What to choose pipes for water supply in the apartment?

In any specialty store you can find several types of pipes (plastic, steel, copper, etc.). You can choose the option for any operating conditions. But it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the work, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of pipelines from different materials.

What pipes can be used to lay water?

Pipelines can be classified according to several parameters, for example, by diameter, wall thickness, purpose. But when deciding which pipes are better for water supply in an apartment, the material from which it is made is of great importance.

Pipes suitable for plumbing are materials such as:

• steel (it is allowed to use galvanized steel);
• copper;
• polypropylene (PP);
• metal plastic;

Each of these materials has several advantages and disadvantages in terms of installation and operation. The durability of plumbing systems using these materials also varies.

Metal piping

In the past, an alternative to this material simply did not exist, therefore in old houses the water supply is guaranteed to be metallic. However, in our time, some prefer the classics and choose the metal, rather than plastic.

The reason for this choice may be the following characteristics of the steel pipeline:

• Steel is very durable and at the same time plastic material. Thanks to this, the pipe can withstand even considerable mechanical stress, and even a blow, without any special problems. Cast iron, for example, in such a situation will simply crack, and polypropylene will sag;

• If the steel is coated with a protective coating, for example, galvanized, then corrosion does not threaten the pipe, and the durability may well reach half a century;
• A lot of fittings are being produced, so installing your own system will not cause complications.;
• It can be used for both cold and hot water..

Skeptics give their reasons, mentioning in particular about:

• corrosion of unprotected metal;

• complexity of installation. For a welded joint, at least minimal skills are needed, and threaded ones are not so reliable;
• electrical conductivity of the metal. In case of emergency, this can be a source of danger for households;
• repair of water supply pipes in the apartment is rather laborious.

Note! If the plumbing and heating system in the house of steel, it is forbidden to use aluminum and copper elements. The currents resulting from the operation of the galvanic couple will quickly destroy the docking place.

With regard to the choice of a specific size, attention should be paid to GOST 3262-75. In this standard, in addition to the basic requirements for water and gas pipes, their parameters are also indicated.

Copper pipes

The main advantage of copper plumbing can be considered absolute corrosion resistance, besides deposits within the copper pipeline are missing, that is, the throughput does not decrease with time. Thanks to this, the pipe cleaning in the apartment will most likely not be needed.

The advantages of copper plumbing can also be attributed to the excellent appearance. It is for this reason that pipes are often not even masked, but play the role of an interior element.

But there is this material and disadvantages:

• the cost of the copper pipeline is high;
• copper is easily deformed;
• The installation of pipes in the apartment is not very simple. For plumbing most often used connection by soldering, such a joint is very sensitive enough to the slightest deformation and takes a lot of time.

As for the regulatory requirements and sizes, they are listed in GOST 617-2006. This document replaced the outdated GOST 617-90.

Polypropylene plumbing

Polypropylene is a fairly promising material. Its characteristics allow the use of PP for the production of pipes operating in the pressure mode.

The prevalence of PP pipeline caused several factors:

• low cost and availability, the price of such pipes is much less than, for example, copper. You can buy them in almost any sanitary ware shop;
• sufficient strength;

Note! Under the influence of a temperature of about 80 - 90 ° C, polypropylene becomes quite pliable, so long horizontal sections of the water supply system may sag. This must be considered at the design stage.

• easy installation. PP pipes are connected by soldering, but this process is much easier than welding steel or brazing copper. If the instruction for welding PP is followed, then the connection is sealed;
• plastic does not corrode, and in case of damage to the pipe section, it can be replaced without any problems.

Among the shortcomings, it is possible to distinguish only a rather high linear expansion coefficient (relevant for distributing water supply pipes for supplying hot water) and the fact that the joints are integral. However, pipe reinforcement solves the problem of expansion when heated.

As for the regulatory requirements, in the case of plastics, the regulatory framework is extremely scarce.

You can select only 2 standards:

• GOST R 52134-2003 - describes the requirements for pipes of thermoplastics, working in the pressure mode;
• GOST 26996-86 - attention is paid to the properties of the polypropylene itself.

When choosing a PP pipe, you must first pay attention to the labeling.

There are such brands as:

• PN10 - it is allowed to use only for a water supply system with cold water;
• PN16 - is quite rare, has a greater wall thickness. It is better not to apply for water supply, if its temperature exceeds 70-80? С;
• PN20 - used to supply both cold and hot water. These pipes can also be found with aluminum foil reinforcement;

• PN25 - reinforced with fiberglass, can also be used for plumbing and heating systems.

PP pipeline is so easy to use that some people try to use it not only for laying plumbing. But to use it, for example, as plastic pipes for gas in the apartment is not worth it. The fact is that gas molecules will easily leak through the walls.

For pipelines used plastic pipe. It is a bit like a garden hose, just as flexible and lightweight. A special polymer and reinforcing sheath is used that prevents it from bending over.

Theoretically, such pipes can be used to organize water supply, but excessive flexibility only creates additional problems. And its price is much higher.

Metal pipes

The metal-plastic pipeline is a bit like a reinforced PP pipe in structure. Between the two layers of polyethylene is a metal layer. This is where the similarities end, and in terms of performance, they are quite different.

The first significant difference is in the method of connection - if the PP pipeline can be simply soldered with your own hands, then the metal-plastic material is connected exclusively with compression fittings for pipes (or a threaded connection is used).

In addition, metal-plastic very poorly tolerate constant temperature drops. The coefficients of linear expansion of the materials of which it consists, are very different, so soon leaks are formed at the joints. It is for this reason that he has quite lost ground in recent years.

About the operation of water supply

One of the most important parameters that affect the durability of the water supply system can be considered the pressure in the system. On the one hand, it should be sufficient to supply water with the required pressure, on the other hand, it must be borne in mind that with increasing pressure, the service life of pipes decreases. The graph shows that in this case the water supply system will work for about 40 - 50 years.

The golden mean can be considered the pressure in the pipes of water supply in the apartment in the range of 1 - 3 bar. In this case, of course, it is necessary to take into account the temperature of the liquid, the higher it is, the faster the pipeline wears out. That is why heating and hot water supply systems wear out faster than cold water supply.

Note! Quite often in a water supply system, pressure varies over a wide range, this also does not benefit him. This problem can be solved with the help of a hydro accumulator.

The hydro accumulator is a simple container inside divided into 2 zones by an elastic partition. When the pressure jumps, the partition expands, a portion of the water is squeezed into the chamber, and the pressure drop in the system is smoothed.

Summarizing

The durability of the water supply depends not only on how well the technology was observed, but also on the correct selection of pipes. The material given in this article will allow you to choose a pipeline that perfectly meets all requirements.

The video in this article discusses the popular types of pipes for plumbing in the apartment.