Q:Β I have moved into a home built in the 1950s, and the water that comes out of the pipes is always very hot in summer. So I am going to redo the water line to install it at a deeper level. The water line is now about 6 to 8 inches below ground. How deep does the line have to be to get cooler water and what type of material should I use for piping β copper or PEX?
A:Β PEX tubing is probably the best choice for you because itβs much easier to work with in a do-it-yourself project. (PEX stands for βcross-linked polyethyleneβ and is a plastic product.) You probably want to go about 18 inches deep; that would make the water much cooler. But first of all, be sure to call for a measurement by the Arizona Blue Stake Center. Its staff will come out to tell you where you can dig underground and how deeply you can go without running into electric, water, gas, cable or telecommunications lines. There is no charge for the service. When you redo the water pipe,Β you want toΒ install a ball valve shutoff on the side of the house so that you can turn off the water easily in an emergency.
For more tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
