5 types of plumbing pipes commonly used in homes

Choosing the right plumbing pipe for your house’s various needs could be confusing without proper information on the uses of everything available in the market. Pipes are used for the hot and cold-water supply of the house, for drainage, and venting of air. It is vital to check the building codes for the pipes to ensure safety and avoid property damage. This plumbing guide tells you about various types of materials used in pipes and the typical uses of each type of pipe for different plumbing projects.

1. PEX Pipes: Polyethylene cross-linked pipe (PEX) is an economical flexible plastic pipe commonly uses for water supply. It does not leave traces of rust or corrosion into the water like its traditional counterparts, galvanized steel, and cast-iron pipes. It is rigid enough to withstand high pressures of water and its flexible enough to be installed throughout the walls, ceilings, and crammed spaces. It is color coded, where red stands for hot water and blue stands for cold water. This helps to keep the piping system organized. PEX can be easily connected to existing metal supply lines such as copper pipes with the correct fittings. Water flows silently through this type of pipe, eliminating the annoying “water hammer” noise associated with metal piping.

PEX pipe is highly recommended for internal water supply, but they are not designed for outdoor use. Due to exposure of ultraviolet rays, PEX breakdown quickly causing the pipe to harden and crack.

2. PVC Pipe: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe is commonly used in a home's sewage system. It is suitable for applications with low-temperature and low-pressure requirements, making it ideal for a toilet's drain line. This pipe is easy to work with and can be cut with a pipe cutter or a miter saw. To prevent air locks in drainage pipes, smaller PVC pipes, up to three inches in diameter, are frequently used for sink drains and plumbing vents.

PVC pipe does not withstand heat; therefore, it cannot be used for high temperature drainage and venting. As PVC pipe is glues to on another to extend its length, it can leak if not glued properly.

3. Rigid Copper Pipe: Rigid copper pipes are used for water supply to different areas within the home like kitchen, bathroom, and laundry area. These pipes are a great option for water supply as they do not pose any health risk to the users. They are efficient to handle heat and high pressures, making them suitable for hot water supply and high pressurized water supply lines. The best method to connect rigid copper pipes is soldering. To make strong connections through soldering, right amount of heat must be applied to the pipe, which requires professional help.

Rigid copper pipes are expensive, but they are recyclable and have value when sold as scrap.

4. ABS Pipe: ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) pipes are commonly used in the DWV (drainage, wastage, and vent systems). They resemble PVC pipes but are black in color and are softer than them. They are suitable for underground use but do not withstand heat. Hence, you cannot expose them to sun and high temperatures.

These pipes are often not permitted by the building codes so, it’s better to check the local codes before using them.

5. Galvanized Steel and Cast-iron pipe: Galvanized pipes are usually found in older house and building. They were considered a safer option back then when lead pipes were also prevalent.

Galvanized steel pipes were mainly used for drainage, water and gas supply and cast-iron pipes were used for sewer and drainage purposes. Cast iron pipes are still in use in many commercial and high-rise building applications. Galvanized pipes tend to rust. If your home has these pipes and they are corroded, you can consider retrofitting with copper or PEX pipes to ensure clean and safe supply of water throughout the house.