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klutchdust's avatar
klutchdust
Explorer II
May 08, 2013

on demand portable propane water heater

Just purchased one for use in an out building on our property. I will be mounting the unit outdoors in a protected compartment and need to run about 15 ft. of hot water line to the sink. The line will be just underground enough to hide it and will go through the wall to the sink. This is for the wife's beekeeping operation. My question is it best to run a copper line or what about some black hose similar to what is used on washing machines?

3 Replies

  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    May 09, 2013
    No, not PEX though it looks like it. Go into HD or Lowes and ask them to show you the black plastic water tubing. It will come in 3/4", 1" and may 1/2" diameter coils by 100' long. It will also come in two pressure ratings; take the lightest one. I was lookikng at it yesterday at HD. I only needed 8' but the shortest footage they sold it in was 100' coils for about $26. I got some from a neighbor instead.

    Bill
  • klutchdust's avatar
    klutchdust
    Explorer II
    May 08, 2013
    Rigid back tubing, are you referring to PEX? No freezing issues here .
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    May 08, 2013
    Anything will work for that application. For ease of install I'd use either the rigid back tubing or PVC tubing. Both are very easy to run and cheap. You might also put some of the black foam pipe insulation on it. This will keep the cooler ground from robing too mush of the heat out of the pipe if there's 5 - 10 minutes between uses. And, I don't know if you have to worry about freezing durig the winter, but at this time it would be easy to put a fitting in to air blow the water out of the lines, and the heater also.

    Bill

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