DIY Network

Turning the Water On: Plumbing Technology From "Home IQ" episode DHIQ-120

It's time for the water to be turned on in DIY's Home IQ home, owned by Brad and Lynn Oberg. In this first episode we talk about the plumbing technology for the Oberg home.

From the beginning our homeowners have incorporated a lot of new technology in their home -- and the plumbing is no exception.

In DIY's new Home IQ series, you'll follow the Oberg family during the decision-making process of building this beautiful new home.

In this week's episode the pipes go in and the faucets go on as we focus on the plumbing, including a high-tech water heater (seen here).

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Figure A

Plumbing Technology

For the water-supply lines inside the Oberg home, an innovative product called Aquapex® tubing (figure A) is being utilized instead of traditional copper pipes. There are several advantages to this new product:

• Saves installation time.

• Materials are a bit cheaper.

• According to Jeremy Dindinger, an apprentice plumber who worked on the Oberg home, says the material is "nicer" to work with as well. "At the end of the day your hands aren't green from copper," he said.

• There are health advantages also because there's no "standing" or "static" water in any of the lines. Static water can breed bacteria and other things that aren't good for the home dwellers.

Note: Static water means there's no stagnant water in the pipes.

	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

How Does the Aquapex System Work?

It's hooked directly to the water service that comes into the house via a manifold (figure B), which has a series of loops or runs that go directly to heads or plumbing fixtures in the house.

Installing the tubing is much faster than installing traditional copper pipes, as we mentioned earlier, but to elaborate the main reason is due to the flexibility (figure C) of the plastic tubing, which can be bent around corners and pushed easily through openings. Copper, on the other hand, needs to be assembled in sections, which requires measuring, cutting and soldering.

When it's time to connect the tubing to a fitting, the plumber stretches the end with a special tool called an "expander" (figure D). He then places the end onto the fitting and the plastic tries to shrink back to its original size, creating a water-tight connection in the process. And because our homeowners are using the open-frame SpaceJoist® (covered in Episode 118) to support the floor, the installation is much quicker.

Bill Rittelmann, a project engineer for IBACOS, explains that since the tubing is integrated throughout the structure with the use of the SpaceJoist, which allow the piping to be run through the joists with "no" drilling, the time spent on this process is less than with traditional copper piping.

Mistakes are inevitable in a house the size of the Oberg's, but with this new tubing it's easier to remedy the problems. For example, there was a miscalculation that was discovered on the plans when the tubing installation began. Due to the flexible tubing a complete line of piping didn't have to be cut out. The installers could simply bypass from one head to another much easier than with copper piping.

Even the Oberg's site supervisor, Greg Allen, is impressed with the flexible tubing. "I think once the plumbers get used to using it [the plastic tubing], it's going to be a lot quicker for them," he said. "Less mechanical or fastened joints ? with a slight bend in the pipe there's less restriction for the water, so your water-flow volume at your showerheads and faucets (figure E) is going to be more, and that's probably why I like it the most."

Note: One disadvantage of the plastic tubing is that none of the piping can be installed by a light fixture (light can) due to the heat and possibility of melting.

Shopping for Fixtures

For information on the Oberg's fixture shopping experience, click here. Scroll down for the section on "Shopping for Bathroom Fixtures."

In the next segment the fixtures are installed and our homeowners decide to play it safe with a state-of-the-art fire protection system.

RESOURCES :

Residential Sprinkler System and Radiant Flooring (Wirsbo)
Wirsbo Co.
Website: www.wirsbo.com

Kitchen and Bathroom Fixtures (Nicklas Supply)
Nicklas Supply, Inc./Splash
Website: www.wit-co.com
or www.nicklassupply.com

Plumbing Services (Pedicone)
Pedicone Plumbing
4364 Gibsonia Rd.
Rt. 910
Gibsonia, PA 15044
Phone: 724-443-6794

Sinks and Fixtures (Kohler)
Kohler Co.
Website: www.us.kohler.com

Munchkin Water Heater (Heat Transfer Products)

Water Heater Installation
A-Comfort Service, Inc.
Website: www.acomfortservice.com

GUESTS :

Brad and Lynn Oberg
Homeowners
Company: IBACOS (Brad)
Title: Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer
Website: www.ibacos.com

Jeff Winkle
Director of Community Development
Cranberry Township
2525 Rochester Rd.
Cranberry Township, PA 16066-6499
Phone: 724-776-4806
Fax: 724-776-5488
E-mail: winklej@twp.cranberry.pa.us
Website: www.twp.cranberry.pa.us

Greg Allen
Site Supervisor
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: gcrbs@adelphia.net

Cindy Schad
Designer/Sales
Nicklas Supply, Inc./Splash
PO Box 1730
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
Phone: 724-772-1060
Fax: 724-772-3020

Bill Rittlemann
Project Engineer
IBACOS
2214 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Website: www.ibacos.com

Jeremy Dindinger
Apprentice Plumber
Pedicone Plumbing
4364 Gibsonia Rd.
Rt. 910
Gibsonia, PA 15044
Phone: 724-443-6794

Kirk Vigil
Regional Sales Mgr.
Wirsbo Co.
5925 148th St. W.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
Toll-free: 800-321-4739
Phone: 952-891-2000
Fax: 952-891-2008
Website: www.wirsbo.com

Michael Morse
Journeyman Plumber
Pedicone Plumbing
4364 Gibsonia Rd.
Rt. 910
Gibsonia, PA 15044
Phone: 724-443-6794