Advanced plumbing questions

[Jon Austermuhl]

FOR EXPERT PLUMBERS HERE IS THE ADVANCED plumbing questions. When plumbing for hot water lines for residential what is the difference in using copper type L or M ?When looking at L or M you can not see a difference.Other than the price when and where in a residential would you use either L or M copper pipes ?Do L or M copper pipes fit all copper fittings as the fittings are not rated L or M,fittings such as T L O etc.?Is it worth the extra cost to install the more expensive copper pipe when the cost is 10% higher in L ?When using a electrical pipe heater does it matter when heating 1/2 copper L or M ? Does L or M heat faster ?

[KevinParticipant]

: FOR EXPERT PLUMBERS HERE IS THE ADVANCED : plumbing questions. : When plumbing for hot water lines for : residential what is the difference in using : copper type L or M ?The difference is in the long term benefits. L being thicker will have a longer life and be less susceptible to erosion.: When looking at L or M you can not see a : difference.Other than the price when and where in a residential would you use : either L or M copper pipes ?You can tell the difference, since L has a blue stripe and M has a red one, and it would take too long for a plumber to remove them, and if he did, the lack of a stripe could only be interpretted as an attempt to use M when L was specified.: Do L or M copper pipes fit all copper fittings as the fittings are not rated : L or M,fittings such as T L O etc.?All grades of copper, K, L, and M have the same outside diameter, therefore fittings will fit all three.: Is it worth the extra cost to install the : more expensive copper pipe when the cost : is 10% higher in L ?That is a judgement call for the customer to make, although 10% is a little low as a cost differential.: When using a electrical pipe heater does : it matter when heating 1/2 copper L or M ? : Does L or M heat faster ?M, having a thinner wall, will transfer the heat to the water faster, but it will also lose its heat quicker, for the same reason, when the heat is turned off.

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