Common plumbing materials found in homes.
You may notice there are many different types of plumbing fittings in your home. Believe it or not lead was incredibly common in homes until recently. There is even evidence to suggest that lead posioing was fairly common in Rome. They used extensive amounts of lead in plumbing, infact the Latin word plumbum means lead. Nowadays common plumbing materials found in housing include copper, plastics and metals.
The durability of PEX as a plumbing material.
Pex which stands for Cross-Linked Polyethylene is a excellent product to use for hot and cold water distribution. I tend to use PEX for water lines. Its great when building a new home or even in commercial applications. One of the many perks about it is that it is flexible and can be bent. Which allows a system to have less fittings. Having less fittings leads to less leaks in the long run. Another thing I like about it is that its a an affordable option compared to copper. Lastly it also has an excellent lifespan.
PVC drains: an ideal plumbing material for waste pipes.
One of the common plumbing materials we see is PVC. It is lightweight, cost effective and cannot corrode like metal pipes can. PVC is smooth inside as well and less likely to clog compared to cast iron. When you’re building a new house PVC is generally the go to choice for the drain waste vent.
How do I join copper pipe?
Generally I tend to see several ways copper pipes are joined. Soldered joints are the most commonly joint for copper that I see. The process of Soldering involves cleaning the fitting and pipe, using Flux and then heating the fitting until the solder will take. Another less commonly seen way to join copper is compression joints which use brass ferruls. One of the main ways that we join copper, is via Propress. Propress does not require a flame In your home. Additionally the manufacturer has a 50 year warranty on their fittings.
How do we repair cast iron pipes?
Cast iron pipes are some of the most common plumbing materials we see. Its used for various applications in the plumbing industry. In your home it would be a heavy-duty material. I often find cast iron pipes in older homes as it has a excellent lifespan. Unfortunately though cast iron can crack, break and settle. It is also prone to clog more than pvc. Often times the easiest way to repair Cast iron is to replace the bad sections and join them with “no hub” mechanical couplings. You may find cast iron in water services and sewer pipes.
Problems with Galvanized steel.
Galvanized steel is coated with zinc. Its purpose is to protect against corrosion. Additionally, galvanized steel was supposed to help with corrosion resistance. Mostly I see galvanized steel used in older home for water pipes and drains. Unfortunately Galvanized steel is not suitable for most applications. For water pipes it often rusts on the threads and breaks. Often times on drain and vent piping it collects scale from rust. Somtimes the “scale” from Galvanized steel makes a clog that is difficult to clear. During a bathroom renovation or when walls are open it is often a excellent idea to change old Galvanized pipes.
Brass Fittings are a very common plumbing material.
Brass fittings are common for use in valves and plumbing apparatuses. It is very durable and has a long life span. Additionally brass fittings are soft when compared to a material like steel. Brass piping was commonly used in the early 20th century for the fact that it was easy to thread.
