Why Copper Pipe?

by Brice Particelli

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Copper pipe is expensive, but with copper you will always get the best. Copper has been used for centuries for many construction needs. On the outside of a home, gutters and other exterior features are made from copper because of its tremendous durability. It does not rust in the rain and, if treated, can offer that golden sheen. Similarly, if left untreated, if offers a rustic feel. In a home's walls, copper piping is used because of its low maintenance cost and as well as the durability of the material. Who wants to bust down a wall to fix a broken pipe?

Types of Copper Pipe
Copper pipe comes in three thicknesses: M for thin-walled, L for medium-walled, and K for thick. It also comes in various forms of rigid and flexible. Because copper pipe is such a well-respected material, building codes include almost all variations of copper piping. You simply need to speak with your plumber or builder to see what kind of pipe fits your particular project.

Copper Pipe Repair
Typically, copper pipe repair is done with a flexible variation of copper. It is less rigid, of course, and easier to maneuver into position. This type of repair, of course, should be minimal. More often, a homeowner will look to copper when a steel or PVC pipe continually corrodes or shows signs of weakness. Copper piping is turned to particularly, then, for water distribution needs. This becomes most important in element-rich areas like a sprinkler system or the wiring for a solar panel.

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Copper Piping

Copper is long lasting, maintenance free, and the material of choice for high use and easily corroded sections of plumbing, heating, cooling and other mechanical systems. Copper pipes never need to be painted or protected from corrosion, and is one of the few materials universally accepted by major building codes. If you find yourself looking at piping that does not quite fit the project, or a material that continually fails, copper should always be the fall back. It is the best material out there and should fit any need flawlessly.

Brice Particelli, formerly a carpenter in Colorado and Kentucky, manages continuing education programs for Columbia University and is a freelance writer for both the home improvement and travel industries.