How to Choose the Right Water Pipes

Now that you are ready to start doing a plumbing job, you have to assess what tools you are going to need for the job.  Any plumber is already going to have their tool belt with all of the wrenches, screwdrivers, flashlight, and accouterments necessary to get the task done, but have you considered what kind of pipe the job is going to need?

There are two primary categories in pipe that plumbing jobs are going to use.  The first are pipes like PVC that are used as water pipes, moving liquids from place to place.  These pipes tend to carry a highly pressurized load of cold water.  Hot water has the potential to warp the plastic itself, inevitably ending in a pipe burst or tainted water.  Most of the times you are going to want to use a PEX pipe, which is highly functional and malleable, unlike a PVC pipe which is rigid.

Metal pipes come in a variety of substances.  You are going to find that copper pipes are the most common metal pipes used in plumbing.  They are more expensive, but are resistant to corrosion, and their ability to carry a high temperature load is beyond comparison.  You are going to use copper pipes to lead hot water or gas around a home, primarily for heating purposes.

Knowing everything you can about PEX pipes and copper pipes should be at the top of your priority list when learning how to be a plumber, whether professionally or personally.  A berth of knowledge on these two types of pipe is going to make it easier to handle any problems you may be confronted with.  Look at the plumbing systems around your own house and see what is used for various functions.  Your water heater probably has PVC or PEX pipe going into the system and copper pipe leading outwards.