Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Nov 21, 1999 01:59am | #1

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   With the exception of shower heads and possibly lavatory faucets, low water consumpion fixtures do not equate to low flows. 1.6 gal toilets require the same flow but less time to fill. Bath spouts take the same flow. Kitchen faucets, dishwashers, washing machines all take the same flow. Putting two much demand on a single line can cause fluxuations in pressure that are undesirable.

   The difference in heat loss between 3/4" and 1/2" pipe is minor. It does take longer to get hot water at a low flow shower. This can be delt with by letting the water "warm up" using full hot at the tub spout if there is one, or full hot at the shower if there is not. Be sure to adjust the temperature once hot water arrives. Extremely hot water is not desirable except at the dishwasher.

1. 
   Guest_ | Nov 21, 1999 11:16am | #2

   *Our new kitchen faucet definitely restricts flow quite a bit; it is fed by a 3/4" line and yet is the slowest in the house. The 3/4" line does hold twice as much water, hence slower delivery of hot, but the piddly mount of water involved (a pint? a quart?) probably doesn't add up to much energy waste. Everything is a tradeoff ... I would generally pick the larger line for multi-fixture or high-flow runs to assure adequate pressure and avoid high-velocity flow problems like hammering and wear. Really spread out ranch houses and such would need careful planning.

2. 
   shurleey | Jan 04, 2000 11:38pm | #3

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   With all the low flow fixture requirements today,
   is there any reason to not supply more than one fixure with 1/2" pipe? Perhaps "code" is obsolete
   in this regard. Smaller pipe in long runs may save
   energy; no need to run all that cold water out to get some hot and not so much latent heat disapating in the lines.