With the sharp rise in the cost of copper (as well as the reluctance many homeowners have to solder copper pipe), there has been growing interest in plastic pipe as an alternative for water and drain lines. Plastic pipe made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) has been permitted for DWV (drain-waste-vent) pipe for many years, but only in recent years have communities allowed plastic (PEX or CPVC) water supply lines to be installed in residential buildings. PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) is sometimes colored red for hot and blue for cold. CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) is usually beige-colored, to distinguish it from PVC. Neither of these materials should be confused with polybutylene (PB), a grey plastic tubing that came out in the early 1980’s and then fell from usage because it frequently failed under moderate pressure with heat.

Changing the water line will generally require a plumbing permit. Since the original metal piping is part of the grounding circuit of the electrical system in many older homes, if you change to plastic water lines, many cities (including Cleveland Heights) require that (Read more….)