Water supply from metal materials
Until recently, steel tubes were the most widespread, but now they are used much less often. The greatest argument for their use is environmental friendliness and reliability, proven by time. Also to the pluses are: the ability to keep high pressure and temperature, small expansion during heating. However, all these advantages are not decisive factors in the choice.
In addition, there are serious disadvantages: heavy weight, gradual narrowing of the inner diameter due to the action of corrosion, the complexity of installation and ugly appearance. Many note the steel taste of water, which does not honor steel pipes. When deciding which pipes to choose for water supply, many stop at a variant of copper. It is very common in Western Europe.
This kind of love for this material is not accidental, because the copper system easily tolerates heat and pressure, has bactericidal properties, resistance to corrosion and high plasticity. However, copper is considered a new material in the sphere of domestic use, and there are no specific data on its exploitation. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the disadvantages of such pipes:
- Copper is connected with toxic substances( copper sulfate);
- They are subjected to destruction from a stray current;
- Chlorinated water actively interacts with copper, adversely affecting its properties;
Note! The copper pipeline is oriented to the supply of distilled water.
Water supply from plastic materials
The choice of a pipe for water supply is not limited only to metal materials. Today, one of the most popular are plastic pipes. They are easy to install, durable, not corroded, their cost is low. They are sold in gray and standard length of 4 meters. This is quite convenient, because with a long section of connections will be less, but with transportation problems can arise.
The strong thermal expansion of plastic can be considered a disadvantage. Therefore, when the pipes are embedded in the walls, it is necessary to use a pipe-in-pipe system or a pipe in a plastic sleeve, so that there is a supply of space. Drawing conclusions, we can safely say that plastic home water supply is the most rational solution of all options.
An alternative to plastic is a metal plastic. It consists of three layers: external( dense plastic), medium( aluminum) and internal( food plastic).Aluminum layer is necessary to reduce the temperature expansion and add strength. The material is easily bent and simply assembled. The disadvantages are the high cost of the material.
Note! Plastic and metal plastic are more acceptable materials for domestic water supply, but their durability is much less than that of metal pipes.
General advice when buying
Having decided which pipes are better for water supply, we will consider some basic recommendations when purchasing the material:
- It is necessary to check the availability of the certificate from the seller, without it it is not recommended to make a purchase;
- Inspect the materials and ensure that the product meets its technical specifications;
- Calculating the cost, you should take into account the cost of connectors, because the price for them can be more than the pipes themselves;
- Operating conditions must be taken into account in advance in order to take measures to protect against external factors.
Important! The longevity of the system must be calculated taking into account the life of all the elements, not just the pipes. Choosing the best pipes for water supply and the place where they will be purchased, get everything you need right away so that there are no unforeseen problems in the future.
