Iron or copper

JB_8

I have about 7 feet underground and the rest along the floor to replace on my steam system.

Brad White_203

Point of Connection

I can go either way on this one.

If I had to toss a coin to make a decision, if the entire run is below ground, including the points where it may change from iron to copper, I would use copper.

Just make sure you use Type L (medium weight wall) at least. Do not use type M if longevity is your goal. Also, embed it in clean sand or better yet, an outer conduit of PVC piping to protect it from unknown soil conditions, corrosives, etc.

When you go from iron to copper, use a bronze full port ball valve as the transition and leave a valved tee below these isolation valves, to allow flushing out of the below-grade portion.

At all costs, I would avoid any buried mechanical joints, especially those between dis-similar metals.

Above grade, iron is tops, especially if low to the floor and at risk of foot damage.

Norm Harvey

Hey Brad, do you have any pictures of the wet return/PVC trench at John Martins?

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Unknown

I agree with Brad

Well ...... mostly .

We prefer copper below and above ground . Crud just doesn't bond to copper like it does to steel in a wet return .

Just installed this Burnham today ( that's Kenny doing the Pee Wee dance ) , and found out the crappy way the steel return pipe was shot to you know what . We ran 40 ft. of type L to get 'er up and running again .