Whether you are a professional plumber or someone who likes to do their own projects around the home, you want to make sure you use the correct parts while performing the job. Perhaps, you are installing a new waterline or repairing damaged piping, you need to know the various components available to help you successfully complete the project. When it comes to working with pipes, you may find that they are made out of metal, plastic, or flexible tubing. Tubing that bends is a great way to run a line since it is able to be manipulated to turn around corners or curve upwards if you need it to. However, not all piping can bend such as PVC or copper piping. In these circumstances, you have to rely on PVC fittings to create the angle you need or to connect two pipes together.
What is a Fitting
Pipe fittings are used to join two or more pieces of piping together. These fittings make it possible for you to run them through the ceilings, around corners, or even underground. It is important that you select the right fitting to make the project you are working on a success. You will need to consider the size of the pipes you are using and what type of materials they are created from. If you do not use the right connector, you may experience a problem later when the fitting fails. The last thing you want to experience is a flooded floor simply because the pipes were not secured together properly.
Types of Connections
- Threaded come in male and female that need to be threaded together to secure the piping.
- Crimp is when a ring is secured around the pipe after the fitting has been placed inside the pipe.
- Compression uses a nut and ferrule to help connect the pipe together.
- Sweat will require you to use a filler material that is soldered onto the pipe.
- Push-to-Connect is the easiest and quickest way to connect the fitting to the pipe.
- Flare is connected to a pipe that has been flared with a flare nut and fitting.
- Solvent weld is either male of female and then connected together with a quick drying solvent cement to secure it in place.