Why Use Copper Pipes for Plumbing?
Is copper pipe still good?
Why do Americans use copper pipes for sanitary water ?
When do copper pipes need to be replaced?
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This may sound stupid, but I'm generally curious. Why do we use copper piping for water, gas, etc.? I'm confused for the following reasons:
-Copper has a very high thermal conductivity. Is this not very bad for transporting say, hot water? Wouldn't the copper conduct the heat from the water more easily and dissipate it into the room? That seems like a waste of energy compared to a pipe material with a significantly lower conductivity that traps more heat in.
-Copper is expensive. There is definitely a cheaper material choice than copper.
-Frictional losses. I know copper doesn't have the highest roughness coefficient, but compared to something like PVC that has virtually none, why choose copper? It's also a minor waste of energy because it slows down the transport of fluid, causing the pump to use more energy.
Please clear this up for me. After taking my coursework at school I feel as if copper is actually the worst pipe choice.