You’re installing an appliance, fixture, or system that needs plumbing pipes. But what kind of plumbing pipe should you buy for your home project?
With all the different types on the market, choosing the right one can make your brain feel waterlogged. So what do you do?
In this post, you’ll learn all about plumbing pipes, the projects they are used for, and their purposes. Heck, you can even use them for a DIY table project!
Without further delay, here are the seven most common plumbing pipes used for home projects.
How to Pick the Best Plumbing Pipe for Your Home—The Ultimate Guide
Are you doing a plumbing project for your home? From PVC to brass to stainless steel and much more, here are seven pipes you need to know about for indoors and out.
1. PVC Plumbing Pipe
PVC plumbing pipes come in different thicknesses and configurations based on what you need them for. They’re basically used for sewage applications and for hot and cold potable water.
Know that sewer pipes are different than pressure water pipes or pipes used for systems for storm drainage.
Plastic pipes used for potable water applications are typically labeled with NSF-61 or NSF-PW on them. These labels comply with NSF/ANSI Standard 6 health requirements.
2. Stainless Steel Plumbing Piping
A pipe that costs a pretty penny is stainless steel. Stainless steel pipes are used in coastal regions vulnerable to corrosion. The steel is both rigid and flexible. If you’re attaching them to other pipes in your home, you’ll need couplings.
3. Copper Piping
Copper plumbing pipes are classically reliable and durable. They resist corrosion and work well in both cold and hot water environments. One thing you need to know: copper piping often requires soldering.
This can take skill or at least experience. If you soldered before, you may need to hire a plumber. You may also need extra fittings.
Here’s a use for a copper plumbing pipe you may have never thought of: DIY curtain rods.
4. PEX Piping
This plastic plumbing pipe contains flexibility. It’s popular for residential projects. It’s a little higher in price, but the minimal maintenance and quick installation required may be worth paying a little more.
PEX piping is one of the best plumbing pipes for water in buildings. It’s a leak-free pipe that makes it more popular than copper indoors. A caveat, when used outdoors, it’s plastic layer is vulnerable to UV ray damage.
5. Galvanized Piping
Galvanized piping isn’t used as often as it used to be. It’s used to be the standard for projects in the home. The reason it’s not used as much as in the past, it builds up rust inside smaller piping.
If you have an old pipe, you can sometimes see rust traces coming from the faucet. It can be used to carry non-potable or greywater.
6. Cast Iron Piping
Cast iron plumbing pipes weigh more than most other pipes. They can be found as bell-and-spigot kinds or with threaded joints. The latter costs more.
Plumbers use cast iron piping for water distribution systems or install them beneath the ground for sewage and drainage systems.
The smallest pipe available is four inches. Note: a cast-iron plumbing pipe must be supported while you assemble its joint due to its weight.
7. Brass
A material that resists rust is brass. That’s if it’s constructed of sixty-seven percent to eighty-five percent copper. The interior never rust with brass and you won’t get friction losses in the pipe.
Brass is easier to thread than steel. Use brass for pump fittings, wells, and water tanks. A brass plumbing pipe is more durable than other plumbing pipe materials. They come in 12 feet straight lengths.
Plumbing Pipe Takeaway
From a PVC plumbing pipe to brass, to stainless steel and more, you now know the seven main plumbing pipes. Use them for your home projects for upgrades and repairs.
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