copper or plastic
 

Which tubing is predominantley used in canada. in uk we are using mostly copper, but plastic is catching on. thanks

Re: copper or plastic
 

I presume you are talking about residential plumbing?

If so plastic has pretty well taken over in new builds.

Cheers
Steve

Re: copper or plastic
 

From what I see here it is mainly plastic now for water, for all the various diameters of tubing which runs around homes for hot and cold water. Different sizes to depending on age of house, we had all sizes in ours and matching them up i.e. when we installed the fridge with water supply and dishwasher, was a bit confusing. It seems to have moved over to plastic in the past 5-8 years ? Tho anything around the main gas heaters is still copper, with compressions used rather than soldered fittings. And outside, we have copper to the water taps and plastic to the irrigation system. :confused:

Any plumbers working in Canada advise with details ?

Rich.

Re: copper or plastic
 

Plastic pipe is far more common in residential construction at the moment (well in Alberta anyway) although copper is still used in some application. Copper is used more in commercial application due to the larger pipes.

I notice your from Skipton, my brother and his fiancé currently live in Skipton and applied for there immigration last year. My other brother moved to Calgary from Harrogate 2 years ago and is currently working as a plumber, small world hay.

Re: copper or plastic
 

Small world. I actually live next door in a village called silsden. lovely part of the UK. We shop every sat in skipton market for fruit and veg and then onto morrisons. I am from ilkley and went to school there.

if i make it to canada i would be looking to build my own house helping out with a contractor. i do a fair bit of water plumbing here, both in plastic and copper.

Re: copper or plastic
 

you can mix the two systems up and this has probably happened in your house over the years. your heating pipes are usually done in 22mm pipes from and back to the boiler, which then reduce down to 15mm when they get to a radiator.

Re: copper or plastic
 

Yep, Skipton and that whole area is beautiful.

I work for a general contractor, finding any trades to do anything at the moment is an absolute nightmare (in Calgary anyway), there's a huge shortage off trades at the moment, finding work as a plumber would be no problem if you ever came this way.

Re: copper or plastic
 

I think Rich was refering to the hot and cold water supply the gas heater he was refering to is more than likely the hot water heater. You very seldom see boilers and radiator heat systems here in new builds. Nearly all forced air furnaces, although there are some upper end homes with hot water heating pipes set into the concrete floors, but it's not common.

Cheers
Steve

Re: copper or plastic
 

Yep Steve you are right I forgot there are older Victorian era houses in ON etc with hot water rads. Yep the gas heater is the hot water heater.

Rich.

Re: copper or plastic
 

My cousin has a house in Edmonton that was built in 1914 and it still has a boiler and radiators. I always find that it very warm in their house and I'm never sure if that is because the radiators take too long to cool once the desired temp has been reached or if they just like it that way. :D

The house also still has single pane windows and they have storm windows that they leave on year round, it makes the place unbearably hot in the summer time.

Cheers
Steve

Re: copper or plastic
 

No A/C then :confused:

= :mad: :eek:

Rich.

Re: copper or plastic
 

Yes they have Alternating Current. :D

Ohhhhh you meant Air Conditioning, no none of that.:)

Actually I don't think A/C is that common in Alberta at least in Calgary and Edmonton. I'm not entirely sure about that but I personally don't know many people who have it.

Steve

Re: copper or plastic
 

I am not actually a plumber, but i do all my own except fitting the boiler (technical bit). i am a small time landlord and so work on all my properties.

i have a bit of a dilema about moving because i am not "skilled" in anything, but i can do most things myself. i know i could be self employed easily as that is what i do now and i also have a bit of money behind me, but i don't think i would i could get in on the "skilled" visa (prob 5 points short).

Thanks for answering my questions. i have learnt canadian homes are mostly air heated as opposed to water and under floor heating is not so common (becoming more popular here) and plastic is used in new builds.

Re: copper or plastic
 

If you do qualify for skilled worker (??) why not enter labour market as helper and go through red seal Canada-wide apprenticeship ?
Great prospects, many mature (majority are 30-40-50 years olds) entering trades as life/career change.
4 years work and college = skilled journeyperson.
Starting wage $10-15 per hour (liveable) up to $33 per hour maybe more in hot spots ?

ps underfloor heating is getting more popular now, as cheaper and being fitted to basements etc instead of baseboard and/or portable heaters.

Rich.

Re: copper or plastic
 

Thanks Rich

This will need some looking into, but it certainly looks appealing. i was a landscaper (self emply) for 4 years up until 2001 and then went into the housing craze. financially it is the best thing i have ever done, but it has also taught me a lot about different trades - you should see some of my first plastering attempts, or should i say artex.

My wife is also wanting to do something different to teaching - maybe i could get her into block work or roofing and i could do the plumbing :)

thanks again for the info - great site this.