Best Type of Pipes for Residential Services
My how the times have changed. In every conceivable way we as a species have developed and re-developed and again and again as we now find ourselves in a more advanced and simply a better way of life than years gone by. Some practices stick and some don’t. Many from the Greeks and Romans are still in place today. Pure, simple genius works. Modern day water systems are a direct lineage to those early societies. Thankfully though not all systems have been a mainstay.
The water system yes, materials for piping no. And for good reason. Pipes have formed an indispensable component of plumbing for thousands of years. Sturdy plumbing infrastructure is crucial and now with modern technology and advancements we have gained a tremendous amount of new and improved materials to outfit the tried-and-true systems of ancient times. Case in point, the Greeks used clay pipes. That was modern and advanced at the time. Now as we’ve moved into the present day our systems are better built, better equipped and on a far larger scale than the Greeks.
Fast forward to relatively modern usage. The mechanics of plumbing are the same and advanced at the same time. At once lead pipes were new and improved and the primary choice for all plumbing needs. However, as the effects of lead poisoning developed the usage of lead pipes in homes became obsolete. As times have moved forward and a much broader scope of materials are available, different needs of usage can now be met with different products to fit the bill. Complexities of projects will undoubtedly be the driving force which creates a product solution for every need and while all can fulfill the same general function, here are a few options that are likely to fit all residential plumbing needs:
- PEX pipes: very common, very adaptable.
- Benefits: flexible, quick to install and requires very little ongoing maintenance.
- Limitations: relegated to indoor as these pipes are susceptible to UV rays and can also be more expensive for the initial installation.
- PVC pipes: advanced option, adaptable and used mostly for waste and drain lines.
- Benefits: lightweight, strong, simple to install.
- Limitations: do not tolerate extreme weather very well – cold or heat, does not sustain well in UV light which limits usage indoors.
- Copper pipes: a plumbing staple, very adaptable
- Benefits: corrosion resistant, very lengthy lifespan – over 50 years.
- Limitations: expensive, usually fitted in smaller sections, rigid.
- Stainless Steel: very strong, very situationally effective
- Benefits: superior aesthetic appeal, very useful in coastal communities as they are not susceptible to corrosion and are specifically useful in residential communities.
- Limitations: expensive, not as adaptive and therefore not as common.
In today’s market the options are about as vast as the type of residential projects that they are needed for. There are broad scale requirements that are generally found within all plumbing projects and there are more finite requirements that make each project different. Having the right resource for the right job covers all categories regardless of the details that separate them. And having a trusted partner in all of your residential plumbing projects is the most valuable resource of all. Mr. Rooter Plumbing, Orange County, 949.371.2025