Pipes serve four purposes in the house: to bring in water, to remove waste, to drain greywater, and to vent. Each type of pipe is used very often and is eventually susceptible to damage.
The different types of water pipes, sewer pipes, drainage pipes, and venting pipes are:
- Galvanized steel pipes: While not used much anymore due to their expense, they are strong and durable. They have been used for supplying water, draining, and supplying gas in the past. However, they aren’t commonly installed in new construction anymore. Nowadays, they are mainly used for supplying gas.
- Copper pipes: They are expensive and desirable for a reason. They are great for water supply needs because they don’t leach chemicals into the water, effectively providing clean, potable water to your home. They are durable.
- Cast iron pipes: These are still used in homes today for sewer and drainage purposes because they are very durable. They can be used until they completely rusted.
- Flexi pipes: These are those braided metal pipes that you see in the cabinet under your sink. They are normally made from stainless steel. As they are quite expensive, they are used for short distances to connect other pipes to plumbing appliances such as sinks, water heaters, and toilets. They are only somewhat durable.
- PEX pipes: These plastic red and blue pipes are used to deliver hot and cold potable water. They aren’t too expensive. They are durable and trustworthy enough to be used in walls and ceilings when proper fittings and supports are applied. They can even be used to supply reclaimed, non-potable water when using a purple PEX pipe.
- PVC pipes: These are those thick, white, plastic pipes that you might recognize. They aren’t used for potable water. They are durable and inexpensive. They are used for draining greywater, removing waste, and venting (drain-waste-vent or DWV). They are also used for outdoor plumbing.
- ABX pipes: Similar to the PVC pipes, they are made of thick, black plastic. They are used for DWV purposes. They are also used for outdoor plumbing. They are inexpensive and somewhat durable except when exposed to sunlight.
If your home’s pipes need repairing or replacing, your friends over at Campbell’s Quality Plumbing are skilled in what options work best for residential plumbing. We’ll access the current state of your home’s pipes, listen to you when you describe your plumbing needs, determine if repairs are sufficient to solve the issues, and provide the best recommendations for pipe replacement.
If you’re in need of commercial pipe repairs or replacements, our expert plumbers at Campbell’s Quality Plumbing are experienced in improving business’s pipes systems. Our goal is to improve the pipes in your business’ building so that you can avoid damage and extra expenses.
Call Campbell’s Quality Plumbing at (425) 385-0315 to schedule an appointment to have your home or business’ pipes accessed.
Sources:
- https://www.thespruce.com/basic-types-of-plumbing-pipes-1822487
- https://www.hometips.com/how-it-works/plumbing-drain-waste-vents.html
