Plumbing is the unsung hero of our homes, reliably delivering clean water when we turn on the tap and whisking away waste whenever we flush. And yet, many homeowners give little thought to what their plumbing systems are made of until a problem occurs.
Delve into home plumbing, tackling four common types of material used to construct these vital systems. Understanding the pros, cons, and durability can help you make informed decisions when facing plumbing repairs or renovations.
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As the name suggests, PVC pipes are made of polyvinyl chloride, a type of plastic. A smooth inner lining keeps dirt from building up and makes them less likely to get clogged.
Because of this, they are also suitable for drain lines and pipes that operate in full sunlight. Furthermore, PVC pipes are light and straightforward to work with. All you need is a hacksaw, a miter box, and glue to join them.
Households often use these plastic lines in plumbing systems because they last a long time. They are also inexpensive and simple to put in place and will not rust or corrode. But before you buy PVC pipes for your home, know that they are not suitable for situations with a lot of pressure.
As a result, they are best suited for drain lines inside the house and not the main water lines. Also, you should not use PVC lines to carry hot water because they can melt or warp when they get too hot.
Pipes constructed of copper are typically 100% copper and have a reddish-brown sheen. Additionally, they are very durable and can withstand both high water pressure and high and low water temperatures without deteriorating.
Copper pipes, while attractive, have a few drawbacks that make them less than ideal for usage in some situations. They are more expensive than other plumbing materials like PVC pipes.
Due to the potential for corrosion and mineral buildup, they are also unsuitable for regions with acidic or hard water. In addition, connecting copper pipes is difficult for do-it-yourselfers because it requires specialized equipment and training.
PEX pipes are usually composed of high-density polyethylene (HDP) plastic, which is tolerant against rust and corrosion and costs less than other types of plumbing.
This piping can handle the water pressures in your home while being easy to work with through walls and ceilings. Plus, it is inexpensive and simple to set up, making it a go-to for low-stakes plumbing jobs. They are also color-coded to tell the difference between hot and cold water at a glance.
However, if you are considering installing PEX pipes, first verify their legality with your local government. Furthermore, PEX is not biodegradable or recyclable and can have adverse effects on the environment. Also, rodents and other pests may cause significant damage to the material.
In residential plumbing, ABS pipes are frequently used for drain water transport. ABS pipes look like PVC pipes, but they are dark and stiff instead of flexible. The thermoplastic resin used to make this plumbing pipe keeps costs down while making it simple to set up.
ABS pipes can resist more significant stresses and lower temperatures than PVC pipes. This makes them more frost-resistant. However, they can distort and break when exposed to UV light, making them unsuitable for usage outside.
Another problem with ABS pipes is that they include bisphenol A, a chemical potentially dangerous to human health. This eliminates one of their primary uses, making them less flexible than PVC pipes in water supply lines. Some homeowners may also be bothered by the fact that ABS pipes tend to be louder than other plumbing pipes.
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Indoor plumbing has a long history, and through it all the materials used for pipes have changed. If you live in an older home, your plumbing system may have outdated pipe material that needs to be replaced.
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In this post, we’ve put together a list of the pipe materials commonly found in modern homes as well as the current materials plumbers use when doing jobs. We hope this will give you a better understanding of the work our plumbers may need to provide you when it’s time for repairs or repiping. If you have doubts about the type of pipes you have in your house, call us and we can find out what work may need to be done. For more on repiping, see our guide on whole-house repiping and whether it’s necessary for your home.
For many decades, the most common piping materials were lead, cast iron, and galvanized steel (steel dipped in a zinc solution). Many homes still have these materials, especially galvanized steel, which was still in use into the s. Lead presents health problems, and both iron and steel are prone to decay from corrosion, which is why other materials have superseded them. A type of plastic, polybutylene, was used during the ‘70s and ‘80s, but had a tendency to break and has been taken out of use.
Copper piping is the most common metal found in residential and commercial use today. Copper offers a number of advantages over earlier pipe material: It’s lightweight and easy for plumbers to work with. It contains no lead and is safe for drinking water since it’s impermeable and keeps out chemical contaminants. Copper is corrosion-resistant (although there are a few types of corrosion that affect it), making it durable. It’s less likely to break under stress because of its greater flexibility compared to steel and iron. Copper is also a sustainable metal that can be easily recycled. Learn more about the benefits of professional plumbing and how it ensures proper material selection.
Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride is one of the leading types of plastic pipes used in plumbing. It’s resistant to corrosion and chemical degradation and can handle water temperatures up to 200°F, making it ideal for hot water lines. The extra chlorine treatment for CPVC (as opposed to standard PVC) helps to stop bacterial growth within the pipe.
Cross-linked polyethylene pipes are popular for a range of uses in plumbing. PEX pipes are fully flexible so they can be used in tight, small spaces. They’re also inexpensive and less labor-intensive to work with compared to other types of plastic pipes, and have reduced resistance to water flow. PEX pipes come in different colors, making it simple for plumbers to designate them for cold and hot water lines.
Ultimately, when you work with a professional and knowledgeable plumber in Snellville, GA, you won’t have to put any thought into the types of piping used for installations, replacements, and repairs in your house. The plumber will know the right kind of material to use for each job. You can expect your home to have a mixture of piping materials, with each pipe chosen to perfectly match its use in the plumbing system. For proactive maintenance, check out our homeowner plumbing maintenance tips.