Water distribution is an important aspect when it comes to towns and cities. There are so many materials that are used to distribute water throughout the world. There are pros and cons to each material. If you are planning on redoing your home plumbing supply, read on to find out which materials are ideal for the project.
Galvanised steel makes for a water carrying pipe that doesn’t corrode. Corrosion is one of the reasons that you notice brown or murky water coming from the faucets. This can lead to a lot of frustration as you will need to look into pipe cleaning or even plumbing system replacement in certain cases. Most of the time, you will see steel water pipelines in commercial applications as there is a lot of effort that goes into preparation. There is a lot of time and effort when it comes to cutting, installing, thread the galvanised pipes. Many older homes have steel pipes and these can last about 40 years with good maintenance. You can visit www.steelmains.com to get some insight into the many benefits of steel piping. You can also upgrade your existing steel pipes for them to last longer. Cast iron pipes also have a high resistance to corrosion, just like steel pipelines. They are cost-effective and durable. But there is a lot of care that has to be taken during transportation and installation to prevent the pipes from getting damaged.
Copper pipes can be used for both hot and cold water distribution. There are many regions where copper piping is not allowed to be used as there is a chance that underground pipes can get affected in certain soil conditions if there is no protective sleeve. This was the material that was traditionally used for water pipelines as they can last for a long time as well. But with age, copper tends to thin out which leads to tiny holes. A common material for water pipelines nowadays is PVC or polyvinyl chloride. In some areas, these are not recommended to be sued for drinking water. You can see these mainly in pool and spa systems. It is popular for ease of use. It is generally used for drainage.
There is CPVC which is chlorinated polyvinyl chloride and this sometimes comes as an off-white plastic. This material can withstand high temperatures so it is used for hot water pipelines. PVC and CPVC pipelines have a long lifetime. They can last a minimum of 50 years and can even go up to about 80 years with good maintenance. PEX is a material that can withstand hot and cold temperatures. These are more durable than copper pipelines so you can expect these to last more than 50 years. Many plumbing companies tend to use PEX as it is cost-effective and easier to transport due to the long rolls of tubes you can buy it in. This is a flexible material that can be bent around corners which reduces the number of plumbing fittings used contributing to a faster installation time.
