I bought a clawfoot tub that originally had 1/2" chrome supply lines. I found some 3/8" at my local hardware store for $8 and I can get a set of straight 1/2" chrome supply lines for $37 shipped. Would it be worth the $29 more for the 1/2"? Slightly more volume and it should fill faster with the 1/2"... The salesman at the hardware store didn't think the difference would be that noticeable.

Quite a bit more volume, about 80% more. I wouldn't use 3/8.

me too...

1/2 has 2.04 X the cross sectional area of 3/8

result: almost double the flow allowing for frictional losses

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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

any tub fill supplies i have worked with are tubular. does the same formula apply?

It depends on how they measure the 3/8", o.d. or i.d., but the limiting factor for flow is the size of the faucet's internal openings and NONE have 1/2" ports, especially if they have ceramic seals.

It looks like the guy at thhe hardware store was just trying to mmake a sale. I knew it would impact the volume, but I didn't think it would by that much. Thanks for all the replies.



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Packy;

when comparing the area of two (or more) circles:

the areas are RELATIVE directly as the square of the diameter

eg. a 6" circle (36 sq.) has 9 times the area of a 2" circle (4 sq.)

ergo. (not accounting for friction losses or 'nominal sizing') a 6" pipe can supply 9 - 2" pipes

the relationship is mathematical fact

the use of said relationship should be tempered with trade knowledge

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hj, yes, I did not use the actual ID - you are (technically) correct




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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638



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