What are 5 Different Types of Home Plumbing Pipes?

Residential plumbing systems have come a long way from the clay piping used in ancient Greece to supply water for homes and carry sewage and wastewater away. Plumbing supply manufacturers produce pipes from various materials that can provide hot and cold water to every plumbing fixture in your house. Residential plumbing pipes also create a vital drain and vent system for your house. Although there are different types of home plumbing pipes, five of them are used more in homes, which are:

  • PEX Home Plumbing Pipes
  • PVC Residential Plumbing Pipes
  • ABS Pipes
  • Copper Plumbing Pipes
  • Galvanized Pipes for Home Plumbing

Although all types of home plumbing pipes are practical in specific applications, not every piping is suitable for all situations. Additionally, some of the lines are not up to code. Modern building codes set forth measures your system must adhere to to ensure public safety and protect your home from damage. Now let’s get to the details about these home plumbing pipe types.

PEX Home Plumbing Pipes

PEX or cross-linked polyethylene home plumbing pipes are affordable plastic tubing famous for residential water supply lines since they do not leach traces of corrosion or rust into the water like some other old types of pipes.

Installing cross-linked polyethylene residential plumbing pipes is considerably easy and also, since they are a flexible material, working with PEX tubes is much easier.

One of the best things about these home plumbing pipes is that you can use several connection methods, which allows you to work with different plumbing tools.

PEX home pipes come in three primary colors: blue for cold water, red for hot water, and white for cold or hot water.

PVC Residential Plumbing Pipes

PVC or home plumbing pipes made from polyvinyl chloride are often used for home sewage systems. Professional plumbers use DWV, a type of home plumbing piping used in your house’s drain, waste, and venting systems.

PVC plumbing pipes are suitable for applications with low pressure and low-temperature requirements. With this said, you should use these residential plumbing pipes for the toilet drain line and not for carrying hot water.

ABS Home Plumbing Pipes

Residential plumbing pipes that have a black appearance and are used in a sink, toilet drain, or tubs are generally made from ABS or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene,

ABS home plumbing pipes are another type that you can find in DWV systems, and it functions similarly to PVC piping. Most of these residential plumbing pipes come in the exact sizes as PVC piping. However, ABS is not as popular as it is currently.

ABS home plumbing pipes are more durable than PVC but should not be exposed to direct sunlight.

Copper Home Plumbing Pipes

Copper home plumbing pipes have been used in residential plumbing systems for decades. So it is likely to find them around showers, sinks, tubs, and other plumbing fixtures in older and newer houses.

These residential plumbing pipes are the most popular type of water supply lines since copper does not affect drinking water quality.

The biggest drawback of copper home plumbing pipes is that the installation process requires a propane torch that is not DIY-friendly. If you do not apply enough heat to the joints, the solder will not flow into the joint, and you won’t have a proper seal. Moreover, too much heat can inhibit the appropriate sealing of the connection.

Galvanized Pipes for Residential Plumbing Systems

Galvanized pipes are not used in modern constructions and homes. However, it was once used for almost every residential property, so you can find them in older houses.

Galvanized home pipes were perfect when homes had lead pipes since they provided a lead-free alternative. If you have galvanized waste and drain lines, you will find fittings and replacement pipes such as galvanized tees and elbows.

Galvanized home plumbing pipes had a big issue; they tend to rust over time. If your residential plumbing system has galvanized water supply pipes, it would be best to replace them with PEX or Copper residential plumbing pipes to ensure you will have clean and clear drinking water.

If you are sure that you want to retrofit your galvanized piping, using PEX would be the best option since it is flexible, and you can install it inside the walls easily.

14 Most Essential Plumbing Supplies

As you probably know, the plumbing systems of commercial and residential facilities are the most crucial part of the building since it works as their heart. So there is a high demand for various plumbing services, and professional plumbers or plumbing contractors should offer assistance with the best quality possible. Plumbers need to have some essential plumbing supplies to provide affordable and high-quality plumbing services. If you want to be a plumber or hire a plumber, it is better to know the vital supplies that will be used in the process.

There are various tools and equipment that can be used for different projects. However, there are essential plumbing supplies that every plumber should use for their projects. It is also necessary to know that this equipment is practical for all types of plumbing services which are:

Wrenches are Essential Plumbing Supplies

When you ask professional plumbers about the essential plumbing supplies, the first tool that comes to their mind is the wrench. There are different wrenches used for plumbing services since every plumbing process requires several twists. The three main types of wrenches are:

  • T-Shaped Basin Wrench
  • Pipe Wrench
  • Adjustable Wrench

Wrenches are the mainstay of essential plumbing supplies, and every plumber should have them on every plumbing service. However, for smaller jobs using pliers can be more efficient.

Faucet Key for Commercial and Residential Plumbing

Faucet keys are small, yet essential plumbing supplies with x-shaped heads, and plumbers use them to open and close spigots and sillcocks.

Hacksaw is Also Essential for Plumbing Services

You can find modern plumbing supplies and tools such as push-fits, but old piping and plumbing systems will always be around. So, it is crucial to have supplies to deal with them. One of these tools is the hacksaw which is used for cutting through all types of materials.

You can cut various materials with a hacksaw, including:

  • Pipes
  • Bolts
  • Nuts
  • Screws

Pipe Cutter

Residential plumbers deal with different plumbing procedures daily, and removing or resizing the plastic pipes is one. So, plumbers utilize plastic pipe cutters to ensure the job is done efficiently and quickly.

Every Plumber Should Have Plumber’s Torch

Since sometimes plumbers need to work in dark places, they need a tool that will give them sight and precision. In most cases, smartphones or simple torches are not helpful. So, there are essential plumbing supplies and tools called plumber’s torch that will allow the plumber to see and work precisely.

No Plumbing Services Can Be Done Without Plumber’s Tape

Since plumbing systems work with water, sealing them is crucial, and every plumber should have sealants in their essential plumbing supplies and tools list. High-quality plumber tapes are sealants that can withstand extreme temperatures, offer form-fitting coverage, and never dry out. So, with long-lasting plumber tapes, you will not go back to the plumbing service place to repair your work after months or weeks.

Press Fitting Systems are Among the Essential Plumbing Supplies

Press fitting systems do one job for plumbers, pressing a connection onto pipes to form a perfect seal. This plumbing tool is quicker than soldering or welding, and it is among the essential plumbing supplies.

Professional Plumbers Have Plungers In Their Essential Plumbing Supplies List

Another essential plumbing tool is the plunger, which you can buy from any hardware store. This heavy-duty tool is essentially used for unclogging pipes and sinks.

Hand Auger for Fixing Plumbing Issues

When stubborn clogs occur in a plumbing system, the plumber will have to use more robust tools such as a hand drill. This handheld tool allows a plumber to force a cable into a drain or sink to break and remove the clogs. Although a hand auger is still a practical plumbing tool, some plumbers currently use a snake machine which is the motorized version and can clear any blockage in the system.

Never Forget Safety Equipment

The first rule for any industrial or residential services is protection and safety. No plumbing tools and supplies list is complete without some safety equipment. Here are some of the safety equipment that any plumber should have during the service.

  • Eye Protection or Goggles
  • Ear Protectors
  • Heavy Duty Gloves
  • Pads for Knees and Elbows
  • Steel Toe Cap Boots
  • Pads and Heat Shields

Screwdriver Sets are Essential Plumbing Supplies

The screwdriver is an underrated but crucial plumbing tool, and it is used for both commercial and residential plumbing services. There are two primary screwdriver types that plumbers use which are:

  • Stubby Screwdriver
  • Flathead Screwdriver

Professional Plumbers Use Borescope for Residential and Commercial Plumbing Services

The borescope is a small camera that has a flexible cable that allows the plumber to see what is inside the pipes. This tool helps the plumber choose the best method for dealing with plumbing issues.

Plumbing Services Management Software

If you want to have a successful plumbing business in 2022, you will need to learn to use computer software to make your job more manageable and precise.

Additional Essential Plumbing Supplies List

Although the list above contains every essential plumbing supply you need, other tools can also be practical for various plumbing systems.

  • Air Testing U Gauge Kit
  • Solder Capillary Lead-Free Wire
  • PVC Pipe Cement
  • Pipe Sealing Cord
  • Flux Brush
  • Silicone Lubricant Grease
  • Drain Test Plug
  • Drain Rod Tool