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A plumbing system is one of the most significant components of your home. It impacts the overall quality and functionality of your home. You must ensure your system is professionally designed and installed to meet the special plumbing needs of your home. Choosing the best piping materials is one step towards having a long-lasting and efficient home plumbing system.
✔ Selecting piping materials in the past was an easy task. Your options were limited to cast iron or galvanized steel pipes. According to Team Emergency Plumber Denver, you must conduct in-depth research to choose the right plumbing pipe for your plumbing installations because of the many options available in the market nowadays.
✔ This article will discuss six different types of plumbing pipes to help you make an informed decision without any confusion.
Right Plumbing Pipe for Your Upcoming Project
1. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
✔ PVC pipes are widely used for sinks, showers, and toilet drain lines. They are sometimes used for the main water supply in private residences and residential properties. These plastic pipes have gained immense popularity over the years due to their:
- Lightweight properties
- Affordability
- High-pressure resistance
- Blockage resistance
✔ This pipe has the potential to contaminate drinking water with high amounts of polyvinyl chloride. This toxic chemical might expose you and your family to serious health issues, including respiratory and reproductive problems, so one should consider this factor before choosing a PVC pipe.
✔ It’s difficult to weave this pipe within crawlspaces and other tight spaces due to its limited sizing options. It’s not ideal for supplying hot water, as it tends to deform when exposed to high temperatures.
✔ PVC is not accepted everywhere. Be sure to familiarize yourself with your local building codes before installing these pipes in your home.
2. PEX Pipe
✔ PEX is another plastic piping material gaining popularity in the plumbing sector. Also called cross-linked polyethene, this pipe is generally used for water supply in homes. It can supply both hot and cold water. The red PEX carries hot water, with the blue one supplying cold water.
✔ It’s effective within sharp spaces and tight corners because of its highly flexible nature. It’s relatively cheaper than many other types of plumbing pipes. It’s also easy to cut and join together.
✔ This pipe is not allowed everywhere, just like the PVC. Confirm your local building regulations before moving forward with the installation process.
3. ABS Pipes
✔ These pipes are built with thermoplastic resin and resemble PVC pipes. The only difference is that ABS pipes are black and relatively softer. Plumbers often use them to create vent and drain lines.
✔ They are durable and affordable. They, however, tend to deform and degrade over time due to sun exposure. They are also not allowed everywhere, just like PVC. So, confirm your local codes before using them in your home.
4. Copper Pipes
✔ Copper is one of the oldest piping materials for setting up plumbing systems. Copper pipes are still widely used for cold and hot water supply because of their long lifespan (around 50 years), heat resistance and corrosion resistance.
✔ They come in two types and can be used to create a whole system for residential and commercial buildings. Rigid copper is commonly used to build water supply lines in a house or building. Flexible copper tubing is used in tight spaces and sharp corners within your water supply lines.
✔ These pipes are costlier than plastic piping options. A foot of copper pipe costs between $2.50 and $3.50. The same size of PEX piping costs approximately $0.50 to $1.50. The labour costs for copper piping are also costlier.
5. Galvanized Steel Pipes
✔ Galvanized pipes feature a zinc-layer coating to protect them from corrosion. Despite that, they tend to corrode over time and start to leak. As such, they are rarely used in new construction projects. Older buildings with these pipes might require a replacement of the whole system.
✔ They are too heavy, making working with them hard. Minerals accumulate in these pipes over time. These minerals form clogs that obstruct water flow. They also leak harmful chemicals into the drinking water when they get corroded.
6. Stainless Steel Pipes
✔ While stainless steel pipes may be more expensive than other piping materials like PVC and PEX, they offer value for money when it comes to affordability and durability. Their shiny and stylish appearance makes them a perfect choice for commercial properties.
✔ These pipes are also corrosion-resistant and can withstand harsh temperatures most of the time. Stainless steel combines with a variety of materials, including nickel and nitrogen, to strengthen its corrosion-resistance capabilities even more.
Tips to Help You Choose the Right Plumbing Pipe
✔ The purpose of the pipe and the layout of the area you intend to install it are two of the most crucial considerations when selecting the right type of pipe for your plumbing project. You will, for instance, need a heat resistance piping material if you are installing a hot water system in your home.
Also, you will require a flexible piping material if you are working with sharp corners and tight spaces.
✔ Consider your local building regulations, too. Doing that will help you choose a permitted type of pipe to ensure your plumbing project is compliant. As mentioned earlier, PVC, PEX, and ABS pipes are widely used but are not allowed everywhere.
✔ Cost is another important consideration when choosing plumbing pipes. Some pipes might be expensive but long-lasting. Installing a costly yet durable piping option might give a better return on investment in the long term than installing a cheap, low-quality option which tends to increase the repair cost.
✔ Working with a plumbing professional can help you make a wise decision. The professional will assess your plumbing project thoroughly and prepare a detailed assessment report. The plumber will then recommend the best pipe for your unique needs.
