Having a new home built to your own speicifications can be a wonderful way to ensure that your new dwelling meets the needs of you and your family, but it also means making decisions on the building materials you use. This extends to the plumbing you have installed, and choosing the right piping for your new home's hot water system is especially important.

Since hot water pipes have to deal with highly heated and pressurised water on a daily basis, they tend to endure more wear and tear than the other plumbing pipes in your home, and choosing a piping material that can withstand the strain is vital for preventing future problems. To that end, many owners of newly-built homes choose copper piping, and this venerable piping material has a lot of advantages that make it ideally suited to hot water applications.

However, while choosing copper piping can have many benefits, there are also drawbacks to choosing it over other material options, such as heat-resistant plastics. Consequently, you should bear the pros and cons of copper hot water piping in mind before deciding on installing it in your new home.

What are the advantages of copper hot water piping?

Durability

Copper is naturally rustproof, and is much less brittle and more resistant to physical damage than most plastic pipes suitable for hot water systems. This makes it a very reliable choice that will help to prevent leaks forming over time, and also makes the possibility of damaging your pipes during renovations and modifications less likely.

High pressure rating

Copper piping has an excellent pressure resistance rating, even if you choose cheaper options with relatively thin pipe walls, and copper pipes will not burst under high pressure. Copper pipes are therefore particularly suited to the hot water systems of larger homes, and are ideal for pipes that lead to higher storeys which must deal with more highly-pressurised water than ground level pipes.

Sanitary

Copper has natural antimicrobial properties, which prevent harmful bacteria and fungi from breeding within the warm, moist confines of infrequently-used sections of piping. This makes copper an ideal choice for hot water pipes leading to guest bathrooms and other infrequently-used sections of plumbing.

Environmentally friendly

Unlike plastic pipes, copper pipes contain no synthetic materials, and they can be readily recycled if the become supernumerary to requirements.

What about the disadvantages of copper hot water piping?

Expensive

Copper piping can be considerably more expensive than pipes made of other materials, and may be prohibitively expensive for homes built to a strict budget. Their long-term durability, however, can make them a good investment in the long run, and their low failure rates can help you avoid bills for emergency plumbing services.

Time-consuming to fit

Unlike plastic pipes, which can be slotted together rather simply, copper piping takes time and skill to assemble. You may therefore wish to opt for plastic piping if you are on a tight moving schedule and need hot water services up and running in your new home as soon as possible.

Talk to a plumber about the benefits of copper piping to help make your decision.