Copper or CPVC??

Jabber5 · May 2, 2007

I'm having an irrigation system installed tomorrow and I have the option of having them use copper or CPVC for the inside plumbing. Which material should I choose? Price has been set already, so there's no impact on cost for me at this point. Thanks in advance for any insight or advice you can provide.

Gary Swart · May 2, 2007

To my way of thinking, this is a no-brainer. Copper is superior in every way.

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Cass · May 2, 2007

Copper if you have the $$$$$$

V1rtu0s1ty · May 2, 2007

sorry to butt-in. Plumbing is not my forte. My friends and I were just talking about plumbing the other day. We saw at This Old House someone installing a color black flexible pipe. The guy heats it up and connects different components. Is it also a CPVC? I do remember that the guy didn't use the transparent liquid and purple liquid to combine them together. The connectors were similar to that of the ones on homeversion of reverse osmosis systems.

Jabber5 · May 4, 2007

Thanks guys. I had the system installed yesterday and we used copper piping inside. Looks great. Now I'm in the midst of getting estimates to install a second remote reader water meter so that I don't get taxed on the irrigation consumption.

Gary Swart · May 4, 2007

I'm sure every city has their own way of handling how they charge for city water being used for irrigation purposes. I am not actually taxed for my water usage, but my sewer rates are based on it. My city handles it by taking a reading in the dead of winter when obviously no irrigating is being done, and using this as the basis of my sewer rate year around. I do have to pay for the water I use, but by using the winter usage to establish the basic rate, I do not have to use 2 meters.

Jabber5 · May 6, 2007

My township assesses sewer taxes based on actual water consumption, which they obtain from the local private water company. So, we have to have a way of measuring the consumption of just the irrigation system, which is by using the second meter. The township subtracts that number from the first meter, which still measures total consumption, to figure the sewer tax.

Speaking of meters, I was running the system late last night and noticed a clanging noise coming from the water meter inside the house. You could hear it up the whole side of the house. I don't think this is normal, or is it?

hj · May 6, 2007

meter

Yes it is when you are approaching the meter's flow limit. Does your area have a minimum charger per meter? If so, then you will be paying the minimum bill in the winter time also when you are not using the system. And that, plus the cost of installing the second meter might wipe out any savings of not paying the sewer fees.

Jabber5 · May 6, 2007

I don't think there is a min. charge per meter as the water bill is based still on the first meter which records the total water consumption. It's worth checking with the water company though, thanks.

As far as the clanging, you're saying that it's normal when approaching the meter's flow rate limit. Is there any way to correct that? Luckily, I don't hear it in my master bedroom, but if sleeping in another bedroom across the hall, you'd hear it and possible not be able to sleep! The system goes on at 2AM. I didn't expect this.

Gary Swart · May 7, 2007

If that's how your city operates, you have to follow their rules, but IMHO that is a waste of equipment and an extra expense for you. I think the suggestion of just paying the sewer charge would be a good way to go. Over years, you would pay more than that extra meter would cost, but it would take awhile. On the second problem, if your meter is maxed out, you might want to have a larger one installed. I did that years ago when I put in my system. The original meter was only 5/8", and would not supply enough water for the system. Rather than skimping and putting in a 3/4" meter, I had a 1" meter install. No more labor cost, just a bit more the the meter.

Jabber5 · May 8, 2007

Funny thing is, the output and pressure of the system is fine. The meter just clangs. Since the output is more than sufficient, I wonder if there is a way to dial back the flow a bit to eliminate the clanging??

Copper or CPVC??

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