Getting your home’s plumbing system repaired or upgraded can be a lot of work, especially if you want to go about the project without the help of plumbing companies-which isn’t possible unless you’re well-versed when it comes to plumbing systems.
With the types of pipes in the market, it can be difficult to pick one for your home’s plumbing needs. There’s an entire selection of pipes dedicated to residential buildings, while there’s also a selection for commercial ones. The first thing you should know is that you should look at the right selection to narrow down your choice.
To help you pick the right pipe to use for your home, here’s a list of the five most popular pipes you can choose from:
1. Stainless Steel
The neat-looking go-to for indoor plumbing stainless steel is a good and popular pick among plumbing professionals. But the material can be a bit out of budget for some plumbing projects. The price tag comes with anti-corrosive features and makes stainless steel an ideal plumbing pipe for properties near coastal areas.
Stainless steel pipes can be rigid, flexible, and may come in different sizes–depending on where and how you want to use them. You can find stainless-steel manufacturers that produce them in varying sizes that will fit your plumbing needs.
2. PEX
Cross-linked polyethylene or PEX pipes are made of malleable plastic used in piping systems intended for water supply. Compared to other plumbing pipe materials such as galvanized steel, PVC, and copper, PEX pipes can be twisted into different directions to direct the flow of water correctly. They’re also easy to install, are highly resistant to high temperatures, and are made to last a long time.
PEX pipes are popular in residential and small commercial properties. They’re a tad higher in price than the other pipes on this list, but that’s because they don’t require as much maintenance and provide a piping system free from stressful leaks. One downside to PEX pipes is that they cannot be used in outdoor water supply systems because they are made of plastic on the outside.
3. Copper
A traditional plumbing pipe material, copper, is known for its reliability and durability. They’re resistant to corrosion, can be used well with cold and hot water, and are more manageable. A drawback to using copper piping is that they require soldering to be put together. This means more work is required due to the fittings required that are done professionally by plumbers for the most accurate measurements.
4. PVC
Polyvinyl chloride or PVC is one of the world’s most popular synthetic polymers. Each year, around 40 million tons of this material is produced to meet the high demand. It’s a strong thermoplastic material used in applications other than piping, such as in medical devices, cable insulation, wirings, the list goes on.
PVC as pipes can be used for both hot and cold potable water supply lines. They can also be used for sewage systems. PVC has varying thickness, configuration, and lengths, depending on where it will be used.
PVC manufacturers comply with health requirements, especially if they produce PVC pipes for potable water supply lines.
5. Galvanized Steel
Galvanized steel’s application in plumbing systems used to be popular, especially for residential plumbing needs. But as time passed, it became a less than preferred material for plumbing projects because of its low efficiency against rust buildup. Small diameter galvanized steel pipes are more prone to rust than bigger diameter ones.
Aged galvanized pipes install in water supply systems show signs of interior rust buildup through producing water with traces of rust. It can be through a less than ideal color and with rusty particles of the pipe, making the water coming out unfit for consumption.
Today’s common application of galvanized steel pipes is in the transportation of non-potable and greywater.
Knowing which pipes to use can be quite a task if you’re not guided by a professional. One mistake and the whole plumbing system can cause many problems that can be costly to mitigate and maintain.
On top of having good knowledge of the pipes you can choose from, having the right plumbing professionals by your side can help you get the most out of your buck when it comes to picking materials for your home’s plumbing system.
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