Cheif....maybe it is not ABS. I'm probably wrong about that. It is the black stuff that everyone here uses for water line......connections are barbs/clamps/heat.

Hot water is in 3/4" CPVC, cold in 1/2" PVC.........both are very similar in actual size.

At some point I AM going to look into treating the acidity issue.

the black pipe with clamps is 'poly' pipe good for what you are using it for, i.e., water line under moderate pressure

PVC and cpvc don't work well for hot water.

when you get around to addressing all this--and RAM lets you--start a thread.

LOL! Andy, nothing worse than plumbing problems, nothing!

shower head

is that a noun or a verb?