I am looking toward sometime needing to replace the old galvanized water pipes in house. The pipes are currently 1/2" galvanized pipe. Originally installed in the 1930s or so with some few changes over the years. The basement is unfinished so getting to the pipes is not a big deal. I don't know if I would use copper pipes or go with PVC or PEX.
The water supply and water heater are directly under the kitchen. The bathroom is ~30 feet away.
The Cold water pipe runs directly up to the kitchen sink and then over to the bathroom sink, toilet and then shower.
The Hot water pipe runs to the bathroom sink first and tees to come back to the kitchen sink.
I don't know how come it was done that way... Water flow issues to try and avoid extra hot or frigid in the shower? It didn't work.
Any time somebody is in the shower and somebody else runs water in the kitchen or bathroom sink or flushes the toilet, the water temperature in the shower changes. Run Hot water elsewhere, the shower gets cold. Run Cold water, the shower gets hot. Other Guesses? Why did they do it that way?
I don't really want to go with a special shower valve to try to deal with shower temperature changes.
If I use 1/2" pipe, then flushing the toilet or running water in the sink will still cause the temperature in the shower to change.
If I install 3/4" pipes, then I waste more water down the drain before the Hot water gets to the shower.
How do I figure out what size of pipe to install? Is it going to make a difference?
Should I do a home run with water pipes to the shower?