Plumbing Questions & Answers

Different plumbing jobs need different types of pipes. That said, there are a lot of us who can get confused as to what pipe to use for certain applications. Using the wrong pipe can escalate our expenses when building a new home which is what we want to avoid. The wrong pipe can also get damaged when used for the wrong application. There are many kinds of pipes and knowing what type goes with what job is essential for any plumber and do-it-yourselfer. This article will introduce you to the different kinds of pipes and their applications to erase any confusion.

Each pipe is made for a certain application although some of them can be substituted for another. But sometimes, even interchangeable pipes can have different reactions to the fluid that runs through them.

Copper Pipe

This is the more common choice of plumbers for man water lines, water supply lines for sinks in the bathroom and kitchen as well as high-pressure gas installations. There are two types of copper pipes namely the rigid and the flexible types. There have been some cases though where water with a PH value of 6.5 or below have had an adverse effect on copper but these have been few and too far between.

Black Iron Pipe

This type of pipe was extensively used in buildouts a few decades ago but have since been replaced by PVC and copper because it was big, heavy and difficult to work with. You won’t be finding this type of pipe in the local stores.

Galvanized pipe

Just like the black iron pipe, this hasn’t been used in a while. Galvanized pipes had the nasty reputation of building up mineral and corrosion deposits as well as causing low water pressure at homes.

Pex Pipe

This kind of pipe has been used extensively in Europe for the past 35 years and picked up in popularity in the US around the 1980′s. A versatile tubing that is flexible and has the ability to withstand high and low water temperatures. This type is suggested to be used indoors because of its problem against freezing.

PVC and CPVC Pipes

They are both similarly used in applications where there is corrosive water although their composition is different. These pipes are also widely used in homes.

Kitec

This is a multipurpose pressure pipe that is relatively new in the market. Made from aluminum and laminated with plastic inside and out, it is found to be useful in applications beyond the reach of PVC and metal pipes. It works well in confined spaces and is wildby popular because of it nature to resist most acids, salt solutions, alkalis, fats and oils as well as condensation in air conditioning systems.

Poly Pipe

A soft plastic pipe usually used for cold water supplies. It is not recommended though because it can crack with age and its stainless steel and galvanized couplings are unreliable.

CSST (Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing)

Usually used for gas hookups where it has replace the black iron pipe, it is made with a continuous, flexible, stainless steel pipe with an exterior PVC covering. CSST has one controversy though, it has been found to be susceptible to damage from arcing by direct or nearby lighting strikes which a few have been burned because of the said flaw. If you plan to have CSST, make sure that it is properly grounded to avoid hazards.