Outdoor Wood Furnace Info
All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Plumbing => Topic started by: Gunpowder on October 13, 2017, 07:17:14 AM
-
Was searching the forum for confirmation of what type copper to use in my system. I did find one post that I believe had the types reversed in its answer. My recollection, Copper M is for general residential use. domestic water, in the wall, etc. It is thinner. Copper L is for commercial and hot water systems. It is thicker. This is probably the better choice for our systems.
Incidentally Copper L is also used to plumb air compressors in automotive shops as well. There is special stress solder that is recommended to thwart cracks in solder from vibrations of the compressor.
-
L is definitely heavier than M and will take a little more abuse, does cost more of course.
-
M can and does get used for heating systems all the time, but as mentioned it is thinner wall. I use type L on everything including domestic water. M isn't even an option for most mechanical inspectors, if the system gets inspected. Needs to be L or K, which it thicker than L by about the same margin between M and L. ACR is the same thickness as L, but clean and registered for refrigeration usage. Much higher priced but will serve anything that L or M is suited for. As far as compressed air lines or anything high pressure or subject to wicked vibrations, lines "should" be brazed using sil-phos. Just like your central A/C lines; as the A/C unit is quite similar to an air compressor. Regular soft solder works just fine for compressed air lines if you know what you're doing
-
Ditto on wreckit87. Type K,L or refrigeration grade-ACR can all be used for gas piping applications (LP or Natural) as well if the joints are brazed or silver soldered to withstand temperatures of 1100 degree or higher. These types of joints are the best for vibration resistance too.