How Do You Choose The Right Pipes For Your Home?

There is no good home without a well-constructed roof, water heater, adequate wiring and proper pipes for your home. The importance of these things in every home cannot be overemphasized. Be that as it may, deciding what type of construction materials should be used is still a bit confusing.

This is because different types of homes have their own unique peculiarities. In this post, we will be focusing predominantly on piping. Various types of pipes are used to channel water in and out of every home. Whether you are carrying it out yourself in a DIY plumbing project or hiring an expert, getting it right can take time and effort.

Plumbing material options used in homes vary. As such, you must be aware of what is best for your home before you commence a project. Here we will provide you with the relevant and most sought-after information on which pipe is best for your home.

We will also give you concise information on the different pipe materials and reasons why each one is unique. When you are done reading, you will gain an understanding of which is best for your home and space. Read on!

Pros and Cons of Different Plumbing Pipes

The invention of pipes and plumbing systems has been an essential process in solving issues of water supply in homes. Initially, there were just clay and lead pipes. Presently, there are so many of them, depending on your budget.

Several types of pipes have their own benefits and downsides. We will highlight some of these merits and demerits to help you make an informed decision on what you really want.

Some of these pipes include:

Copper pipes

Copper has been one of the oldest materials for making pipes and is still very much in existence today. Two noteworthy types of copper are utilized to make a plumbing system using copper. 

Flexible copper

This copper type is soft and supple, as the name implies. The issue of malleability can be sorted with flexible copper. This is your go-to type whenever water supply to faucets or around corners is considered.

Hard copper

This is called rigid copper in most places and is the dominant type used. This is cut into different sizes and eventually joined together (soldering). Copper pipes can be made into different sizes and also come in various sizes. The most common sizes are 22mm and 15mm; there are also a few of them measuring 18mm. Asides from sizes, hard copper pipes can be measured using thickness.

The categories of thickness available in copper plumbing are:

• Type K: It possesses the thickest interiors.
• Type M: This has a thin interior and is usually applied in water piping.
• Type l: Type l hard copper has a moderate thickness.

Pros of copper pipes

Temperature

Copper is known worldwide for tolerating harsh temperature changes induced by either cold or hot water.

Biosecurity

It is safe against bacteria as it hardly supports bacterial growth. It also does not cause water pollution and thus can be used to supply drinking water.

Longevity

Copper can last more than 40 years and is thus very reliable. It is also corrosion-resistant and hardly leaks.

Cons of copper piping

Cost

This is the most notable downside to copper usage. It is both financially and environmentally costly. In recent times, prices of copper in the construction market have skyrocketed. 

Steel pipes

Steel pipes that are galvanized are also another type of piping material. It is what initially comes to mind when people think of residential plumbing.

A few of the benefits of steel pipes are:

Corrosion resistant

Galvanized pipes are often coated with other materials (zinc), which helps them to withstand corrosion.

Cheap

It is readily affordable and also a cheaper alternative to copper.

Rigidity

The strength and rigidity of this type of material help it to endure the effect of heavy loads.

Installation process

Galvanized steel pipes are easy to install.

Despite the fact that these pipes are solid and reliable, they are not considered in modern installations that much. You might wonder why. Here are but a few reasons why they are no longer recommended:

Lifespan

These types of pipes have a short lifespan, usually around 20 years before they develop faults. You might think 20 years is not such a short time, but compared with other materials in the market, it is.

Rust

Yes, it was mentioned that galvanization helps resist rusting, but in due time, it fails. This happens when rust begins to accumulate over time and eventually gains access. It causes water contamination and discoloration.

Weight

These pipes are usually heavy.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipes

PVC is now a household name because of its fame among homeowners. It is a thermoplastic polymer that becomes soft at intensely high temperatures but hard at normal temperatures. Its color commonly ranges from white and gray to cream but can also be made into any color of your choice.

Transportation of water at high temperatures is often carried out using polyvinyl chloride. Due to PVC's versatility, it can also be used for draining. Depending on what you plan to use PVC for, you can opt for a custom configuration and thickness that suits your purpose.

Some of the pros of PVC pipes include the following:

Pressure

Its unique ability to handle pressure is second to none. This makes it an outstanding option for the major water supply source in your home.

Easy usage

Due to PVC being lightweight, it is simple to work with and transport. The ease of installation is also nothing to worry about. Unlike metals, they don't have to be soldered; they are joined together using glue.

Longevity

PVC piping is known to last long. Since they are plastics, problems of rust and corrosion have naturally been solved.

Affordability

They are also readily affordable.

A few disadvantages associated with PVC are:

Warping

When used to transport hot water, like other plastics, it can warp or even melt depending on the temperature.

Size

The size range of PVC available in the market is narrow and hence can pose a problem if specific sizes are required.

Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipes

PEX pipes are another plastic material used in plumbing systems. There's no doubt that plastic pipes are now heavily sought after because of the advantages they provide. This type of plastic is new to the plumbing industry and, like other plastics, possesses a host of benefits.

The main difference between PVC and PEX is that the latter is very flexible and thus supports usage in continuous runs. They can be cut and joined too.

Benefits of PEX include:

• Easy usage
• Longevity
• Flexibility
• Relatively cheap cost
• Temperature endurance

Some of the downsides are:

Only used indoors

It shouldn't be used outside because of UV radiation.

Taste and odor

If water has stayed a while in some of these pipes, they impact the taste and smell of the water.

CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) pipes

Both PVC and CPVC pipes are closely related, but one significant difference is that CPVC contains more chlorine. This particular difference gives it an edge over PVC in terms of being able to withstand temperature. Hence, if you want to transport hot water, CPVC is your go-to pipe. It offers the same pros and pros as PEX above.

Some other examples of piping materials are:

• Stainless steel pipes
• Cast iron pipes
• Polybutylene pipes
• Black iron pipes

Professional Pipe Installation

Regarding choosing the right plumbing pipes, it is often best to obtain the services of an expert to ensure you have a proper plumbing system and not just the right pipes. Whenever you are ready to make this bold move, we advise that you stick to plumbing professionals. This is not only because they have adequate knowledge of piping matters but also because they can often help you get the right pipes at a lower cost.