If you have got a leaky pipe and need to change it, then you need to decide which type of plumbing pipe is better to fix a leak. The right choice will make it safer and drier while the wrong choice will flood your home with water. However, if there is any plumbing issue in your house, then you can book a plumber in Penang.
There are many types of plumbing pipes that are used for residential and commercial purposes. These can be PVC, galvanized pipes, PEX, stainless steel pipes, rigid copper pipes, ABS pipe, many more. The use of these types depends on where they need to be installed and for what purpose. Let us get into the details of types of plumbing pipes and their uses.
Table of Contents
PVC Pipe
PVC or polyvinyl chloride pipe is mostly used as a drain and vent line pipe. It has become common and famous due to its lightweight and easy fitting. PVC is easier to work with than galvanized steel pipe. It is also very easy to install and cut into pieces for your needs. It is easy to glue PVC pipes together, and it requires only a solvent to stick them.
PVC is cheap and can be used for the long term. Before buying a pipe, you can see the diameter mentioned on the surface of the pipe. However, once PVC is joined, it cannot be un-joined, and you will need to cut it. Glued PVC pipes can sometimes be prone to leaking.
Cast Iron Pipe
These plumbing pipes are expensive and come with threaded joints. Cast iron pipes are heavier than PVC and other types of pipes and are best suited for an underground water distribution system. Most of the municipal pipeline consists of cast iron pipe due to its durability and long life. Cast iron pipes can be used until they become completely rusted. It is very difficult to resize and cut these pipes. They are mostly used for gas supply, drainage, and water supply.
PEX Pipe
PEX pipe is one of the latest pipes in the market and the plumbing industry. It is only used to supply water and nothing else. The benefit of PEX pipe is that it is rigid and strong. It can withstand the pressure of water. It is flexible, so it can weave through walls and crawl spaces.
PEX pipe has made it easy for the people to work and fix everything by themselves. It comes with color coding for hot and cold water. Red for hot water and blue for cold water. It is flexible to 90 degrees. It cuts easily and is cheaper than other pipes. You can also join PEX pipes with copper pipes.
Rigid Copper Pipe
Rigid copper pipe is mostly used for water supply lines within the house. It is very easy to cut. You can cut it with a hacksaw. The connection of a rigid copper pipe is different from others, as it requires practice to solder copper pipes together. It has no hazardous precautions and is good to supply water. Despite being rigid, the pipe is flexible. It can withstand heat and intense pressure. However, rigid copper pipes are expensive and can develop pinhole leaks over time. It is a little difficult to work these pipes because the connection requires soldering.
ABS Pipe
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) pipe is used in drain lines and as a vent. It looks like a PVC pipe, but it is black and softer than PVC. ABS pipe is stronger than PVC and pretty good for exterior and underground use. It also works impressively in cold weather conditions. However, the ABS pipe is not permitted by the municipality to be used in homes. It deforms at certain temperature levels.
Galvanized Steel Pipe
Galvanized steel pipe has been used for years as drainage, water supply, and gas supply pipe. It also serves for other purposes as well. However, it is not much used in the modern age and especially not for water supply in new homes. The end of the galvanized steel pipes is threaded and is screwed into each other using joints. These pipes are impressively strong but may corrode and block the water flow.
Conclusion
We need to have proper knowledge of different types of pipes and their uses. It will allow us to manage the plumbing system of our house. There are many types of plumbing pipes like PVC, PEX, rigid copper pipe, ABS pipe, cast iron pipe, and galvanized steel pipe. All these pipes have different uses and can be installed in homes.