All About Plumbing Pipes

About Plumbing Pipes

Plumbing pipes are like the veins of homes. As veins carry blood to the different organs of our body, plumbing pipes carry water to the different parts of home. They are also used to remove wastes in the form of sewage and allow venting of sewage gases to the outdoors. Plumbing pipe is a very important type of plumbing hardware. It is a tube or hollow cylinder used for the conveyance of fluid. It is made of various materials, of which metal and plastic are the most important ones. In metallic pipes, copper and galvanized pipes are popularly used while plastic pipes are preferred due to its light weight, non-corrosive properties, chemical resistance, and ease of making connections. Plumbing pipes are usually specified by their internal diameter but can also be specified by any combination of dimensions OD, ID and wall thickness, depending upon the choice of designer. In the coming section we will describe the different types of plumbing pipes according to the material.

Types of Plumbing Pipes
Pipes are the heart of all plumbing systems. Pipes are most commonly made of three materials- copper, galvanized steel, and plastic. Though there are a number of other materials with which plumbing pipes are made, like lead pipe, fiberglass pipe, etc., but they are not accepted worldwide. Before proceeding, it is very important for you to note that when making any modification or repairing in existing plumbing system, you must use the same type of pipe. Some pipes are more appropriate than others for specific jobs. Following types of pipes will help you chose the best one for your use.

Copper Pipes
Copper is the most common and oldest material used by plumbing pipes manufacturers for making pipes. Due to the high resistance to corrosion and tolerance, copper pipes are ideal for carrying both hot and cold water. Copper pipes are generally connected with soldered fittings, therefore their fittings become permanent additions.

Copper pipes are found in four types: Type K, Type L, Type M and DWV. Each of have differing properties and are specified for different purposes. Type K pipes have the thickest walls and are common for underground service lines in the supply system. Type L copper pipes have medium thickness and are generally used for home plumbing for interior hot and cold water supply lines. The thinnest is type M, it is also used for interior hot and cold water supply lines. However the DWV pipes are mainly used for the drain-waste and vent system. Apart from all four types, there is the "soft copper pipe" that is a flexible tubing used to go around corners and as supply lines for sinks and toilets.

Advantages of Copper Plumbing
When compared with other major materials used for manufacturing pipe, copper holds significant advantages over others. Copper plumbing pipes are incredibly durable, safer in natural calamities, resistant to bacteria and weather, easy and flexible to install, and are competitively priced. Builders and developers have been preferring copper pipes for decades for its dependability and solid value. Copper plumbing also enhances the resale value of homes, so are preferred by homeowners.

The softness of copper gives it an upper hand over other metallic pipes. It needs fewer fasteners and tube connectors, saving hardware and installation costs. Overall it is much thinner and so contractors find it easier to install through narrow wall and floor spaces. Copper plumbing offers a safe and clean water supply. It is also biostatic that doesn't allow bacteria to grow. It carries potable water whose pH lies between 6.5-8.5. Copper is unaffected by ultraviolet rays and resists corrosion, so preferred for outdoor applications like sprinkler systems.

Plastic Pipes
Plastic plumbing pipes are one of the most popular pipes used for home supply. They are light weight, chemically resistant, non-corrosive, and quite easy in making connections. A number of plastic materials are used by pipe manufacturers for producing plastic pipes. Some of the most popular materials are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), cross-linked high-density polyethylene (PEX), polyethylene pipe (PE), polybutylene (PB), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

Types of Plastic Pipes

• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Pipes: They are usually white in color and used for carrying cold water. Mainly used for carrying water from the main supply to homes. Before using a PVC pipe one must ensure that it is approved for drinking water.
• ABS (Acrylonitrite-butadiene-styrene) Pipes: They are black in color and mainly used for waste removal, venting, and drains in bathrooms or mobile homes. ABS pipes are rigid plastic pipe that can be connected to metal pipe.
• PEX: PEX pipes are one of the most popular plastic pipes that can be used to carry both cold and hot water. Primarily used for interior plumbing in residential settings.
• CPVC (Chlorine-polyvinyl-chloride): Yellowish in color and can be used for hot and cold water. These pipes are often used as a substitute for copper pipe. CPVC pipes can't be used to carry water from the main supply to a home because they cannot be buried

Galvanized Pipes
Galvanized pipes are actually steel pipes covered with a layer of zinc in order to prevent the pipe from corrosion and increase the life. They were quite common as home plumbing pipe around 30 years ago. They have been used for both hot and cold plumbing applications. But galvanized pipes have a tendency to react with the minerals present in the water that produces scale leading to lower water pressure. That's why they are not seen anywhere today. Galvanized pipes are commonly used to carry water outside the home, especially when buried underground. Now-a-days they have been replaced by copper pipe or a more moder plastic PEX system.

Stainless Steel Pipes
Stainless steel pipes are rarer compared to copper or galvanized pipe. They are not used commonly due to the very high cost. However SS pipes can be quite handy in highly corrosive environments, like in marine use or in homes in proximity to the sea.

Cast Iron Pipes
Cast iron pipe is a very durable pipe but its main problem is its heavy weight. If you need to replace cast iron pipe it is suggested to use PVC because the two can be joined.

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