Plastic vs Copper vs Steel Piping



Hello team!

In last post we covered the basics of cutting and fitting CPVC tubing. We learned about removing the surface glaze that the tubing has, cutting the plastic tubing with a plastic-pipe-cutting shears, and then joining all the plastic tubing with cement.

Now, it is interesting to ask, what is the differences (advantages and disadvantages) of using different types of piping materials: metal vs plastic.

Copper pipes are the most common type of plumbing piping material. They are specially resistant to corrosion and can be used for both cold and hot water. One disadvantage with copper piping is that they need to be soldered.

CPVC is easy to install, is generally low-cost, its light weight and it is easy to cut. CPVC piping also can withstand high temperature and is fire resistant. Part of the easier installation with CPVC pipes is that they do not need to be soldered.

Galvanized piping used to be very popular with residential plumbing projects but can be prone to rust. It has a zinc coating but once the coating wears off, that's when problems can start to arise.

In contrast, stainless steel (a combination of chromium and steel) piping can handle corrosion much better as it's anti-rust properties are part of its chemical composition. One downfall of stainless steel piping is price.

One disadvantage of CPVC (which basically is catching up or overcoming metal piping in most areas) is that when it deals with some chemicals and not just water, it can become brittle and not withstand for a long time.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Radiant Floor Heating - Number 2

Image
In the last post we talked a little about the first of five top radiant floor heating systems: Nuheat floor mats. We learned how they are easy to install and contribute to reducing heating costs. Today we will cover a second system. This system is the SunTouch tape mat. You can install this radiant floor mat before you place the final flooring over the top. The SunTouch system comes with everything you need: - the radiant floor heating map - a programmable touchscreen thermostat - sensor wire - installation alarm (a continuity monitor) - and double stick tape To install the map you just have to: - unroll and attach your att - secure the floor sensor - apply thin-set mortar - and install your flooring It is recommended that you plan your layout well. Measure and draw a layout simple plan before installation. The recommended installation temperature is 50 degrees farenheit or 10 degrees celcius.
Read more

How Can You Prevent Fires?

Image
Hello everyone. Today we have an important question from our audience. The question today is, How can you prevent fires? Seems like a question with a straightforward answer, but let's advance our awareness today!   First of all, preventing a fire is something that has tremendous value, as a fire can spread in devastating ways and put your family in great risk. Some of the most common reasons for fires are: electrical sparks, space heaters, and children playing with matches. In order to prevent fires, tools that you may need are: a CO and Smoke alarm, a combustible gas detection, a carbon monoxide alarm, a fire extinguisher, and batteries. Here are a few tips to help minimize the probabilities of a fire: 1) Never leave your space heater unattended. Also, make sure to leave the space heater at least three feet away from flammable material and on level surface. 2) Do not leave light candles near materials that can ignite. 3) Use a fireplace screen so that sparks can be kep...
Read more

Radiant Heating Systems: Installation Cost, Installation Time, Other Considerations

Image
Hello Team, How are you guys doing today? We hope that you all are doing fine during this difficult times. Indeed, we all have been going through much stress and anxiety and uncertainty. In the last few posts, we have been covering details about how radiant heating systems work with different flooring types, form vinyl to concrete to laminate floors. Today, we will cover three more topics regarding radiant heating systems. The first one will be installation costs. Of course, as in many other things in life, a specific answer is impossible to give. The factors to consider are the type of system that you choose for your home and the size of your home. As a general rule, installing your radiant floor heating will range between $10 to $30 per square foot. Again, this depends a lot on the type of system that you want to install and the difficulty of the installation. In addition to this labor part, you will also need to pay an electrician to connect the system to your hour...
Read more