at 4:00. I had to cap off the hot water tank with a outdoor hose faucet fitting so I could at least have running water (only cold) until stores reopened the Tuesday after Christmas.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

CPVC is best for plastic.<br /><br />I prefer the plastic cause its easy to repair.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

I would use Wirsbo or Pex plastic tubing with brass fittings held on by crimp clamps. You probably had the problems with the Quest plastic fittings.<br /><br />You won't have problems with the above. Don't waste your time going to copper.

 

[mikecjn]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

Boomyal-The quest let go at the crimp clamps and I wasn't able to find anyone with the crimper or the rings.<br />I just want to replace it all with something that is easily repairable and not a pain to find parts for.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

Originally posted by mikecjn:<br /> Boomyal-The quest let go at the crimp clamps and I wasn't able to find anyone with the crimper or the rings.<br />I just want to replace it all with something that is easily repairable and not a pain to find parts for.

Did the tubing break at the crimp clamp or did the plastic fitting, inside the tubing let go. I am sure that your unit did not have brass fittings.

 

[mikecjn]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

Nope, just started spraying from between the fitting and the pipe. Not sure of the crimp loosened or if there was a fine crack. I have the plastic fittings.<br />When I took the whole thing apart(cut the crimp ring off) the fitting didn't appear to be broken. I don't know if over time the crimp ring was just working loose or what.<br />I have another that I found that is dripping at an elbow and I am just getting tired of it. That makes 3 fittings now in the past 3 months. I was reading up on the quest plumbing with the gray pipeand I see that there is or was a class action lawsuit out because of this exact issue. The fittings and the pipe start becoming brittle and break down. From what I read it looks like they all kinda start going about the same time.<br />My neighbor has the metal fittings,his is a 1996 and just had 1 let go Monday. He had a plumber come out to repair his and ended up having to replace 4 because as he did one he said others were cracking.<br />I just want to get away from this and go with something more reliable.<br /> http://www.codecheck.com/Qest_PB.htm <br /> http://www.hadd.com/materials.php <br />Here are a couple places I looked at.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

Mike where in Maine are ya? Im in the southern part.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

I see your saco bay area, i fish that river A LOT in the summer, you may have seen me at the ramp with my wooden boat.

 

[byacey]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with copper. While they are still getting the bugs out of plastic (and only the test of time will show for sure) copper has proven itself over the last 100 years or so.

 

[mikecjn]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

Johnshan1, I am down in Wells. I most always launch out of Saco though. Beautiful ramp there. They keep it up pretty well. I am 2 miles from the Wells ramp but it gets pretty tricky at times coming in and out of the harbor there.<br /><br />I am leaning towards copper. Easy to repair...fittings and pipe are readily available everywhere.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Water Pipe replacements

The Quest has been discontiuned here for years for that reason.dont get quest and cpvc bunched in the same catagory there entirly 2 different products in redidental and most small commercial we use cpvc its easy to install and easy to repair,it should work fine,Copper has been around a long time most of our old houses have coilroll copper which is great no 90*,We did some work on a 20 year old building that useed copper L or M and everwere they put 90's the water actually cut a grove in the 90 and caused a leak,at first we though it was just a bad 90 but in 3 years all the 90 did that and had to be replaced.Just some of what ive dealt with in the past.<br /> Whichever way your smart getting rid of all the quest!