In the early days of sanitary facilities in ancient times, lead and clay pipes were used to transport water to houses and public buildings. In the early 1900s, when plumbing began moving to homes in the United States, materials such as cast iron, terracotta, copper, and galvanized steel were used. Lead pipes were also common and were the material of choice for plumbing pipes until World War II
Although they are still considered safe for water pipes, they corrode and begin to leak and must be replaced by copper pipes, CPVC or PEX. Due to corrosion and short service life, galvanized steel pipes are often the reason to replace the entire sanitary system. In some cases, a house benefits from a complete adjustment of the oldest sanitary facilities. Galvanized pipes are rarely used today, except in the case of limited repairs.
PVC pipes are used for drainage, ventilation and waste pipes, hot and cold drinking water pipes and for sewerage. Its thickness and settings vary depending on the application where it will be used. Here is a detailed list of the different types of sanitary pipes and hoses used in residential sanitary systems. We provide an explanation of what each type is used for, along with a sample of photos of each. See a tube size table for information on the size at the end. Since steel pipes are generally heavier and more difficult to handle than other types, they can also be more difficult to repair or replace.
Reticulated polyethylene, or PEX, is the most recently developed tube for residential use and has become the standard for plumbing across the country. PEX pipes are often color-coded: red pipes that indicate a hot water supply, while blue pipes are used to indicate a cold water supply. A water pipe is any tube or tube designed to transport treated drinking water to the consumer.
PEX tubes often replace copper for hot and cold water in residential modifications. They are easy to cut, install and connect and cheaper than copper. Rigid copper is often used for water supply lines in the home. Rigid copper can be easily cut with a metal saw or with a special copper pipe cutter. Rigid copper pipe is ideal for water supply because it does not present any health risk.
A cast iron pipe is strong and durable and is still used for parts of water distribution systems. Cast iron pipes are heat resistant and reduce the sound of moving water. Both pipes are susceptible to oxidation and corrosion over time and have been replaced by copper Wastewater Expert Witness Engineer or plastic pipes to repair them in residential pipes. Mark Jensen / Getty Images PVC is an acronym that means polyvinyl chloride. PVC has a wide variety of sanitary uses of the various types of plastic pipes used for water supply, from drainage pipes to water pipes.