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cambtek

In australia i believe that they use the quality green pipe running around above the ceiling level and then come down the walls with the 12mm copper.
Not that expensive even in australia,why not do this in thailand?

Phrakhanong

It surprises me that excessive glue is used on the pipes. These are pvc pipes and I assume the glue used is a mix of tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexanone and pvc resin (ie the same ingredients used in model making plastic glue). This glue basically melts pvc and it is this melting reaction that causes the pipes to seal with each other. If too much glue is applied, it melts away the wall of the pipe, weakening it. I had this problem with my reticulation, where a pipe burst just before the joint because the excess glue had weakened the pipe wall.

In terms of roughing up the pipe, it doesn't need to be too rough, just enough to rub off the chemicals and ensure that the actual surface that is too be glued does not have any bumps, lumps, bits of debris etc. I've found that if the joints are properly glued, they are just as strong, if not stronger than the rest of the pipe. The weaknesses are usually near the joint, where excess glue may have pooled.

Spin

I used one and it worked nicely....until I stopped for the day. The day after is was rock hard. I had a look around and found that those little cotton buds for cleaning wax out of ones ears are quite good for the job also.

DrAndy

yes, you have to use copper for hot water, so it is available. several threads on here
blue plastic pipes are good for cold water, whatever type. so no timebomb!
I use a bit of stick, just like my plumber

DrAndy

yes, you can find it, quite expensive

HINO

All different types of piping are available. The reasons most people don't see it is the cost. The cheap blue pvc gets the job done for most Thais. We farang have big ideas and have more baht to spend.
Important factor is finding a plumber who does the work reliably. If you buy something different you had better be prepared to have the expertise available to install it and service it later cause the local Thai handi man won't be familiar with the new products.

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If you take the time to do the job right the first time you won't need to "find" the time to go back a second time

HINO

dirtydog

The only people with any skill in running copper piping in Thailand are the aircon people, they make a couple of thousand baht for each aircon they fit, takes a couple of hours to fit an aircon, most aint going to be interested in running water pipes for a house unless they make a few thousand a day on labour, most people on comparing the cost of blue pipes installed and copper pipes which say in total will cost more than 10 times more are going to choose?

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DrivingForce

Copper house water piping is so 60's....

cambtek

Lasts forever though.....still used in all commercial buildings in australia and most houses.

BKKBILL

Canada hasn’t used copper piping for water lines for well over fifteen years much longer for a drainage system. Copper pipe will not last forever. I have changed horizontal copper piping on toilet branches as the urine has eaten out the bottom. For many years when copper was still in use that portion of piping had to be type “L” which is heavy wall and at 3 or 4 inch every expensive. Copper can also be broken down if placed in concrete without protection. Maybe the Brits are shall we say slow to change.

DrAndy

DF, why do they still commonly use it in the UK then?

DrivingForce

^Yeah like I said, it most definitely does not last forever and more over from a technicians point of view unlike PVC which has specific weak points and can be more easily diagnosed if a leak happens, copper pipe can develop a leak anywhere along it's length where it happens to thin out which is a very rare issue with PVC and thus be a major problem to diagnose in that case.. Don't forget the potential for sweating too in some cases which can accelerate the corrosion process...

Proper diameter and wall thickness copper pipe would indeed be very expensive and difficult to install given the special tools and experience required..

dirtydog

People aint willing to pay for the best and the right way, if they were we would see most people using solar panels for hot water, electric etc etc.

DrAndy

PVC and copper are about the same price, so it is more to do with availability and skills

HINO

Its not the pipes that are the problem its the people installing them! Copper and PVC and steel all have there place and will last and perform for most of our life times. A properly engineered layout and quality install will give you the performance and longevity. It makes no difference what part of the world the pipes are installed in.

BKKBILL

I think copper piping is being fazed out and the newer plastic water pipes (PEX, PPR, C-PVC etc.) that have been approved for hot and cold piping in many industrial countries will replace it. There are many reasons for this here are a few.

Plastic tubing is available in long coils and is flexible enough to bend around obstructions without the use of connections. Fewer connections mean fewer opportunities for connections to leak and cause water damage. Lightweight, flexible nature mean plastic tubing can be easily run around and through obstacles in the home and can be installed more quickly - resulting in lower labor costs although not as large a factor here. Reduced maintenance and repair costs. Service is relatively simple, and it’s corrosion-resistant. Any Thai with a broken hacksaw blade can install it. Can be install in concrete.
Improved energy efficiency. It reduces the amount of heat lost from water in the piping, increases the response time of hot water, and decreases the amount of energy the water heater uses to deliver hot water.
Oh just so you know I’ve sold all my shares in plastic.

danno5

I think one reason why copper is used so extensively in the US (at least) is lobbying by plumbers trade groups! Where I live, it is actually illegal per the plumbing code to do ANY plumbing work on your own residence - you cannot even legally change a washer! Obviously a house plumbed with copper takes much more time than the other alternatives.

That being said, I built a house in another state in the US and used PEX. The stuff is great, and I would think would be perfect for Thailand. You can get 300+ foot long rolls, so that there are no fittings within the walls, bend the stuff pretty easily (with maybe a 1-foot radius on the bend) to avoid elbows, and join the fittings with a special crimping tool. Each fixture is typically a separate run, maintaining better pressure throughout. Great stuff to work with!

DrivingForce

Huh? You mentioned the US not Thailand?? Where is it "illegal" to do plumbing work (or any work) on your own property in the US? I want to be sure to avoid that bung hole, if it really exists?... I would also suggest that the use of copper piping is not extensive anymore in the states and hasn't been for the last 20 years or more except maybe on a limited regional basis..

DrAndy

what about

danno5

DF, I mentioned the US to follow up on a prior comment. I lived in Massachusetts, where it is still illegal to do your own plumbing work unles you are a licensed plumber (although you can do electrical work with out a license if it is on your own house).

And I am not sure if the current plumbing code in MA allows the use of PEX for potable water supply - although they allow it for heating systems (my sister's house was built 4-5 years ago and used PEX for heat and copper for potable water). Certainly plastic pipe (typically HDPE) is used for exterior burried conditions, but copper is still used almost exclusively for interior potable water!

The other house I built was in Maine - where there is no building code (at least the woods where I was building!).