Re: Complete replumbing of old house, copper in, or under slab.

Posted by dick on February 14, 19101 at 22:52:27:
In response to Re: Complete replumbing of old house, copper in, or under slab.
Attic plumbing is almost universal in the south. Plumbing codes and conventions tend to lag behind some recent changes. attic plumbing in the north with the insulation levels that were common 20 years ago would be a disaster. attic plumbing with insulation 8 to 12 " over the pipes would probably not be a problem. We have had overnight temps in the teens for 2-3 days and not had a problem. and I was a little skimpy on insulation at the time. This only happens once every few years around here but was no problem except for the people who were out of town and had turned there heat way down or off. PEX seems to be the repiping material of choice in areas where it is legal. : The easy way is to have a leak locator find the problem, have a plumber break the floor and fix it, and then have your homeowner's insurance reimburse for the cost of locating, breaking, recementing, and replacing the floor finish, (less the deductible). Pipes in the attic will either give you all hot water in the summer and possible frozen pipes in the winter. The only pipe that could be pulled through a 1/2" copper line, assuming it is perfectly round for its entire length would be 3/8" o.d. and that is only sufficient for a single faucet. 5/8" o.d. might go through a 3/4" copper pipe but if you look at its internal diameter you will see that it has a very small capacity. : : : I have a 2300 sft house on slab. The plumbing, I discovered when water started coming from the wall, is either under or in the slab. Replumbing into the attic is the only viable solution that I see. Would cpvc be the material to use? Even though I have installed toilets, sinks, drain systems in new construction, I'm not certain of the methods used to replumb. I'm so old that my experience is with the old iron pipe. : : I'll probably have to contract the job out. : : Carl

Posted by dick on February 14, 19101 at 22:52:27:

In response to Re: Complete replumbing of old house, copper in, or under slab.

Attic plumbing is almost universal in the south. Plumbing codes and conventions tend to lag behind some recent changes. attic plumbing in the north with the insulation levels that were common 20 years ago would be a disaster. attic plumbing with insulation 8 to 12 " over the pipes would probably not be a problem. We have had overnight temps in the teens for 2-3 days and not had a problem. and I was a little skimpy on insulation at the time. This only happens once every few years around here but was no problem except for the people who were out of town and had turned there heat way down or off.

PEX seems to be the repiping material of choice in areas where it is legal.

: The easy way is to have a leak locator find the problem, have a plumber break the floor and fix it, and then have your homeowner's insurance reimburse for the cost of locating, breaking, recementing, and replacing the floor finish, (less the deductible). Pipes in the attic will either give you all hot water in the summer and possible frozen pipes in the winter. The only pipe that could be pulled through a 1/2" copper line, assuming it is perfectly round for its entire length would be 3/8" o.d. and that is only sufficient for a single faucet. 5/8" o.d. might go through a 3/4" copper pipe but if you look at its internal diameter you will see that it has a very small capacity.

:
: : I have a 2300 sft house on slab. The plumbing, I discovered when water started coming from the wall, is either under or in the slab. Replumbing into the attic is the only viable solution that I see. Would cpvc be the material to use? Even though I have installed toilets, sinks, drain systems in new construction, I'm not certain of the methods used to replumb. I'm so old that my experience is with the old iron pipe.

: : I'll probably have to contract the job out.

: : Carl

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