Repairing or upgrading your plumbing system can be a confusing and daunting task because of the many types of pipes you might encounter. They can all blend together but which are the best ones for your system? The answer isn't as clear as it was before when the selections were still limited. To help you make an informed decision, provided below are the primary types of plumbing pipes that you will encounter during a home remodel. PEX PEX is a flexible and color-coded plastic pipe that work well as water supply lines, which DIYers commonly encounter. This type of pipe is easy to use as well as easy to cut and join. PEX is known to yield to logic and DIYers can easily create 90-degree curves with it. This type of pipe is a no-brainer when it comes to DIY plumbing projects. PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride PVC pipe has taken the plumbing industry by storm over the last few decades. It is a plumbing material that is lightweight and easy to work with compared to the conventional galvanized steel pipe. You will most likely use the PVC pipe for waste or drain pipes, or stacks, which are the pipes you see on the roofline. PVC pipes are easy to work with. Its installation is easy and the tools you will need include a milter box, hacksaw, as well as solvents that will “glue” the pipes together. Diameters are evidently indicated on the pipe's white surface. In case it is not visible, you can determine the diameters using a sizing tool like the Pi-Piper. Rigid Copper The rigid copper is your water supply line. You can use a hacksaw, Skilsaw, or a specialized copper tube cutter to cut rigid copper. However, the connection is a different issue because it needs an experienced hand to solder the copper pipe together. It is recommended to have extra copper pipes that you can practice on. The rigid copper pipe is also ideal for water supply since it doesn't carry the health risks that are commonly associated with PVC. ABS ABS pipes resemble PVC pipes. The primary difference is that the ABS pipes are available in black colors. They are the older version of PVC pipes and are usually no longer allowed to be used according to specific plumbing codes. Just like PVC, ABS pipes are commonly used for vent and drain pipes. When working with ABS, it is highly recommended to have it replaced with PVC. Flexible Copper Tubing Flexible copper is ideal for short runs. You may have seen it connected to your water heater or perhaps for cold water supply in tight spots. This type of tube can be easily cut using a hacksaw. It can also be bent and used around corners. Since it is not that resistant against extreme temperatures, it is not ideal to use this type of people for exterior use. Galvanized Steel Galvanized steel is extremely popular. It is made up of galvanized steel, with both ends of the pipe threaded. Each pipe is screwed to each other using connecting joints. Although it is extremely durable, galvanized pipe is hardly used for the Florence plumbing system of a new home construction. It is also not recommended for DIYers to run new lines with it. Cast Iron There are still several homes that have older cast iron pipes. Despite its old and worn out appearance, cast iron can still be used up until it rusts completely through. Call Plumbing Experts Florence for all your plumbing needs.Plumbing Experts Florence
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Plumbing Pros Florence 2117-B W. Palmetto Street #103C Florence, SC 29501 843-536-4568 http://plumbingprosflorence.com/ Archives
November 2018
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