Plastic pipes for water supply. Sizes and prices in the domestic market
When arranging any water supply system, whether it is a common branch in a panel house or a complex scheme with a pumping station of a private house, questions arise: which is better, metal or plastic pipes for water supply, the sizes and prices of the required materials, whether they correspond to your capabilities, whether to hire specialists or cope on your own. If you are installing a metal system, how do you deliver bulky and heavy materials? In this article, you can find the answer to an important question, which pipes to choose for plumbing in an apartment or private house. Let's start our analysis!
The modern market offers a wide variety of both the pipes themselves and various fittings
The content of the article
What types of pipes are there for water supply
In the domestic market since the 90s of the twentieth century, there has been a rise in the popularity of plastic pipes for water supply. The size and price of this material allow them to compete with metal pipes.
They come in many varieties:
- PVC products;
Varieties of polyvinyl chloride pipes
- HDPE pipes;
Varieties of HDPE samples produced
- Cross-linked polyethylene (LDPE - high pressure polyethylene). HDPE subspecies adapted for hot water supply;
Plastic pipes sewn type production
- Reinforced plastic products;
Plastic pipes with metal filling
Positive and negative characteristics of each species
Basically, all types of plastic pipes have similar positive qualities, such as:
- Unlike metal products, plastic products are not subject to oxidation and rust;
- When assembling the heating system, it is possible to use both polypropylene, cross-linked plastic, and metal-plastic (HDPE is not used);
- Variety of products. Any diameter of plastic pipes for water supply is produced;
- Frost resistance. PVC, XLPE and HDPE can withstand temperatures down to -10 aboutC, even if filled with water, due to its plasticity. That is, sudden frosts will not destroy your summer water supply. Metalloplast does not have frost resistance, even the slightest freezing leads to cracking;
- Light weight. There is, of course, a difference, but in comparison with metal opponents, it is not at all significant. You can easily deliver 100 meters of any plastic pipe by car;
- Availability. Present in almost any hardware store;
- Anti-static. Do not conduct electrical current.
- Lifetime. In the absence of mechanical damage and subject to correct installation, all plastic products are capable of serving at least 40-50 years;
- Hydraulic resistance. All types cope with water hammer in their own way;
- If you have a tool and basic skills, it is possible to mount plastic pipes for water supply with your own hands (with the exception of complex schemes).
Note! It is worth noting that the press jointing tool has a rather impressive price.
Related article:
Water pipe heating cable. Owners of private houses with an individual water supply system in winter are faced with the problem of freezing pipeline sections. To avoid it, you can mount a heating cable. How to choose it correctly, read the article.
Characteristics of PVC pipes for water supply: sizes and prices
There are two main abbreviations: PVC and PVC-U. In essence, they are the same material - polyvinyl chloride. The letter "H" stands for - not plasticity. That is, the base is the same, but with the addition of plasticizers, the product acquires the property of plasticity. They are popularly called polypropylene pipes.
Positive characteristics:
- Affordable price;
- An uncomplicated way of connection and installation;
- Operating pressure 6 - 16 bar.
Negative sides:
- Ultraviolet intolerance. The structure is destroyed in direct sunlight, the material becomes brittle. Cracks under mechanical stress. In the case of installing a garden water supply system, the pipeline is either buried in the ground or covered with protective materials;
Insulation can serve as protection against ultraviolet radiation
- The connections are unstable. When using low-quality equipment or, in the case of inexperience of the master, the pipe joints decrease in the inner diameter. That is, if the installer overheats the material, the throughput of the pipe will decrease and you will not be able to check its operation, since the joint looks perfect from the outside. The only way is to check the water pressure at the tap;
- Operating temperature. At a coolant temperature above 60 aboutWith a pipe not intended for DHW melts. There are specialized, fiberglass or aluminum reinforced samples;
Melted single layer PVC pipe in hot water supply is not the best option
Reinforced polypropylene
- Thermal expansion. As the temperature rises, the product increases its length. This factor is compensated by specialized structural elements. In case of incorrect installation of heating, the pipes sag.
Polypropylene compensating element
An example of deformation and sagging
- Combustion produces toxic gases.
Note! Pipes reinforced with aluminum tend to delaminate over time due to frequent temperature changes. This effect was not observed for pipes with fiberglass.
Briefly about the marking of PVC pipes
Each product has a marking. It is designed to separate areas of application.
Characteristic designation table
Applications of PVC products:
- РРН - cold water supply;
- RRV - for high pressure water supply and risk of water hammer;
- PPR - for hot water installation;
- PPs - when assembling DHW with a heating medium temperature up to 95 about FROM.
Operating pressure:
- PN10, PN16 - cold water supply;
- PN20, PN25 - hot water supply.
There are 2 and 4 meter PVC pipes for water supply, sizes and prices correlate with each other in direct proportion. That is, a 2-meter pipe costs 100 rubles on average, and a 4-meter pipe costs 200 rubles.
Note! Despite all the positive qualities and advertising statements of manufacturers, it is strongly not recommended to mount PVC products in a closed or hard-to-reach space, since the joints can leak after a long time: from 3 months to 2 years.
Metal-plastic
This type is quite complex in structure, it includes five layers.
Variety of metal-plastic in section
Apart from metal competitors, it has the highest price, including the cost of installation. But the quality of the products, the reliability of the connections make up for these expenses. It is used when installing underfloor heating and closed-type water pipes. That is, metal-plastic is the most credible material for closed-type works. For example, warm floor... The pipe is laid as a whole, without joints, since the coil can be up to 100 m in length.
There are two ways to connect tees:
- Fitting;
Sectional connection
Varieties of fittings
- Compression.
Connection with compression fittings
Important! With temperature fluctuations, the constituent materials change their thickness, but the aluminum layer does not expand. For this reason, a leak occurs in the tees connected by a fitting; it can be easily eliminated by turning (tightening) the nut. But after a few pull-ups, the pipe may fail.
The most common diameter is 16 mm. This type is used when installing a warm floor. Samples of all diameters accompanying private water supply are also produced: 20, 26, 32, 40mm. The change in strength characteristics with temperature changes is interesting. At an operating pressure of 10 bar, the temperature of the coolant is (0; +95), but at a pressure of 25 bar, a temperature of no more than 25 is allowed aboutC. That is, with cold water supply, the working pressure can reach 94 bar.
Abbreviation
Example of marking a multilayer pipe
The marking indicates:
- The maximum possible pressure is 10 bar;
- The highest temperature - +95aboutFROM;
- Diameter - 16 mm;
The presence in the mark (X) indicates a high quality seam.
Low pressure polyethylene - HDPE
This type of pipe is more often used in the installation of industrial sewerage, casing of water wells. But even when installing a water supply system, this type has found its application. The pipe has high strength properties. For this reason, it is often used for horizontal directional drilling (popularly a puncture under the ground).
HDD diagram working principle
It is also often used when laying a non-separable garden water supply system.
Plumbing installation
The colored stripes on the outside indicate which area the pipe is used in:
- Blue line - water supply;
- Yellow stripe - gas industry;
- No stripes are technical goals.
Bays for water supply and gas
Marking
Drinking pipe 32 diameters
The abbreviation SDR stands for the degree of internal pressure. The lower the number in the marking, the denser the material. Pipe grade PE 80 or PE 100. It is used in the construction of water supply and waste systems with a diameter of up to 90 mm.
Installation of HDPE pipe connections
Two types of joining are in demand:
- Sectional. With the use of fittings, the most common in the construction of a private water supply system;
Varieties of connecting elements
- Non-detachable. Connected by specialized welding.
Related article:
Copper pipes and fittings for plumbing in residential buildings. Although they are much more expensive than others, they have a whole set of advantages in comparison with their polypropylene and metal-plastic counterparts, which we will discuss in the article.
XLPE
The area of application is similar to metal-plastic and PVC pipes.So to say, HDPE manufacturers have created products suitable for the installation of hot water supply. The installation method is almost identical with metal-plastic:
- Fitting;
- Compression.
Varieties of PVC fasteners
Pros:
- Design flexibility;
- The length of the coil also allows the sample to be mounted without joints;
- Does not react to contact with gasoline or solvents;
- Heat carrier temperature up to 75aboutC, the service life in such conditions is 50 years, at t above 75aboutThe service life is reduced.
Negative sides:
- Ultraviolet intolerance;
- Large diameter samples are not produced;
- The material does not maintain an even shape, the open mounting method is not pleasing to the eye.
Since the production is relatively young, all the shortcomings have not yet appeared. But the affordable price and advertising of products create demand and the opportunity to buy a plastic pipe for a water supply system with high strength indicators.
Video: which pipes to choose for the water supply
Plastic pipes for water supply, sizes and prices
The table below shows the cost of pipes from some well-known manufacturers, depending on the type and diameter.
Table 1. Average cost of plastic pipes
| Logo | Manufacturer | A type | Diameter, mm | price, rub. per meter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Valteс | Pvc | 20 | 40-45 |
| Metalloplast | 16 | 45-55 | ||
 | Rexau | LDPE | 16 | 130-150 |
 | Unidelta | LDPE | 32 | 75-90 |
 | Polytek | LDPE | 32 | 55-65 |
 | Pert biope | LDPE | 16 | 25-40 |
 | Fora | Pvc | 25 | 30-45 |
Summarize
Whatever plastic pipes for water supply, sizes and prices you choose, the result will be durable only on condition of professional installation and high-quality material.
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