There was a time when all drainage pipes were made from baked clay but time moves on and new innovations offer better value for money, durability and hygiene. However, sometimes it can be hard to decide between two materials as neither appears vastly superior to the other. This is the case with plastic and copper piping.
Copper piping
Copper piping has been around for millennia, though in the UK it has been used for domestic plumbing applications since the 1930s when it was introduced as an alternative to lead piping due to the health risks posed by drinking contaminated water.
Copper looks great, is infinitely recyclable, naturally antibacterial and heat resistant, so it is of little surprise that it is still popular today.
Plastic piping
Plastic piping was introduced during WW2 as copper stores were diverted to support the war effort, and it remains popular today as it is a cost-effective and corrosion-resistant plumbing solution. Plastic is also less likely to freeze in cold conditions than copper so it is increasingly used for underground drainage systems.
Which is best?
Companies such as www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/wolverhampton suggest that there is little difference in the efficacy of plastic and copper piping.
They observe that when they undertake a CCTV drain survey Wolverhampton, clogs can occur equally in both types of pipework though suggesting that copper is more vulnerable to root intrusion as freezing causes the metal to expand and contract, weakening its structural integrity over time.
In conclusion
While copper has its place, plastic pipework enjoys a longer underground lifespan.