Your house is nothing more than a system, using pipes, lines, and wires to make it run effectively. When everything is working, you probably don’t give it a second thought. But if one thing goes wrong, you will quickly find out how much you depend on those pipes, lines, and wires. Your plumbing is a vital part of your life – you and your family use it all of the time. The plumbing pipes you have running in your walls and beneath your home make up your plumbing system and can come in a variety of materials. These pipes connect to your city’s water and sewage pipes and interconnect in your home in various ways. Your gas lines are also considered to be a part of your plumbing.

Depending on the year of your home’s construction and what part of the country you live, plumbing pipes use the following materials:

• PVC – These pipes are one of the most popular plumbing pipes today. PVC pipes do not clog as easily as other pipes and they are more affordable.

• Steel – Most modern gas lines use steel. Without proper installation and material, your gas lines could be dangerous.

• Copper – Copper is often used for water lines. Although it is still a popular choice for plumbing, the price of copper is on the rise. Therefore, the use of copper in plumbing drainage is declining as people find cheaper alternatives, such as PVC.

• WARDFLEX – This flexible material sees usage when conventional piping isn’t usable. It works well for remodeling due to the fact that it can be fished through walls. However, this material is much more expensive.

• Clay tile – You can often see clay tile pipes in older homes. If you have clay tile pipes in your home, you should have them replaced. This type of piping is out-of-date when it comes to plumbing standards and there are many other choices that are better.

• Cast iron – Cast iron pipes mainly see use in drain systems. Although most often found in older homes (like clay tile pipes), these pipes are generally worth replacing because of the better materials modern pipes use.

• Lead – Lead pipes were used in older homes as water lines. Today, we have a better understanding of the dangers of lead, so these lines should always be replaced. Lead is a dangerous substance, especially to small children.

Check with the city you live in with regards to what piping you can use. The City of Chicagoland code requires cast iron and copper for any building four stories or more, as well as any building that has commercial use. Let Quality Plumbing Services help you decide what are the correct, code compliant pipes to use in your home to make it safe and reliable. Call us at 630-227-0200 or visit our website at www.qualityplumbingchicago.com!

By zachadmachinescom