I replaced the lines that went over to the sink and to the toilet. The lines in this picture go to the outlets to the tub and over to where the split off to the sink and toilet.
Would you replace those too if it were you?
If you think they should be replaced, would you use something other than the usual copper pipes and fittings like the SharkBite products for example?
Have you tried the "SharkBite" brand of products? If so what do you think of them or have they developed any sort of reputation good or bad?
Ooops forgot the link to the picture. This picture is posted through "yousendit dot com" instead of FileAve that I used before that caused some folks some concern about malware.
Yousendit is for file transfers, like Napster, etc. I don't want to download files to my computer unless I am completely secure that the site is OK. Use any of the free image sharing sites where no downloading is required. Photobucket, Imageshack, Picasa, etc.
I didn't notice any soft spots that wanted to kink when I was pulling them to the side to get to other things.
I was asking because these will be under the tub far enough that they will be hard to get to if something happens. This is an upstairs bathroom. but it won't be used much and I might even turn the water off to the upstairs most of the time.
The green color is the natural patina of copper. If it was a sign of trouble, the Statue of Liberty would need a new skin less than every hundred years.
there's really no reason to replace soft copper lines if they are not damaged or leaking. But if you must, i'd recommend you use a proper flare fitting to transition to a threaded fitting, then use the adaptor that screws in to go to PEX. IF this area is going to continue to be accessible, then the sharkbite fittings could be used. However, I do have reservations about them because they DO utilize a rubber o-ring and rubber does not last forever. Also, they are expensive.
Thanks for posting the picture on a normal hosting site.
In such situations, where something won't be accessible after the work is completed, and getting to it for a repair would be problematic, the thing turns into a Wallya. Wallya at it, might as well replace those pipes. Copper corrodes from the inside out, and as someone else mentioned, the first signs of a problem is some green patina spots showing up, usually near the joints where someone was liberal with the flux. So, I have to disagree with Bill's assesment. If the patina is more or less uniform on the pipe, fine, but if there are localized green spots with white stuff around, then that's a bad sign. The pipe has corroded from the inside and the change in patina somehow indicates thinner material where the pipe has eroded. This seems to happen more in fittings and probably has to do with turbulent flow or some such and/or excess flux.
Sharkbite fittings work great, and they are rated for burial in slabs, but I don't know if they'd be my first choice if you're going with copper pipe. I don't doubt the Sharkbite fittings would work, but I just like the purity of copper with copper. If you're transitioning to PEX the Sharkbites make it trivial - one of their best points. You can work with copper, PVC or PEX with the same fitting, which makes them indispensable in the repair kit. If you are concerned about them being buried for a long while over occupied space below, run an air pressure test. Hook up a fitting and pump it up to double your house pressure and let it sit overnight to see if the air pressure is dropping. If it holds at double the pressure, it's unlikely you'd ever have a problem. They probably would be fine, they seem very well made and they work better than the competition that I've tried, such as the Zurn plastic stuff. Pretty funny, eh? I have no problem with PEX supply piping, but plastic fittings give me the heebie jeebies. I have had issues with the Zurn fittings before, so I just stopped using them.
I've used "shark bite" connectors and they DO work - but I'd only use them in situations where a proper soldered joint is difficult or impossible to make due to location, or when joining dis-similar pipes where soldering is not an option and the sharkbite is better than the alternative.
Holy crap, what a mess! Soft copper pipe and compression/flare fittings??? It wouldn't be staying there in MY house!!! In that location, no reason not to use hard copper pipe with properly soldered connections.
it's been my experience that these soft copper runs to things in older houses are rarely 5/8" OD. And that's the only way a sharkbite is gonna be an option. He might just as well go back to a known good point and either sweat on or flare fitting to a pipe thread and use a proper adaptor to the material he wishes to use.
What about the pipe at the bottom of the picture, below the cast iron pipe? And I'd be closely checking the quality/condition of the cast iron pipe too. I've seen too many "weep" and let go. Many insurance companies are not covering cast iron drainpipe any more on new policies for that reason.
There was no option for open with that first link - least not for me. Just a "where did ya want to save that?" dialog. This is not normal behavior, and not normal behavior is rarely good when it comes to computers. The OP should just stick with one of the two or three biggie hosting sites.
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