Plumbing projects can be very daunting, especially if you’re new to DIY plumbing. There are so much you need to learn before you can become successful in your projects. So if you’re currently in the middle of changing old piping or doing some minimal home renovations, you’ll want to know the different types of plumbing piping used today. The first step you need to do is to know what materials are used for piping. In all honesty, it can be a challenging task. But you can make it easier by knowing what these pipes are about.

If you’re planning to shop pipes and fittings, know what these pipes will be used for. Will it be for draining water? Delivering it? Is it used indoor or outdoor? These will all come into play when choosing the right pipings. So let’s get to know the most commonly used pipings here.

PVC Pipes

One of the most popular pipings commonly used in all parts of the world is PVC pipes. And when it comes to choosing suitable plumbing pipes, the PVC stands out among the rest because it’s low cost, has minimal weight, can be easily installed, and has excellent structural integrity. PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride, which is plastic piping that uses a system of pipes and fittings joined together to transport liquid. Another fantastic quality of PVC is it never rusts and insulates more effectively than metal piping. However, it’s not the best choice for hot water since it will easily melt.

CPVC Pipes

CPVC pipes or chlorinated polyvinyl chloride is a PVC pipe that has gone through extra chlorination. It solves PVC’s significant problems, such as being able to handle higher temperatures. As a result, it’s safer for hot water applications. It’s also ideal for drinking water. Even though it’s more expensive than PVC, it’s still reasonably priced. It is a fantastic low-cost plumbing option that can operate as the primary pipe material for a building’s plumbing system. It’s so useful that it’s used to replace copper pipes when being repaired or updated.

PEX Pipes

PEX or cross-linked polyethylene is a type of plastic tubing that’s constructed from high-density polyethylene. Though it’s relatively new in the world of plumbing, it doesn’t mean it’s not famous. Two of its best qualities is it’s very durable and can withstand higher temperatures and pressures. It’s also very inexpensive, much lesser compared to buying copper pipings. And the best quality of them all is that PEX is very flexible. That means it can be bent, curved, and snaked to get to corners without the use of fittings. Therefore installation is much easier when you use PEX.

Currently, these are three of the most popular and most used types of pipings today. So if you’re in the middle of your plumbing DIY project, make sure to check out these three!