Choosing Tubing

Copper plumbing or plastic? It’s a question with no simple answer, but there is a strong argument for why copper tubing is a better product than its plastic counterpart.

When it comes to reliability and durability, copper has more than proved its worth. For centuries it has been used as a conveyor of drinking water, and it is believed that civilizations as far back as the ancient Egyptians used copper pipes for irrigation.

When archeologists excavated the remains of a 4,500-year-old Egyptian funerary pyramid in 1994 they unearthed a sophisticated copper drainage system. Remarkably the copper pipes have survived to this day - an extraordinary example of copper’s lifetime warranty!

Throughout history many materials have been used to carry water. Wood, clay, bamboo, lead, iron and steel have all had their day - and their problems. Wood rots, clay collapses, iron and steel rust, and water and food vessels made of lead may have even contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire.

Plastic is the latest material on the residential plumbing scene, but its short history has included troubles with weak joints, pipe failures and repair bills for unlucky homeowners.

"Consumers typically do not worry about their plumbing, but maybe they should," says US Copper Development Association President, Andrew Kireta.

"It's basically an 'out-of-sight, out-of-mind' issue. However, homeowners need to recognize the tremendous benefits of copper systems. Unlike many other materials, copper plumbing requires no maintenance, won't burn or break down, and can last for the life of your home."

Kevin Beauchamp is a Sydney-based plumber who has 47 years experience in the industry. He works with copper rather than plastic because he has seen too many homes ruined by vermin attacks to plastic tubing.

“Vermin is the biggest problem with plastic. If a rat eats the plastic pipe and floods the house the owner has no insurance whatsoever. No one explains this to the homeowner, and people just assume they are covered – not realising that vermin damage is not included in standard home insurance.”

“We do a lot of work for Mirvac Project Homes and we insist on using copper plumbing for all new homes because we know it is not going to let us down,” says Mr Beauchamp.

When it comes to public hygiene issues, copper is again the clear winner. Research has shown that copper is the only piping material that has the ability to substantially reduce e-coli and nutrient dependent bacteria, including the fatal legionella virus. Not only is copper impermeable (contaminants don't penetrate it), copper surfaces actually inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.

“Before it was recognised that microorganisms even existed, citizens of the early Roman Empire used copper piping to improve public hygiene, and in India they have used brass jugs for centuries to  take the bugs out of the water,” says Copper Development Centre Australia CEO, John Fennell.

 “They observed that water delivered through copper was safe to drink and that copper utensils and cookware helped to prevent the spread of disease.”

It’s true that copper tubing has suffered in the past from problems like corrosion and waaaater hammer, but today many of these issues are no longer relevant.

“The copper industry has come a long way in dealing with any weaknesses in copperrrr tubing. Corrosion, for example, is no longer a problem with improved installation practices, and the reality is there are very few soil types that cause copper to corrode,” says Mr Fennell.

Water hammer is also an issue that has been effectively dealt with. The installation of air chambers and the reduction of water pressure have eliminated any noise in virtually all instances.” (Click here for CDC’s ‘Practical Solutions to Water Hammer’ booklet).

Copper plumbing is generally recognised as being slower to install than plastic, but many plumbers do not believe the time saving is great enough to tip the scales in favour of plastic.

If you still need convincing, have a look at these 15 reasons why Crane Copper Tube thinks you should choose copper for your next plumbing job.
1. Copper tube has inherent strength, allowing neater installations with less clipping required.
2. Copper tube is impervious to oxygen, insecticide, solvents and toxins.
3. Copper tube is non-flammable and does not emit toxic fumes during fire.
4. Copper tube jointing systems do not reduce the bore of the tube.
5. Copper tube has increased flow rates and requires less space for installation.
6. Copper tube is a recyclable material.
7. Copper tube is puncture and abrasion resistant.
8. Copper tube does not degrade from direct sunlight or become brittle with age.
9. Copper tube is not probe to damage due to rodent attack.
10. Copper tube has multiple uses including water, gas and sanitation.
11. Copper tube reduces the number of harmful micro-organisms in water.
12. Copper tube made to universal size not a unique brand size.
13. Copper tube does not creep with age and has 7 to 15 times less lineal expansion with heat.
14. Copper tube continues to perform at high temperatures.
15. Copper tube does not adversely effect the taste of water

The use of copper as a material for distributing water and gas in the home is predicted to grow as builders and consumers increasingly strive to improve energy conservation.

This is confirmed by the Building Construction Technology Roadmap report (developed by the Warren Centre on behalf of the copper industry and the Government), which found ‘connectivity’ and ‘sustainability’ to be among the two most important trends over the next 20 years of residential home construction.