Copper risers...how big a deal?

BigRedSteam

in the middle of a major kitchen remodel and have access to 3 runouts and risers to small radiators in the kitchen and 2nd floor bath which i see have been laid out in 1"copper from a previous renovation. Its perhaps a total of 60 linear feet

Having read and researched I know that "near boiler" piping should never be a copper job...(re-did near boiler 6 years ago for this reason). Is it critical/important enough to spend the extra $$ now to replace these copper pipes. Will these risers/runouts create boiler issues in the same way that near boiler piping does?

forgive me if this is a hot topic but I Did a bit of searching and did not see a specific callout on copper risers... i

Jamie Hall

Probably not, provided they are free to expand and contract linearly. If they are restrained somehow, or if expansion and contraction of the longer straight pieces puts a twist on a joint, maybe.

BigRedSteam

thanks...any concerns with joints failing or corrosion in the boiler or mains from dissimilar metals ?

Jamie Hall

Again, most likely not. Any dissimilar metal corrosion would be right where the copper joins the iron -- if any occurred at all.

Neild5

If you see any signs at any of the joints of hard water deposits I would replace all of it.

EBEBRATT-Ed

The copper risers will cause no issues as far as how the system operates.

The problem is with expansion and contraction (copper expands more than steel) and puts stress on the sweat joints.

If you have any sweat joints with no access inside the walls I think I would address those. If the joints are acessable I so they could be repaired in the future I would let it go.

Pumpguy

If not insulated, this would probably be the time to do so.