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Using Old Copper Pipe - Good Idea ????

15 years ago

In redoing my bathroom, there was a substantial amount of 1/2 blue rated copper pipe that seems in great condition, possibly not that old. I was planning on cutting and reusing this pipe to plumb in new fixtures in different locations. I will ultimately need some new pipe too. I am just talking the pipe, obviously new connections will be used.

Is this OK?

Others (co-workers) commented that was cheap and silly and the copper could be worn out. But, with the price of copper, why not? And shouldn't copper last "forever" anyways? As long as I clean and deburr the ends, it should be fine?

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Comment (1)

lazypup
15 years ago
The Blue writing on the pipe indicates that it is "type L" Medium wall copper, which is the preferred material for residential water distribution systems. (Type K-heavy wall is primarily used for HVAC but hardly ever used in domestic potable water systems).

Providing the pipe in question has not been miss-treated during your rehab there is no reason to believe it is any better or any worse than the rest of the pipe in your water distribution system throughout the house. I see no reason to just replace it for the sake of replacing it.
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My greater concern here would be "Dynamic Pressure" which is the working pressure under flow. This bathroom is on the third floor so if this structure is on slab the vertical rise from the water main to the shower mixer will be approximately 24' and with a basement it could be as much as 32' or perhaps more. That would be a 10.3 to 13.8psig loss to vertical head. While the code required minimum dynamic head pressure for a standard shower mixer is only 8psig a temperture controlled shower mixer is required a minimum 20psig dynamic pressure. This means you would need between 30.3 and 33.8psig dynamic pressure at the main under full flow.
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