Here is my question. I live in a house that was split into two apartments. One is mine on the lower level, and the upstairs is another persons. The owner did a dropped ceiling and in my bedroom above it is the person upstairs kitchen. I looked up in the dropped ceiling because I kept hearing this water dripping real loud when the person upstairs would use the water in the sink or shower. In my bathroom I looked up in the ceiling and discovered that instead of the copper pipes running in the wall they did them from the ceiling and then down to the shower head and handles. What I want to know is can you change over from copper piping and use pvc tubing to substitute, or will there be major change in its operations? Thank you

There are adapters available so you can switch from copper to pvc and back without too much problem, but it sounds as though there is probably nothing wrong with the way the plumbing is run now. Unless there is a leak and some pipes need to be replaced then I don't see a lot of benefit in going through all that trouble and expense.

Were you able to determine what the dripping sound is? It is likely to be a drain issue rather than a supply line problem, unless, like I say, there is a leak somewhere. Personally I like copper better anyway, but yes what you ask can be done.

Thanks for the input it was very helpful. You were correct. I found the leak and it is one of the main pipes, one of the fat ones. I know that doesn't sound good but at least I found it. That has been going on for two years now. The owner thought I was off my beam when I told him there was a leak, cause the person upstairs didn't give him much to go on cause he didn't want anyone in his apartment making a mess he said. Kind of sad I'd say. Well, thanks again Marlowe for great input. Nancy