House main or washer main? Copper or PVC?
I've had excellent luck with the SharkBite connectors. All you need is clean cuts, and they will connect copper to copper, (C)PVC to (C)PVC, copper to CPVC, they even have PEX versions with the proper insert. MUCH easier than soldering with a torch , especially in tight spaces.
Look at the package, 1/2" pipe connectors will slip on 3/4"; 3/4" pipe connectors slip on 1". Pre mark your pipes to make sure you have full coupling, and they're a snap (literally) to work with. Hint: spend the 2.89 and buy the orange horseshoe release tool for the size pipe you're using. Trust me. You'll probably have to un-couple at least one connection before you fijish
On the apartment I'm redoing, I solder copper for anything "structural" - i.e. valves people could be turning, and the main feed into the unit (water main to shutoff valve; shutoff valve to hot/cold split; split to cold feed; split to water heater).
From there I just SharkBite convert to CPVC, and glue my way through the apartment.
Stub-ups through the floor to valves (sink, toilet) I go back to copper and clamp securely to a stud or joist for strength for when people have to mess with them and I always use metal valves, not plastic; the tub/shower manifold and piping is also copper for strength. I don't want plastic anywhere people are going to mess with it; it gets brittle over time and I'd rather have any torque loads go to copper that's securely mounted.
