Fitting Pipe Tips and Guide

CPVC Pipe Installation Tips From a Professional Plumber

People often have questions about installing CPVC pipe. They need new water lines and want to know if CPVC pipe is a good choice. Many want to know if it is really as easy to install CPVC plumbing as it looks. I mean, it requires no special tools and is really easy to put it together. You just glue it together, what could be easier?

Like most things in life, it’s not quite that simple. The truth is, CPVC pipe is a perfectly good product and can be an excellent choice for water pipes, but you do need to know a few things to do it right. For starters, you need to be able to properly size the pipe in your system and you need to be able to design the piping layout efficiently. There are also some things you need to know about CPVC piping installations in particular.

Here are a few tips to help you get a good system.

Strap It Right

Strap CPVC every 4′ horizontally and at least once between the floor and ceiling vertically. Use plastic support hooks and get the kind that hold the pipe a little off of the wood. CPVC expands and contracts like all plastic pipe and if it is fastened too tightly against the framing it can make a lot of popping and squeaking noises as time goes on.

Easy On The Glue

Don’t use too much CPVC cement. Apply glue sparingly in the CPVC fitting. If you get too much glue in the fitting, when you push the pipe into the fitting the glue will get pushed into the joint. If there is enough glue pushed in it can actually dissolve the pipe and cause a failure. I have also seen it cause a kind of bubble of glue in the joint which dries and blocks the pipe. That’s real fun to figure out when part of the system doesn’t get water.

Use Brass or Copper Adapters

If you have to use any threaded connectors go ahead and pay the extra couple of dollars and get the kind that have brass or copper threads instead of the all plastic kind. Sioux Chief makes some really good ones. You may have to go to a plumbing supply to get these, most DIY stores don’t have them.

Eliminate Loose Tub Valves

While you are at it, Sioux Chief makes some great other products for adapting CPVC to copper. I recommend using their preformed ells, along with sweat type tub/shower valves. Use copper for the tub spout piping and shower head riser and use the Sioux Chief ells for the inlet connections. This allows you to properly secure the tub/shower valves so they don’t wiggle and wobble when you use them.

Securing Hose Faucets

Likewise, the Sioux Chief ells work great along with a sweat hosebibb. Hoses get pulled around a lot and this method really lets you secure the hose faucet so it doesn’t get yanked out of the siding or brick.

Avoid Plastic Valves

One more tip. You can get shut off valves made entirely of CPVC. Don’t use them, especially the gate valves. They are prone to leak. The only ones I would even consider are the Ball Valve type, and I have had problems with them. Go ahead and use real brass valves with the necessary adapters. Again check out Sioux Chief. (I promise I am not getting a commission from them). They are really good products that work.

Stay Away From Heat Sources

Don’t run CPVC pipes too close to heat sources, such as can lights or flue vents. A good rule of thumb is to stay at least 12″ away from these kinds of things.

Check All Products For Compatibility

Last of all make sure that any pipe dope or other chemicals that come into contact with any part of the piping system are approved and listed as safe for CPVC. Some chemicals can have a damaging effect on the plastic pipe, causing failures months and even years later. That doesn’t mean CPVC is not a good product, just pay attention to what you use with it.

These tips should help your next CPVC project be a success!

Bathroom Remodeling Books: Are They Worth The Buy?

Are you one of the many homeowners who has recently decided that you would like to tackle a home improvement project, such as remodeling your bathroom? If so, do you have any previous home improvement or remodeling experience? If you do not, it is advised that you try and get a little. Perhaps, the best way to do that would be to take a class on bathroom remodeling, but that isn’t always possible. A nice and relatively affordable alternate to bathroom remodeling classes are bathroom remodeling books. Despite the fact that bathroom remodeling books are full of valuable information, you may be wondering whether or not they are really worth the buy.

Perhaps, before you start determining whether or not bathroom remodeling books are worth the buy, you should first familiarize yourself with exactly what they are. Bathroom remodeling books, which are also sometimes referred to as bathroom remodeling how-to guides, are printed resources that are designed to assist homeowners with their own do it yourself bathroom remodeling projects. Bathroom remodeling books and how-to guides not only give you remodeling ideas and tips, but they also tend give detailed remodeling directions, such as directions on how to replace your bathroom flooring and so on.

Now that you know what bathroom remodeling books are, you may want to start examining whether or not you should buy one. Honestly, it all depends on a number of different factors. Bathroom remodeling books or how-to guides come in a number of different formats. There are some books that list information and directions on multiple bathroom projects, while others tend to only focus on one or two. If you are looking to have the majority of your bathroom remodeled, it may be a good idea to purchase a book that covers a number of different projects and visa versa. The best way to make sure that a bathroom remodeling book is money well spend is by making sure that you purchase a book that you can use.

Speaking of a book that you can use, it is not only important to examine the projects that are outlined or explained in a bathroom remodeling book, but it is also important to examine how they are outlined or explained. For instance, would you be able to read a detailed set of written directions or would you like to see those directions shown in pictures. While a large number of bathroom remodeling how-to guides have detailed pictures with their directions, not all do. Once again, you will not waste your money and purchase a bathroom remodeling book that will not do you any help.

Another thing to consider, when determining whether or not kitchen remodeling books and how-to guides are worth the money, is their price. How-to remodeling guides can be purchased online, from most home improvement stores, and most books stores. Each of those locations is likely to sell different books, for different prices. Despite the variation in costs, you will find that most traditional bathroom remodeling books, the ones that tend to focus on a number of different projects, sell for as low as ten dollars. If you are looking for a more detailed remodeling book, you may need to pay a little bit more money. Most specialty bathroom remodeling books start out selling for around fifteen or twenty dollars. Of course, you need to remember that some books will sell for less and some books will sell for more.

From the looks of it, you may be thinking that bathroom remodeling books are more than worth the buy. In most cases, you will find that you are right. However, it is also important to note that you should be able to find the same information online, without having to pay a dime. If are looking to save money, instead of purchasing a bathroom remodeling how-to guide, you may want to think about performing a standard internet search online.