Plumbing and Piping - Pipes from Cambridge-Lee

I have a plumber to repipe with type K soft pipe. I thoguht it would be the one look like the flexible pipe used with the water heater. Instead he uses the coiled pipe made by Cam Lee in PA and he solders the joints with lead as we do with rigid pipe. Any good or bad things from pipes made by Cam Lee? I heard it was bought by a company in Mexico. Don't know if the quality or standard ever changed after that. Also is it worth it to cover undergorund hot pipe with insulation? This is in southern CA. The plumber said he would put a sleeve to cover the pipe. Thx.

Cam Lee has a plant in Boston Mass. Soft copper is smooth surfaced. I do not agree with soldering an underground connection. I would use a flare fitting. The solder was probably (SHOULD be ) lead free type. Don't know what the sleeve is for either. The ground should keep the pipe insulated enough. You could, if you desire, insulate it just for the peace of mind. Try not to backfill with dirt that has rocks in it. A load of sand to cover the pipe would be the best bet. Good luck.

My fault! What I saw was the ones in the wall; he hasn't started the underground yet. However this will be inspected by the city so I hope that he will use flare fittings if it is code. The sleeve is to keep the dirt from touching the pipe. Thanks. You guys are so good.
btw, for rigid pipe if not soldering then how to connect pipes underground?

Tell the plumber to turn up the soft copper about a foot out of the floor/wall, make sure that the piping is protected if coming up through the floor.


Switch to hard piping at this point by soldering.

Ridgid copper is not normally used for underground installations. The movement of the ground would kink it whereas the soft tubing just moves with it.

Here in CA some plumbers still quote me with type L for underground. I assumed they mean type L rigid. Hmm! Anyone knows what the minimum type of pipe required for under-slab? Type L hard? Type L soft?

You should use Type K copper (flexible) for all underground water service lines, especially under concrete slabs.

Copper pipe:
Type K = Heavy duty (for underground). Best connected with mechanical connectors and installed below the local freeze (frost) line. Meter to home.
Type L = Medium thick pipe wall = industrial or under or in house. Solder.
Type M = Thinnest wall pipe = suitable for interior residential. Solder.
OD is same.
Personally, I would look into going to PEX. Much less expensive. Much easier to install. Check with your local Building Inspection Department for local codes, permit and inspection requirements.
Good Luck!
Mike

L Soft for underground and under slab, k seldom used, m for above ground inside structures.

PEX is the best to go with.

Oregon Code UPC

I went with type K for underground. He used type K for all house, even in the wall anyway. At first I wanted to run type L over the ceiling but with the slab already removed (underpinnig) I decided type K underground. The plumber said type K underground would last 30-40 years. He run the pipe in one piece underground, comes up about 1 foot and soldered. No plumber here that I asked for a quote ever mention PEX. Hmm.

Some plumbers just won't use the newer products. They want to give it a few years to prove itself. Others will NEVER use it. It's a mindset.

The soft copper pipe made in Mexico! I started to worry about pin holes and asked myself why I didn't choose running new pipe over the ceiling.

I wouldn't worry over this, Dodge RAM Trucks are made in Mexico also, but that doesn't mean they are defective.

The fact is that most pipe is made overseas nowdays. Class K is a standard specification and it should be followed by the manufacture. If it doesn't conform to the spec they won't be in business long.