the copper line is not visible under my sink. Instead, it is all pvc. Can I use the inexpensive kits sold at Wal-Mart with the flexible tubing and clamp valve and connect the valve to pvc instead of copper. All the demos that I can find always refer to connecting it to your copper water line.
PVC is not supposed to be used for any domestic hot water system where you have a water temperature of at least 120 degrees F and a pressure of at least 65 PSI. And actually the working pressure of the PVC pipe at say 140 F (for a commercial application) will go down dramatically to between 48 and 80 psi depending on what site you are looking at. But the bottom line is that it is not safe or practical to use in any domestic application where pressures can run between 45 and 95 psi. And I speak from experience. When I used a 2 Schedule 80 water pipe to repair a leak in a domestic hot water system in a commercial building a fitting came apart and leaked a lot of water until it was discovered. But this was the recommendation I was given by the plumbing supplier. He was wrong. CPVC pipe that does not expand or contract with the presence of hot water in the pipe is what you should use because the fitting and pipe connection is not stressed as a result. And so the pipe to fitting connection will be stable and will not distort or weaken or finally let go with the hot water. I know that a house domestic hot water system does not use any 2 pipe and perhaps that is why there doesn t seem to be a problem when using smaller diameter PVC pipe. But it is still not recommended. And even in the National Plumbing Code of Canada (which is a branch of CSA - Canadian Standards Association) states that all PVC pipe is not permitted for use in a hot water system. And so regardless of what you have been told if any PVC pipe that is being used in a hot water system does start to leak and cause damage - you will not be covered by the manufacturer, and possibly not even by insurance because it was the wrong pipe for the application to begin with.
Lowe's Has a kit that is not copper, the kit I got had everything i needed just talk to a sale person Good Luck
Connecting Refrigerator Water Line
