Identify pipe material for home water?

[bt2000]

Hi all,

I'm looking to rent an apartment that was built in 2007. I took a look under the kitchen sink, and it looks like the incoming water pipes there are copper. I went into the basement, and saw the pipes coming off of the hot water tank are a rigid, beige plastic. Picture is attached. I'm wondering if that's PEX? And does that connect to the copper piping in the kitchen? Seems like a weird setup.

If it's PEX, I'm wondering if there's anything I should be keeping an eye on with it, I read somewhere there was a PEX recall at some point, not sure if there was an issue with it in the 2007 construction period.

Thanks

 

[frodo]

that looks like cpvc.

are my eyes deceiving me.?

is that reduced to 1/2'' where it offsets to the left.

is that offset a smaller pipe than the rest ?

 

[Caduceus]

You have CPVC in the picture. It's possible that cpvc x copper connections were made behind the wall.

 

[bt2000]

Ah bummer - I see all these articles about CPVC leaching etc - I guess all pipes leach, depends if you want copper leached or the plastic stuff leached.

Thanks

 

[CT18]

In my area you have to have copper the first 18" off the heater and that electrical is way not right.

 

[frodo]

In my area you have to have copper the first 18" off the heater and that electrical is way not right.

gas line aint strapped,

i saw a spider winking at me....

 

[Matt30]

Don't even get me started on that drywall job!



....since we're nitpicking everything just thought I'd chime in.

I spy with my little eye something else....but I'll let someone else have it

 

[KULTULZ]

Ah bummer - I see all these articles about CPVC leaching etc - I guess all pipes leach, depends if you want copper leached or the plastic stuff leached.

Thanks

In my area you have to have copper the first 18" off the heater and that electrical is way not right.

I didn't know CPVC leached, can you refer me to an article?

I do know CPVC can become brittle and fail, ask me how I know...

Future plumbing will be PEX only.

CT18-

Are 18" copper leads required for both gas and electric WH install in your area?

 

[KULTULZ]

...and that electrical is way not right.

gas line aint strapped,

i saw a spider winking at me....

That elect supply needs to be corrected, no conduit. Is there a shut-off switch/box in sight of the WH? The plate(s) covering the elect connection @ the WH is not installed correctly. Must have had trouble compressing the #10 gauge.

Bad idea (IMO) to leave CSST exposed, should be black pipe firmly secured.

OJT observations...

 

[KULTULZ]

Don't even get me started on that drywall job!



....since we're nitpicking everything just thought I'd chime in.

I spy with my little eye something else....but I'll let someone else have it

I can't see it. Please don't forget to point it out eventually as I am on a NEED-TO-KNOW basis here...

 

[frodo]

Don't even get me started on that drywall job!



....since we're nitpicking everything just thought I'd chime in.

I spy with my little eye something else....but I'll let someone else have it

are you referring to a gas regulator that is not vented to the outdoors ?

or the red spot on the wall , look like someone killed that spider ?

 

[bt2000]

Hi all, thanks a lot for the replies, that is a huge help.

@Kultulz, about the CPVC leaching - I started looking it up after a friend from California told me they were trying to ban its use there - I really have no idea if this is legit or not:

http://www.calpipes.org/protectingcalifornians_cpvc.asp

I requested access to the cited UC Berkeley study, of course it's not linked there.

I had problems with dark flakes appearing in my drinking water recently at my current rental (check my posts for that story), which uses all copper, so now I'm hyper paranoid about checking things out before I sign a lease for a new place.

 

[Chris]

Remember this is California so we try to ban anything that works.

 

[Matt30]

Are 18" copper leads required for both gas and electric WH install in your area?

The majority of tanks in my area are oil and electric and both require 18" of copper where im at.

 

[KULTULZ]

@Kultulz, about the CPVC leaching - I started looking it up after a friend from California told me they were trying to ban its use there - I really have no idea if this is legit or not:

http://www.calpipes.org/protectingcalifornians_cpvc.asp

I requested access to the cited UC Berkeley study, of course it's not linked there.

THANK YOU for that source. I had no idea.

I am wondering how long it will be before something is found in PEX...

 

[KULTULZ]

The majority of tanks in my area are oil and electric and both require 18" of copper where im at.

...hmmpf...

I understand their need on a WH with a flue, but not electric. Guess I should check code here...

THANX!

 

[Matt30]

That's just the rules....I never said they made sense!