[Doomonyou]

If the plumbers can't charge you more for using copper pipe instead of plastic, they'll just come up with other ways to charge you more:

The main problem with plastic pipe is that it leaks and is susceptible to damage. There have been many class action suits by HOA's against builders due to plastic plumbing systems, at this point, no manufacturer has come up with a dependable system. Plastic (ABS) is still used for waste systems all over the country, the problem is the water service side. Copper is still the best system out there.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

The new stuff is great.

[Oberon]

...at this point, no manufacturer has come up with a dependable system.

We haven't had any trouble with CPVC. Ever.

[John123]

You seem knowledgeble about this issue. Do you know how long this "plastic pipe" ban has been in place?

My home is 15 years old and we have a lot of plastic piping under the sinks. It does make it easier for me to clean "U" pipes or replace the leaky pipes.

In your opinion, which piping is more energy efficient for transporting hot water; plastic or copper? :)

[telebob]

"The main problem with plastic pipe is that it leaks and is susceptible to damage."

Check. Rigid, PVC pipe commonly used in plumbing such as schedule 40 and schedule 80 should not be installed in walls. They were developed for exposed pressure systems such as irrigation. Polyeurathane and polybutalene are better suited for interior pressure plumbing, but still not the equal of copper.

Cheap PVC pipe will become brittle and crack when it ages, especially in hot water or corrosive service. Glue joints will fail. Cheap Home Depot plastic valves aren't worth squat.

California is doing the right thing in this case.

Copper still rules and will last forever...

[nightdriver]

"The main problem with plastic pipe is that it leaks and is susceptible to damage."

Yes, and it gets brittle with age too. I even had a mouse chew a hole in plastic pipe inside a wall. It cost a lot more to fix than metal piping would have cost.

[expatpat]

I have to disagree. While there was one kind of plastic (butadine, I believe) that was inadequate, the CPVC pipes that have been used for hot and cold water over many years are better than copper. In areas with low-pH water, copper pipes etch out after a number of years and develop pinhole leaks that can be very damaging.

[mvpel]

Cross-linked polyethelyene tubing looks to be the key system that the plumbing unions fear. Due to the nature of the tubing and its shape memory, it's possible to create absolutely leak-proof fittings by expanding the tubing around a barbed brass coupler, and then letting it naturally resume its original shape. Check out http://www.mid-americanenergy.com/aquapex.htm for details.

The excellent flexibility and durability of AQUAPEX®, together with the advanced ProPEX® technology, reduce plumbing rough-in times to a fraction of those required for copper.

Plumbers: NOOOOOooooooo!!!!