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COPPER TUBING, WATER

Description: This is copper-colored pipe, straight or coiled, depending on the type. Straight copper comes in 10- and 20-foot lengths and in diameters ranging from 1/4 inch to 2 inches. Coiled copper tubing comes in various lengths from 45 feet to 200 feet.

Buying information: Copper pipe comes in three types, K, L, and M, depending on pipe-wall thickness.

Type K, which comes in rigid lengths and coils, is designed to be buried in the ground.

Type L is used inside the house. It is available in rigid lengths and coils, but the rigid material also comes in type LBT, or bending temper. The pipe can be bent with a special bending tool. This is expensive, however, so most do-it-yourselfers opt for straight runs and fittings, one function of which, as mentioned earlier, is to allow straight pipe to make turns.

Type M is used for heating applications.

Overall, copper is the most expensive pipe you can buy.

How-to hint: A key consideration in sweating pipe is that the ends be dry. A good trick to get any water out of a pipe near the joint you are sweating is to push a piece of bread in the tube. This will soak up the water.

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