Types of plumbing pipes
Types of household water supply pipes
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Copper pipe
- Used for decades as the most common water supply pipe.
Copper pipe and tubing comes in a variety of sizes and
types. Type L - Thick walled hard/soft copper Type M - Thin walled hard/soft copper Type K - Thick walled hard/soft copper |
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| PVC - Used as a cold water supply pipe in many countries around the world because of the price but lacks long term durability. |
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| CPVC - Used as a hot/cold water supply pipe in many countries around the world because of the price but lacks long term durability. |
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| PEX - Is cross-linked polyethylene tubing and has become the standard in new home construction. PEX comes in a variety of colors and is used for plumbing and heating purposes. |
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| Galvanized pipe - May still be found in many homes but is seldom used anymore because of water discoloration, cost and difficult repairs. |
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Types of household drainage pipes
| ABS - A hard walled black plastic drain pipe used extensively in North America. |
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| PVC - A hard walled white plastic drain pipe used throughout the world. |
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| Cast iron - A very common drain pipe in older homes but is no longer used in residential plumbing. |
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| Galvanized pipe - Common in many older homes and prone to maintenance. Easily discernable by the silver to whitish color and threaded fittings. |
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| Copper DWV - A hard walled copper drain, waste and vent pipe(DWV) that was commonly used in older homes. Still commonly used in commercial and industrial construction, but to pricey for residential. |
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