Piping Materials

Glen

Hello All -
Having followed many threads - and looked at many great examples of fine work - I must ask this: Is there a preference of piping materials for the near boiler piping? I have used both copper and steel (A53) While the copper is pretty - the steel is much less expensive to install. Comments?
Cheers from the Canadian Rockies

J.C.A.

personally....

I like to use steel right off the top and bottom for the added strength and the options for hanging. After that we use whatever the previous system used , or in the case of new switch to copper .I will admit to having to "fudge" some black iron piping because the tappings weren't coming up straight from the appliance or fitting I was attaching it to . This is where copper becomes easier to use , but again, a couple of swing joints can mask a poor tapping .Hope this helped . Chris.

keith

Steel

for the supply and return headers. I screw a male adaptor into the flow valve on the supply and a male adaptor into a purge tee and go with copper from there. I use steel mostly for a solid piping arrangement. The copper offers a little more flexibility on piping options but less flexability for expansion and contraction. Just my 2 cents worth.

Mike Kraft

personally:)............

I always installed my manifolds in black pipe.I found it to be very strong as stated and permanent.I actually viewed copper headers as a sign of a weak install!!

But then the longer I hung around here I saw that copper installs were in some instances quicker cleaner and less work if planned.Many copper installs look crappy because of no love!But I have seen some real pretty installs posted here and am trying to improve mine.

Although I have been considering getting the wrenches out and going back to black for a bit.

cheese

Glen

Twisted thinking?

Thanks for the excellent feedback - I am just now starting a very sweet radiant job lakeside near by Cranbrook. It's an unassuming 2500 sqft log cabin in which the owner is sparing no expense. It will be a very nice spot to crack a bottle of wine and watch the sun go down. I have sorted it out with the heating engineer that injection temp control will be the most beneficial to me and the owner (on top of the 90% furnace and 4 ton AC) but I am thinking - with so much flash above the boiler room - wouldn't it be nice to offer a system that looks as good as it works? I would prefer to do this in black - but thought I would ask. And - I'll see many of you at ISH next week. (Look for the white haired character under the cowboy hat!)
Cheers
Glen

hr

Pizazz

to that near boiler piping can be added in the form of colorful PVC jacketed insulation also Regardless of the piping materials.

Watts Radiant offers some beautiful stainless steel radiant manifolds. Worth a look for a little more $$ than brass manifolds.

hot rod

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