Types of pipes for drinking water. Varieties of water pipes

Polypropylene risers and water supply lines

Today we have to find out which pipes for pressure cold water supply are currently used. We will get acquainted with the materials offered by the modern market, their key features and basic installation rules. Let's get started.

heavy legacy

More recently, some three decades ago, water distribution in all houses without exception was carried out with a steel water and gas pipe.

Reference: according to a single GOST 3262-75, both black and galvanized VGP pipes are produced.

In the 50s and 60s, during the construction of stalinok, very durable galvanizing was used on threaded joints, but, alas, events developed from bad to worse: by the 70s, it had been supplanted by cheaper and more technologically advanced black steel.

And, as practice has shown, completely in vain:

• The estimated service life of water pipelines has decreased from 30 to 15 years. The actual - at times: if the galvanized pipe perfectly performed its functions even after half a century of operation, then the author observed the first fistulas on black steel water pipes already 10 years after the commissioning of the house;

Note: painting water pipes provides only part of their anti-corrosion protection. The paint is quickly destroyed on the risers and cold water pipes. To a large extent, this is due to the formation of condensate on the pipes: most year they are noticeably colder than the surrounding air.

• The pipes began to overgrow with rust and mineral deposits. Water on the way to the water intake erodes the soil and local rocks; mineral sediment on the walls of the water supply system quickly and effectively reduces their throughput. Galvanization does not suffer from its formation, but black steel is very, very;

Comment: the result of a decrease in the clearance in the water supply is a catastrophic drop in pressure at the peaks of the drawdown. Spills overgrown with deposits in some cases can be cleaned with ordinary sewer wire, but much more often they are simply replaced with new ones.

• Sediment and rust began not only to reduce the throughput of spills and risers, but also to increase the roughness of their walls, in full accordance with the notorious Shevelev tables, leading to an increase in the hydraulic resistance of the pipeline. That, in turn, exacerbated the drop in pressure during active drawdown.

Requirements

The experience of dealing with steel pipelines was not only sad, but also in some way useful.

He allowed us to formulate requirements for pipes that it makes sense to buy to replace steel pipes:

• They must have the maximum long term service (ideally - at least half a century). Agree that it is tedious and expensive to start repairing communications every few years;

Practical consequence: pipes for hot and cold water supply must be corrosion-resistant, in particular - not forming galvanic pairs with other metals used in the installation of water pipes.

• They should not suffer from deposits, which means a smooth and low adhesive inner surface;

• It is desirable that pressure pipes for cold water supply have low thermal conductivity: in this case, the water supply system will not be covered with drops of condensate during the hot season;
• The low cost of pipes and fittings for them, as well as the simplest possible connection of cold water pipes with each other and with shutoff valves, will also be a big plus.

What about technical specifications? What are the requirements for the strength of the water supply?

Very democratic. Pipelines for cold and hot water supply operate in principle different conditions: if with a centralized supply of hot water, water hammer and excess design temperatures are possible, then for cold water, both pressure and temperature are very stable. Typical working environment parameters are 2.5-6 kgf/cm2 and 10-20 degrees Celsius.

However: the exception is water supply systems in high-rise buildings, equipped with swaps ( pumping stations to increase pressure). In them, the cold water pressure on lower floors can reach up to 8-10 atmospheres.

Let's start dating

So, what kind of water pipes for cold water supply does modern market? We will limit ourselves to the three most popular solutions, discarding exotics rarely used in real cold water systems like PERT or PVC.

Polyethylene

Pressure polyethylene pipe is marked in black, blue or black with blue stripes. With a small diameter, it is stored and delivered to the consumer in coils and coils.

The key property of polyethylene is the highest elasticity, which is maintained at low temperatures; thanks to this feature, polyethylene plumbing is not afraid of defrosting: ice only stretches the walls of the pipe, and after it melts, they return to their normal size.

Typical applications:

• Water supply lines with underground laying;
• Water supply inlets;
• Summer and country water pipes.

Working pressure: 6-16 kgf/cm2. Resource: at least half a century.

Installation of pressure polyethylene pipes can be performed on one of two types of fittings:

It is curious: on water supply lines, the connection of HDPE pipes is much more often performed by butt welding, without fittings. However, it is possible only with a wall thickness of 4 mm, therefore, it is practically not used on internal water pipes.

Polypropylene

For cold water supply, it attracts with its cheapness: with a diameter of 20 mm running meter plumbing costs only 20-25 rubles.

Note: cold water pipes and fittings are connected with equally inexpensive fittings. For example, a 20-mm coupling costs 2 rubles 80 kopecks in the Leroy Merlin online store, a corner - 3.7 rubles, a tee - 5.7.

Other characteristics also will not disappoint the buyer:

• The service life at an operating temperature of +20°C is estimated at 50 years or more;
• Working pressure for non-reinforced pipes varies depending on the wall thickness from 10 to 20 kgf/cm2;
• Welded joints are maintenance-free, completely sealed and extremely durable. They can hide in strobes or screeds without any threat of leaks in the distant future.

What does the installation of an internal cold water pipeline with polypropylene look like?

metal-plastic

Metal-plastic pipes are called composite pipes, consisting of an aluminum core and two polyethylene shells (inner and outer), connected to the core with glue.

The structure of the walls is clearly visible on the cut.

The following materials can be used as shell material:

• Ordinary polyethylene low pressure PE;
• Cross-linked PEX polyethylene, which differs from PE in greater mechanical strength and increased heat resistance;
• Even more heat-resistant (with a working temperature of up to 110 degrees) PERT polyethylene.

Captain Evidence suggests: the strength and heat resistance of PEX / AL / PEX and PERT / AL / PERT pipes are appropriate in DHW system, but obviously excessive in cold water.

The technical characteristics of the pipes will cause the reader a persistent feeling of deja vu:

• Service life - half a century or more;
• Working pressure - 10-16 atmospheres.

For the installation of metal-plastic, two types of fittings are massively used:

1. Compression. In them, a pipe stretched over a herringbone fitting with sealing rubber rings is crimped with a split ring when the nut is tightened. The advantage of this type of connection is that installation requires the simplest tool: a pipe cutter with a calibrator and a pair of adjustable wrenches;

Attention: you need to cut metal-plastic only with special scissors or a roller pipe cutter with mandatory calibration and chamfering. The instruction is due to the fact that an oval pipe with an uneven edge often pulls out of the fitting grooves O-rings, and the connection may subsequently leak. Most leaks of compression fittings on hot water and heating are associated with installation errors.

1. Press fittings: instead of a split ring and a union nut, the pipe is crimped on the fitting with a stainless sleeve using mechanical or electric tongs. Unlike the previous one, this type of connection is non-separable and maintenance-free.

Its advantage is increased reliability compared to compression joints (however, rather doubtful in the case of cold water with its constant temperature and moderate pressure), the disadvantage is the high cost of the installation tool (from 5 to 25 or more thousand rubles).

metal pipes

Can metal be used for cold water wiring?

If we are not talking about black steel - certainly. For cold water use:

• Galvanized. It is mounted exclusively on threaded connections: welding burns out the zinc coating, leaving the water supply defenseless against rust;

• Copper on soldered, compression or press fitting connections (see);
• Corrugated stainless steel on compression fittings.

These materials are devoid of all the disadvantages of black steel, except for its high thermal conductivity. However, the prohibitively high price compared to polymer and metal-polymer pipes plays against them: say, a linear meter of Kofulso stainless pipe with a diameter of 15 mm will cost the buyer 230-250 rubles.

Installation rules

There are very few mandatory rules for wiring a cold water system:

• Minimum inner diameter water supply system with the number of draw-off points not more than three and the length of the supply line not more than 25 meters - 15 mm. With more plumbing fixtures or a longer length of water supply, its minimum internal diameter increases to 20 mm;

Recall: plastic and metal-plastic pipes are marked not internal, but outside diameter. It differs from the internal one by two wall thicknesses. For example, a 20mm polypropylene cold water liner will fit bandwidth new steel VGP pipe DU 15.

• The DHW pipeline is always mounted above the cold water pipeline. Minimum distance between pipes of hot and cold water supply - 80-100 mm. If this simple rule is not observed, cold water will be heated by the air flow ascending from the DHW pipe or by the heat radiated by it;

• At the entrance to an apartment or house, a coarse filter is highly desirable. It will protect your faucets (especially ceramic faucets) from water-borne scale and sand.

Conclusion

We hope that our article will help the reader in choosing an inexpensive and durable material for the cold water system. You can learn more about how and from what you can assemble a cold water supply pipeline from the video in this article. Good luck!

At overhaul or construction own house there is bound to be a water supply problem. The consumer goes to the market and is faced with a huge choice different types pipes and manufacturers is, of course, good, but how to figure it out and choose the really best products?

We solve the problem - the selection and analysis of data

Choosing a pipe for water supply is like a mathematical equation. In order to successfully solve it, input data is needed. To begin with, for what kind of water supply do you need pipes - hot or cold? If hot, what Maximum temperature maybe online? We go further - in what conditions will the installation of the water supply take place? If this new house, in which there are no hints of water supply at all, all the cards are in your hands - a variety of options will do.

If you have to make repairs in the apartment, where central water supply consists of steel pipes, your choice becomes more limited. next moment Where exactly will the plumbing be installed? For an unheated dacha in winter, pipes are needed that will be able to withstand the expansion of water during crystallization. If pipes are needed for water supply in warm apartment, this condition becomes unclaimed.

The budget and longevity of the pipeline are interrelated issues, although today almost all modern solutions, even inexpensive ones, are able to provide a pipeline service life of at least 20-25 years. But if you want to create a water pipe for a hundred years, so that your grandchildren have enough, you will have to pay a decent amount. And the last - how much do you care about your health and your loved ones? Pipes can also be relatively dangerous - of course, this is not a mortal threat, but just a constant negative impact, which is enough even without running water.

Types of pipes - the solution is not far off

To find the correct solution to this problem and make right choice, it remains to take into account only one thing - what types of pipes are there in principle? In general, in order not to be confused, three groups can be distinguished:

• metal - steel, cast iron, copper;
• plastic - products made of PVC, polyethylene (PE), cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), polypropylene and other materials with the prefix "poly";
• transitional option - metal-plastic pipes for water supply.

Let's start with metal. All you need to know about cast-iron pipes for plumbing is that there really are such, that they are used only to supply cold water to houses or neighborhoods, and that they are rapidly being changed to modern options.

Steel pipes are old acquaintances of every person born in the USSR. Strong and reliable, they still have a number of shortcomings, because of which they are gradually becoming a thing of the past. No matter how hard manufacturers try to protect steel walls from corrosion, sooner or later a flood will still happen in an apartment with such a water supply due to rusted pipes. Have you ever seen a steel pipe in a section after 10-15 years of operation? Terrible sight! The water inside it no longer flows along a steel line, but through a pipeline of slag, scale and rust, which form a thick coating on the walls.

Well, at least the water in cities is chlorinated, otherwise it is not known what new forms of life would arise in steel water pipes. The choice of such pipes is due to the impossibility of joining the central riser in any other way, except by welding. If you already choose steel, then only seamless galvanized ones - they are considered the most reliable, they do not need to be primed and painted. However, during the installation process, welding or threaded connections destroy the galvanized layer, and the pipes still begin to rust over time.

More recently, a conceptually new proposal appeared on the market - the so-called lined steel pipes which have a non-metallic, plastic coating on the inside, such as polyethylene. This option is a serious application on the market, although it has not yet been tested in practice by consumers. However, even such products have one drawback - their heavy weight.

in metal plastic pipes ah, manufacturers have combined several materials - a layer that is in direct contact with water is made of polyethylene, a layer of metal (most often aluminum) goes on top of it to enhance the strength of products, and completes the design upper layer made of plastic, which ensures a long service life of the metal. Such pipes bend well, retain a given shape. The products are quite light - the weight of a ten-meter pipe with a diameter of about 30 mm will be only 2 kg.

The convenience of mounting metal-plastic products lies in the fact that they do not need to be soldered or welded - they are connected using press fittings. Of all the tools you only need wrench appropriate size. The trouble is that aluminum, with a sharp temperature drop inside the water pipe, compresses faster than plastic, which is why at the joints when high pressure leaks often occur.

Fire, water and copper pipes - the choice of aristocrats

Modern children, for the most part, are unlikely to remember the Soviet fairy tale, which was called “Fire, Water and Copper Pipes”. Copper pipes in the title they symbolized the test of the protagonist with fame and fortune. We don’t know how it is with fame, but even today copper products are an attribute of people, let’s say, not poor.

Although poverty has nothing to do with it - most modern consumers simply do not understand why such a choice when there is cheap, affordable and convenient plastic. And yet copper is really better:

1. Copper has disinfectant properties.
2. Does not react with water.
3. Does not rust and does not collect plaque on the walls.
4. Does not spoil, and even improves the taste of water!
5. Looks beautiful.
6. Serves for a very long time - up to 100 years!

The high cost of such a water supply will pay off for a long time, but in this case it will pay off sooner or later - the water supply will still serve your grandchildren! The main thing is that there are no aluminum parts in the system, otherwise copper will react with this material and corrosion will occur. Brass adapters, expensive soldering - this is how the plumbing is installed in the apartment. By the way, for a summer residence, the option is risky - copper products can withstand up to 5 freeze-thaw cycles, but after that they can crack. Of the shortcomings, by and large, such a system has only one - this is its high cost.

Plastic options - types of plastic

This quality is very useful when installing a water supply system in a country house that is not heated in winter - even if the water inside the system freezes, nothing threatens the pipes. This allows them to be laid in soils with a low level of freezing. Cross-linked polyethylene is less resistant to high temperatures than polypropylene pipes, which makes it impossible to use it for heating, however, cross-linked polyethylene is quite suitable for hot water supply with a carrier temperature of up to 70 ° C.

This material is inert to water and aggressive compounds, bends well and does not crack when bent, which makes it possible to use it in the installation of underfloor heating. Products are somewhat more expensive than other options, but their service life ranges from 50 to 100 years, depending on the formula and additives.

But such pipes can withstand up to 20 atmospheres, while products made of cross-linked polyethylene - up to 16. Therefore, polypropylene products are almost never used for cold water supply, but are recommended for hot and heating systems with a carrier temperature not higher than 75 ° C. Service life - from 25 to 50 years. They are best used in a warm apartment, as they become more brittle at low temperatures.

Foreword

TO traditional types pipes for water supply include steel, cast iron and copper. There is also a more modern type of pipes for water supply - plastic.

Content

Traditional types of pipes for water supply include steel, cast iron and copper. Each of them has both its advantages and disadvantages. There is also a more modern type of pipes for water supply - plastic. They are quite durable, safe, not afraid of corrosion and resistant to change. climatic conditions. Another important advantage when choosing these pipes for water supply is the ease of installation. In any case, it's up to you. And for this, use the description of each type of water pipeline offered below.

After the problem of water supply to the site is resolved, it is necessary to supply water to the house, piping to the kitchen, bathroom, etc. If everything was planned at the project development stage, then it is not difficult to provide the house with water on its own. But it is important to know which pipes to choose for water supply, since the work with them depends on the material from which they are made.

Types of water pipeline: selection of pipes for water supply

Traditionally used metal pipes- steel, cast iron and copper (once this list included lead pipes, which, being harmful to health, are a thing of the past). They have both advantages and disadvantages.

Insofar as modern dwelling equipped with a variety of equipment that uses water, then when developing a water supply project and when installing a pipeline, it is necessary to take into account many parameters and apply modern materials and technology.

Steel pipes suitable for cold and hot water supply, as well as for a gas pipeline, they are quite cheap, therefore they are affordable and will last 30-40 years. But without zinc coating they rust. In addition, steel pipes are characterized by high thermal conductivity, so condensation forms on them; they are heavy, therefore, certain physical efforts will also be required from the master (pipes must be bent, sawed down, they must be threaded, etc.); From the inside, steel pipes are not always completely smooth, so salt deposits gradually form on their surface. Couplings, elbows, and welding are required to make connections.

Cast iron pipes, unlike steel, they are not subject to corrosion, durable, resistant to temperature changes, have a low coefficient of expansion, their service life is 80-100 years. They can be used not only for water supply, but also for laying (for the latter purposes they are used most often). During installation, gaskets and sockets are required.

Copper pipeline belongs to the elite class. The main characteristics of these pipes for water supply are long service life (up to 70 years), resistance to corrosion, temperature differences (operating in conditions from -200 to +500 ° C). This type the water pipeline is easy to install (it can include both high-temperature soldering and assembly using fittings).

Types of plastic pipes for water supply and their characteristics

A revolution in plumbing occurred after the invention of pipes made of polymeric materials.

When deciding which pipes for water supply are better, pay attention to the main characteristics of plastic pipes. They are durable; safe; resistant to change weather conditions and UV exposure; not afraid of corrosion; do not lose heat when used in a hot water supply system; not subject to the formation of salt deposits and scale; convenient for installation.

Among the shortcomings, it is necessary to note such a moment as the inability to correct the marriage by disassembling and eliminating the defect - this section must be cut out and remounted.

There are several types of plastic pipes for water supply:

Polybutylene. This is an elastic, heat-conducting material, designed for temperatures up to +90 ° C, welding is used during installation. Service life - 45-50 years;

Polyethylene. Pipes are strong, flexible, but sensitive to sunbeams and are limited to use for cold water supply. During installation, fittings and crimping are used. Service life - 50 years.

Polypropylene, designed for both cold and hot water supply, heating and sewerage, easy to install, cheap, connected by welding. Service life - 50 years (for cold water supply), 25 years (for hot water supply). However, for installation, you must have a special soldering iron.

PVC. The material is rigid, has a low weight, is resistant to UV radiation, non-flammable, and the pipes are glued when installing the pipeline. Service life - 50 years.

Pipes. Which is better to choose, the owner of the house or apartment decides, and this affects the proper and long-term operation of water supply systems.

The leading positions are occupied by products made of polypropylene, HDPE and metal-plastic, which are beginning to displace metal. The selected water pipes depend on the characteristics of the materials, price, operating conditions and financial capabilities of the user. Which ones are better? Consumer reviews are leaning towards products made of polypropylene and metal-plastic.

Polypropylene pipe

It is quite difficult to decide which water pipes are best installed in an apartment. Most owners stop at polypropylene products. The pipeline is non-separable, and welded fittings create reliable and durable connections. They may be different configuration: couplings, angles at 90 0 and 45 0, crosses, tees.

Main instrument

For welding, a special tool is used - a polyfusus (according to the folk - an iron or a soldering iron). On the a heating element 2 nozzles of the required diameters are installed. The end of the pipe and the fitting are inserted into them, after which they are heated for 6-10 seconds. Then the heated parts are removed and connected to each other. In a few seconds, welding takes place, providing a reliable connection strength. It is no longer possible to separate the parts after that.

The special properties of polypropylene allow it to be used for heating and water supply. One of its varieties - "Random copolymer" - is the most heat-resistant and is used where water temperatures up to 95 0 С are allowed, and its increase to 100 0 С in case of malfunctions does not reduce the durability of the pipeline.

Advantages and disadvantages of polypropylene products

Pipes have their advantages and disadvantages. The benefits are:

• resistance to active chemicals;
• simplicity and high speed of installation;
• high plasticity, which prevents the destruction of the pipe when water freezes in the system;
• durability when used in high-temperature networks;
• environmental friendliness.

The disadvantage of pipes is their rigidity. As a result, their installation requires large quantity swivel fittings. In addition, the polymer has a large temperature deformation, which should be taken into account during installation. In the absence of temperature compensators, the pipeline can be deformed and even destroyed.

They are divided into 3 types:

1. PN 10 - design for cold water supply and underfloor heating.
2. PN 20 - for supply pipelines hot water with temperatures up to 80 0 C (universal).
3. PN 25 - for operation at high temperatures (up to 95 0 C).

The latter type of pipe is reinforced with aluminum foil or fiberglass. Metal perforation eliminates the need to use glue to connect the layers. Reinforcement increases the strength and stability of products. The pipe can be coated with metal on the outside or inside. Aluminum is mainly used to reduce thermal expansion.

Fiberglass is used without gluing the layers. It fuses with a layer of polypropylene, providing a quality connection.

Metal-plastic pipe

The pipe structure consists of 2 layers of PE-X polyethylene and an aluminum layer located between them. The metal is bonded to the plastic with a special adhesive. The quality of the product depends on its properties. All manufacturers have their own adhesive compositions, which they are constantly improving. The polymer creates flexibility and smoothness, while aluminum creates strength and reduces the thermal expansion of the pipe when heated. The best technical characteristics have products from Germany, Belgium and Italy.

Between themselves, the pipes are connected by compression or press fittings. In the first case, only a wrench is needed, and in the second, a special tool.

The five-layer construction of the pipe has a small thickness, due to which the flexibility of the product is maintained. The aluminum layer is very thin and looks more like a foil than a metal layer.

Advantages and disadvantages of metal-plastic

Products have their pros and cons. The positive properties of pipes are as follows:

• flexibility to often dispense with fittings;
• light weight;
• the temperature of the working environment reaches +95 0 С;
• low temperature deformation;
• resistance to corrosion and aggressive media;
• slight noise when transporting liquids.

The disadvantages of pipes are as follows:

• combustibility of the material;
• elements have different temperature deformations, leading to delamination of the pipe along the adhesive layers and at the junctions with brass fittings;
• the material does not withstand ultraviolet radiation;
• narrow limits of diameters - 16-33 mm;
• rupture of a pipe when water freezes in it;
• high cost of fittings.

Another disadvantage is the narrower flow area of ​​the fitting compared to the diameter of the pipe. This creates additional resistance to the movement of water.

HDPE pipe

It is used in 2 versions: for technical and drinking water. It is elastic and sold in coils. Due to this, fewer fittings are required for installation, which are made of plastic.

PE pipe is mainly used for outdoor plumbing. It is resistant to low temperatures down to -50 0 C. Flexibility, strength and low price made it popular for water supply systems and irrigation of summer cottages. Pipes are used for a long time, do not overgrow and are not subject to corrosion. For hot water, ordinary PE pipes are not suitable, because they working temperature does not exceed 45 0 C. Now cross-linked polyethylene is often used for water pipes. Which is better, it is quite clear here. But their price is much higher, although the quality is also.

Which water pipes are better - polypropylene or metal-plastic?

On the market hardware gradually replaced by plastic. If you need to purchase water pipes, which ones are better are determined by price and quality.

In this case, it is necessary to take into account the cost of not only pipes, but also other components. Polypropylene costs a little less than metal-plastic, but special savings are achieved on fittings. Do not forget that it requires a welding machine, the purchase of which must be spent. For a large water supply system, the cost of it will not be so great, since the soldering iron is easy to master on your own, and the involvement of specialists will cost much more.

They are produced in a wider range of diameters in the direction of their increase, starting from 63 mm. For large diameters, the question of which water pipes are better - plastic or metal-plastic, is not worth it. Obviously, polypropylene should be used here.

Metal-plastic products have a significantly lower coefficient of thermal expansion than polymer products due to the presence of a metal layer (5-6 times lower). Therefore, for polypropylene pipes thermal compensators in the form of loops are required. The presence of materials with different characteristics in one system reduces the period of operation of metal-plastic pipes with frequent temperature effects.

Metal-plastic plumbing is easier to install and does not require expensive welding machine. Polypropylene communications are non-separable, but the welding points do not differ in strength from the pipe material.

Water pipes in the country

IN household plot water pipes are constantly required for irrigation and personal needs. Which are better in the country? It is obvious that these are HDPE products that outperform other materials in the following indicators:

1. Price-quality ratio.
2. Durability, flexibility and ease of processing.
3. Installation of fittings manually does not require special tools, knowledge and skills.
4. The presence of special adapters for the installation of valves and connection of consumers (shower, sink, watering device).

All components and tools are sold in specialized stores. So that the water supply does not interfere with movement around the site, it can be buried in the ground. To prevent pipe damage garden tool for it, a trench is laid from plastic trays covered with bars on top. The pipeline can be installed annually, but it is also left in place. Then on winter period water is drained from it, and the system is purged, for example, with a vacuum cleaner.

domestic water supply

What water pipes are better to use in the country, in country house Or an indoor apartment? The technical characteristics of polypropylene and metal-plastic pipes allow them to be successfully used for internal use. They are easy to hide behind partitions or under the floor, which preserves the integrity of the interior. Reliable connections guarantee pipes from leaks. If deficiencies appear, this is mostly due to improper installation or technology violations.

Conclusion

Many owners find it difficult to choose water pipes. Which one is better existing species, it is difficult to determine, since metal-plastic and polypropylene products have their pros and cons. All this is reflected in the characteristics of the product, which should always be studied in detail. Which water pipes are better to install depends on the quality, technical characteristics, preferences of the owners and their financial capabilities.

HDPE pipes are more suitable for summer cottages and outdoor water supply. In terms of price and performance, they are significantly ahead of competitors.

Competent design and arrangement of the water supply system provides for a careful choice water pipes. Only by comparing the operational, technical and aesthetic characteristics, having decided on the purpose of the system (for external or internal water supply), you can choose the right pipes for water supply systems.

Main characteristics

The first thing to consider is the type of water supply network. It can be external or internal.

Pipes for outdoor water supply systems

The material for outdoor communications can be:

• copper,
• polypropylene,
• PVC,
• polyethylene,
• steel,
• asbestos concrete, etc.

Also suitable for outdoor use pipes from combined materials . Nowadays, the most popular solution for creating a reliable and durable water supply system is polymer outdoor systems. Being worthy alternative cast iron pipes, water pipes made of unplasticized polyvinyl chloride can be used to supply both cold and hot water under the required pressure.

Pipes for indoor use

Basic requirements for plumbing:

• high throughput,
• chemical resistance to aggressive environments,
• long service life,
• corrosion resistance,
• ability to withstand temperature changes.

According to the type of material, pipes for internal water supply systems are divided into:

• metal (copper, steel, cast iron);
• metal-plastic (a combination of metal and polymeric materials);
• polymeric (plastic).

Metal pipes for water supply systems

Cast iron communications are characterized by a long service life, but are fragile, which greatly complicates their transportation and installation. Fitting the size of a cast-iron water pipe is a rather difficult undertaking, even for experienced installers.

Steel pipes for water supply systems

They are distinguished by low cost and high strength. At the same time, steel plumbing has a short service life (about 20 years). Steel corroded leading to deterioration in water quality over time. In addition, the installation of steel communications is quite complicated. It is produced either by welding or using threaded adapters.

Copper pipes for water supply systems

Characterized by high quality and antibacterial properties, do not give in to corrosion, are reliable, strong and durable. They are poorly combined with galvanized steel elements of the system. This is one of the most expensive options for installing a water supply system. But at the same time, you are guaranteed many years of operation of the system without leaks and breakdowns.

Today, the distribution of water supply at home is increasingly carried out using metal-plastic water pipes. Thanks to reinforcement of polyethylene pipes With aluminum, such a water supply becomes resistant to high temperature (up to 90 ° C), pressure (10 bar if booster pumps for water supply are working) and deformation.

Despite the fact that metal-plastic products are somewhat more expensive than plastic counterparts, the demand for them is steadily growing. Thanks to high technical specifications they can be used in an open systems device.

Polymer plumbing

To date, polymer pipes for water supply have earned recognition around the world. They not only have a long service life, but also have excellent soundproofing properties, high strength, not prone to "overgrowth", have a low weight, are easy to install (connected using fittings or soldering).