Wet Return - replaced with copper

Al Corelli

Black pipe, with a way to flush it from each end.

Michael Fair

Can a wet return be replaced with copper pipe

My wet return just sprang a leak and a temporary fix is in place (working fine). The plumber who fixed the pipe wants to replace the pipe with a copper pipe. Should I let him do this or stand my ground and have the plumber replace it with black pipe? Should I have him also add a drain so that I can flush the system or is the drain by the boiler good enough?

Al Gregory

Copper below the water line will last forever. A drain will be good too

brucewo1b

Michael

As you see there are two schools of thought and both are right, in my mind below the waterline copper is OK, and it will not corrode itself like Black Iron but you will still need to flush for what comes down the system and will settle in the return pipe so valves and tees at each end will make for a great power flushing scheme.