Where and how can polypropylene water pipes be used

Polymeric materials today have become an excellent alternative to metal pipelines, especially in water supply. Such products are made from a random copolymer of polypropylene (PPRC). Due to the design features, it is possible to make the installation of pipelines for the supply of hot and cold water, absolutely not thinking about their integrity. Here we will talk about such products further.

What we know about them

1. The material withstands standard pressures for water supply networks, as well as temperatures up to 95? С, if the flow is constant, and about 110? С for its short-term fluctuations.

1. If the water in the pipe freezes, the product will not burst, such as metal, but will remain unharmed. This is due to the property of polypropylene to expand simultaneously with the frozen medium and to return back after thawing.
2. You can assemble a summer water supply system in the country from polypropylene pipes, create a system for supplying hot and cold water to a house from a central water supply system or a boiler, use products to supply coolant in a heating system to radiators.

The cost of installing plumbing from polypropylene pipes depends on various factors. You do not want to pay specialists - do it yourself, especially since this work is simple.

Kinds

Polypropylene pipes are of the following types:

Tip: since the products PN10, 16, 20 and 25 increase their linear dimensions as the temperature rises, we recommend mounting them with a device for sliding supports and various compensators.

In heating systems of dwellings and industrial buildings reinforced PP pipes are used. They have a linear elongation at a temperature of 60? С is significantly less than the elongation of similar products of the previous types. Their price is higher than unreinforced products.

Diameter

When you decide to install plumbing pipes made of polypropylene pipes with your own hands for a house or apartment, you need to determine the diameter of the products. For example, the most common sizes of water pipes made of polypropylene - 20 mm, 25 mm and 32 mm. We recommend to pick them up, taking into account the diameters of the nozzles of your soldering iron.

There are other sizes - OO 40 mm, 50 mm, 63 mm, 75 mm and 90 mm. 110 mm is a common diameter for a sewer pipe; however, not all standard soldering irons can have such nozzles.

Tip: we recommend you first buy a soldering iron and only then begin to select the appropriate diameter for plumbing and heating systems, based on the size of the available nozzles.

The cost of laying a water pipe made of polypropylene pipes depends on the depth of the trench, the length and complexity of the work. You can save a lot of money if you do it yourself.

Installation of water supply

Plumbing of polypropylene pipes is carried out after the calculation of all the necessary parameters and selection of equipment for the work.

The process takes place in the following sequence:

1. Remove the old pipe.
2. Cut the pipe lengths of the required length, based on the presented scheme.
3. Install at the ends of products connecting couplings, if plastic pipes must be connected to steel fittings or highways.
4. Weld the elements of the reinforcement polyfuse method.
5. Install shut-off valves.
6. Stitch channels in pipe walls or make holes for mounting hardware.
7. Install the pipes for water supply PP in place.

Features of the installation process

1. To connect PP pipes with metal network elements - mixers, steel lines, filters or meters, use fittings with metal inserts.
2. During the connection, the threads must be sealed with sanitary tape., at the same time, the tape edge when clamping should be facing in the direction of twisting.

Tip: do not make too thick a layer of winding, it will be enough to make only two turns. Also, do not overtighten the screw connection, otherwise you will damage the fitting and tear the metal insert out of the case.

1. To create a bend, use angles-fittings or heat the pipe up to 140? С with a hair dryer. Keep in mind that polypropylene can ignite when in contact with fire.
2. Expansion of polypropylene is directly dependent on the temperature of the working medium inside the pipes.. Therefore, do not forget to provide for the latter a free distance within 10 mm near the bends or tees for thermal expansion.
3. During installation in the wall, it is necessary to make a strobe of such a diameter that it is possible to put insulation on the pipe and leave a gap around it.
4. When choosing products made of polypropylene for heating or hot water, remember that inside they must have a metal sheath. Thanks to this design, it is possible to reduce their thermal expansion by almost 5 times. For cold water supply, thermal compensators are not needed at all.

Tip: although PP pipes easily withstand freezing, metal shut-off valves and network elements do not allow it. Because of this, we recommend not to neglect the discharge of water at the onset of the cold season.

Soldering technology

The work is simple, but it requires concentration and accuracy, otherwise it will be necessary to redo everything anew, and the spoiled place will not be restored.

The instruction works such:

1. Install the nozzle of the required diameter in the first stage into the soldering iron. As mentioned above, the pipes are selected on the basis of these parameters. Arrange them at your discretion, as long as it is convenient for you. It does not matter much.

Tip: it is allowed to clean the nozzles only with a wooden scraper, because they are sprayed with a non-stick layer of Teflon.

1. Set a working temperature of 260? С on the soldering iron. It will warm up to it in about 7 minutes, after which the device will constantly support it.
2. Cut at right angles the pipe of the desired length with your own hands.
3. Put on both the fitting and the pipe at the already heated nozzles.

Tip: do not be in a hurry, as the time for heating the products depends on their diameter, the more the latter, the longer the process should last.

Place the pipe in the nozzle to heat it outside, at the same time, put the fitting on the steam nozzle and heat it from the inside.

1. Remove the parts after they are heated, insert each other and fix in this position for 100-120 seconds. At this point, it is forbidden to rotate and move parts relative to each other.
2. If fixing parts did not happen as desired, the ends should be cut off and soldered them again.

This technology of connecting PP elements together is unlikely to become a stumbling block for the home master. The main thing - to observe the sequence of actions and accuracy in their implementation.

Conclusion

The polypropylene products that replaced the metal pipes considerably simplified the laying of the water supply system. Now you do not need the skills of a welder to independently assemble a necessary circuit for cold and hot water supply and heating in a country plot or in an apartment.

It is only necessary to follow the instructions and carry out the work carefully, taking into account the recommendations presented above. The video in this article will provide an opportunity to find additional information on the above topic.