The Starting Point to Finding the Right Piping Material for the Job at Hand

The Starting Point to Finding the Right Piping Material for the Job at Hand

Plumbing pipes date as far back as 4000-3000 B.C when copper pipes were utilized by Egyptians. When it comes to any plumbing system, pipes are necessary in order to get water and other fluids from point A to point B. Thanks to the history of pipes, we are shown time and time again that, without them, there would be no plumbing.

Certain plumbing systems and applications require a particular piping material. Understanding this fact is the first step of ensuring a plumbing piping system that’s built to last. Whether you’re new to the industry or just in need of a refresher, read up on six of the most popular piping and tubing material for modern day plumbing, along with their features and benefits:

• Copper Tube
  Copper tube contains 99.9% pure copper and comes in two basic types: hard and soft. While most often used to supply hot or cold fresh water to a fixture, this piping material is also used in HVAC systems for refrigerant lines. Copper works in both underground and aboveground applications and plumber’s choose this material because it resists corrosion and scaling, is lighter weight, easier to bend around corners without having to use fittings, easy to join, solder, braze, or flare, and is considered ductile.
  
  
   
• PEX Piping
  PEX piping (Crosslinked Polyethylene) is most often used to supply hot or cold fresh water to structures and sometimes used as hydronic heating due to its resistance to hot and cold temperatures. PEX piping’s benefits include the fact that it’s resistant to corrosion and scaling, lighter weight, easier to bend around corners without have to use fittings, easy to join using barbed fittings, crimp rings, and tools, and competitively priced.
  
  
   
• PVC Piping
  PVC piping is commonly used for home and building piping systems, irrigation piping systems, and pool and spa systems. The material is most often white but also comes in a wide variety of colors. PVC piping’s benefits are the fact that it’s resistant to corrosion and scaling, lighter weight, and easy to join using a solvent weld.
  
  
   
• CPVC Piping
  CPVC piping (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) is most often used to supply hot and cold water to fixtures and can handle temperatures up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, this material has the same outside diameter as copper tubing and PEX piping. CPVC benefits include the fact that it’s resistant to corrosion and scaling, lighter weight, easy to join using a solvent weld, and has ability to withstand higher temperatures.
  
  
   
• HDPE Piping
  HDPE piping (High-Density Polyethylene) is ideal for many different applications and is considered a polyethylene thermoplastic made from petroleum. HDPE piping’s benefits include corrosion resistance, lighter weight, longer lengths, and weather resistance. 
  
  
   
• Ductile Iron Piping
  Ductile iron piping is seen as an alternative to cast iron piping and is used in both potable and waste water piping systems. This piping material has been a popular choice since the 1950’s. Ductile iron piping’s benefits include an estimated lifespan of one hundred years, corrosion resistance, and higher strength when compared to cast iron.
  
   

There are many piping materials that plumbers can choose from but there may be just one that’s perfect for the job at hand. Being familiar with each material’s features and benefits can get you one step closer to getting the job done right the first time!

For more information on the topic, take our ‘Plumbing Pipes’ A.Y. McDonald University (AYU) course.