I am remodeling a bathroom on the second story of a split level house. I have the room down to the studs and subfloor. This bathroom also adjoins the master bath. Since I took the walls down I’ve had three leaks in the pipes to the master bath: 2 pinhole leaks in the copper and I discovered that the compression fittings used to repair the master shower were also leaking (removing the walls exposed the pipes to the master bath toilet and shower; yes I was lucky). So, I’m going to replumb the house to the pipes in the slab.
I was thinking of running the new pipes through the attic and, athough I had originally planned on using copper, am now leaning toward CPVC. Can you give me some feedback on your experience with these two ideas?
I’ll probably have to rerun the drains as well because the new bath shares a drain with the master bath shower. This run is about 7 feet with little, if any, slope. The drain is notched into the bottom of the joists. I have to extend the drain another 6′ away from the master bath so notching is out (not that it was good to begin with). The existing drain runs another 8′ in the opposite direction to the stack through the wall of the first floor room and already has a negative slope. So… another episode in remodeling.
Thanks for your input about the attic and CPVC.
RJS
Replies
Pipes in the attic? I guess that depends on where you live. In the North, that would be a bit of a problem in the winter. Where are you?
CPVC is not often (if ever) used for supply around here. Until recently it's all been copper, but now, PEX is legal.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
Sorry, I should have mentioned that I live in Central Florida.
That CPVC is gonna hate the major tempeture swings....
You wanna see leaks..... Got a rain coat???
Use the pex but keep in mind that it still freezes in Florida and one is all it takes...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
Is this possible? Run the PEX or rolled copper inside that flexible grey electrical conduit and terminate both ends where it's visible. Then, if you get a leak, it runs inside the conduit and drips where someone will see it.
Just a thought.
ShelleyinNM
Thanks for the input everyone. I opened up another space yesterday afternoon and did some measuring and it looks like I'll be able to run new copper or CPVC along with a new drain in the chase between floors rather than in the attic. I still have to figure out what exactly was the thought on how this beast was framed originally. It looks like the plumber and framer shared the drugs when it came to this spot in the house: floor joists with no supports; floor joists notched in half/ cut in half; pipes run down different chases... anyway. Thanks for your input. Time to get to work.
Richard
"It looks like the plumber and framer shared the drugs when it came to this spot in the house: floor joists with no supports; floor joists notched in half/ cut in half; pipes run down different chases"
Richard,
Can you post some pics? Sounds interestingly scary.
Jon
EVER TAKE A DRINK OF NOT SO COLD WATER FROM A PLASTIC CONTAINER ??? I PREFER COPPER MAYBE I AM GETTING OLD LOL