I need to install a water heater in a cinder block shed. I have a (PVC) cold water supply line coming through an outside wall to the place I want the (electric) heater to sit. I will be having an electrician run the electric lines to the location. I would like to do the plumbing myself, but I was hoping for a little advice. For the moment, please do not worry about building codes. This will be in a rural area with no codes. I do want it to be safe and effective, but I do not have to worry about building codes. The building does not and will not contain flamable materials, so I intend for the heater to sit directly on the floor.
From the heater area, I need a straight run of cold and hot water piping about 35 or 40 feet down the side of the wall to two sinks sitting side-by-side. I also need to make an approximately 4 foot run to another sink with both hot and cold water. I intend to sit the heater in a pan with a drain running through the cinder block wall to the outside. I also plan to run the pressure relief line through the wall to the outside using copper tubing.
All the piping running to the sinks will be mounted on the cinder block walls approximately 12 inches from the floor.
Now for my questions...
On the heater supply line, should I go from PVC to a flexible copper supply line and into the heater? If not, suggestions please?
From the outlet of the heater, can I go again with a short run of copper (couple of feet) and then transition to some type of plastic pipe (PCV, CPVC)? I do not want to have to run copper if I can avoid it--due to the expense and the need to solder. (I am fairly sure I could successfully solder the copper, but I do not have the torch, solder, etc, and I do not wish to buy it for such a small job). If plastic pipe, what type?
The pipes (whatever they turn out to be) will be exposed to florescent lighting and no sunlight.
Also, I do not care if this installation has to be repeated in 5 or 6 years. I only need something that will be reasonably reliable for 4 or 5 years.
Any advice, thoughts, comments, appreciated!
--Art
From the heater area, I need a straight run of cold and hot water piping about 35 or 40 feet down the side of the wall to two sinks sitting side-by-side. I also need to make an approximately 4 foot run to another sink with both hot and cold water. I intend to sit the heater in a pan with a drain running through the cinder block wall to the outside. I also plan to run the pressure relief line through the wall to the outside using copper tubing.
All the piping running to the sinks will be mounted on the cinder block walls approximately 12 inches from the floor.
Now for my questions...
On the heater supply line, should I go from PVC to a flexible copper supply line and into the heater? If not, suggestions please?
From the outlet of the heater, can I go again with a short run of copper (couple of feet) and then transition to some type of plastic pipe (PCV, CPVC)? I do not want to have to run copper if I can avoid it--due to the expense and the need to solder. (I am fairly sure I could successfully solder the copper, but I do not have the torch, solder, etc, and I do not wish to buy it for such a small job). If plastic pipe, what type?
The pipes (whatever they turn out to be) will be exposed to florescent lighting and no sunlight.
Also, I do not care if this installation has to be repeated in 5 or 6 years. I only need something that will be reasonably reliable for 4 or 5 years.
Any advice, thoughts, comments, appreciated!
--Art