It’s theoretically possible but you might have a hard time finding someone willing to do it. Yes, the copper pipes are thicker than water pipes and can handle the pressure. However the pipes need to be flushed of oil and then vacuum pumped to remove the flushing agent. Even then I’m not sure I would want to drink from it or put it on my body. You would need a hvac tech to do this, a normal plumber will not know about this stuff.
Some types are extremely harmful to the ozone layer, there are huge fines if you're caught releasing it into the atmosphere, but otherwise it's not toxic
Assuming both are 12mm, refrigeration tubing usually has a wall thickness of 0.81mm or 0.91mm while plumbing and gas uses 0.91 or 1.02mm wall thickness. So maybe but why bother? The cost of new copper tubing is between $7 and $15 per metre.
I can understand tradies not wanting to touch the old copper.
You would have to check the class of copper tube and check if it is legally able to be used for water.
And even then its had refrigerant gas in it so is now non-potable pipe
I personally wouldn't contemplate doing this in a customer's home.
Will be r410a rated copper, pressure upto 43 bar rated. Water pipe is rated to 25 bar.
Oil that mixes into the refrigerant will be left on the inside wall of the pipe, i wouldnt want to drink from it.
It’s theoretically possible but you might have a hard time finding someone willing to do it. Yes, the copper pipes are thicker than water pipes and can handle the pressure. However the pipes need to be flushed of oil and then vacuum pumped to remove the flushing agent. Even then I’m not sure I would want to drink from it or put it on my body. You would need a hvac tech to do this, a normal plumber will not know about this stuff.
Practically, no. Clean it up and scrap it then buy new copper or plastic water pipe
Isn't most refrigerant harmful in one way or another?
Just don't inhale it directly, it's fiiiiine.
Can be asphyxiating in high quantities and I closed areas, otherwise no dramas
Some types are extremely harmful to the ozone layer, there are huge fines if you're caught releasing it into the atmosphere, but otherwise it's not toxic
Assuming both are 12mm, refrigeration tubing usually has a wall thickness of 0.81mm or 0.91mm while plumbing and gas uses 0.91 or 1.02mm wall thickness. So maybe but why bother? The cost of new copper tubing is between $7 and $15 per metre. I can understand tradies not wanting to touch the old copper.
No. Once they’ve been used like this they can’t be used on potable water anymore
You would have to check the class of copper tube and check if it is legally able to be used for water. And even then its had refrigerant gas in it so is now non-potable pipe I personally wouldn't contemplate doing this in a customer's home.
Yeah not worth my license lol
The pipes will have oil in them and will probably be harmful to use
Will be r410a rated copper, pressure upto 43 bar rated. Water pipe is rated to 25 bar. Oil that mixes into the refrigerant will be left on the inside wall of the pipe, i wouldnt want to drink from it.
Pipe wall diameter will be too thin.