| Plumbing is more then just knowing how to | | | | difficult to use for beginners because it |
| connect a few pipes. Whether adding | | | | involves soldering. You will also want to |
| additional plumbing to a home or replacing | | | | become familiar with using flexible tubing. |
| some of the existing pipes, there are several | | | | Care is needed in order to make sure you |
| things to consider. First before choosing the | | | | avoid kinks that can disrupt the flow of |
| kind of pipe you will be using for a project | | | | water. |
| you will need to know what type of pipe you | | | | |
| already have in your home and what kind of | | | | In today's homes plastic PVC or ABS pipes are |
| pipe you will be connecting too. You don't | | | | used for drains. This is a much easier |
| necessarily have to use the same kinds of | | | | install then the older drain systems that use |
| pipes and you certainly can make changes, but | | | | cast-iron and it is recommended that if you |
| that will require special adapters that allow | | | | do have cast iron pipes that you replace them |
| you to go from one kind of material to | | | | with plastic. |
| another. | | | | |
| | | | Other lines that will require piping are gas |
| The pipes that carry pressurized water to the | | | | lines. While copper can be used, it should be |
| fixtures in your home are called supply | | | | used for very long lines because of the |
| lines. In most modern houses these are a | | | | potential for clogging due to a chemical |
| combination of copper and plastic. Older | | | | reaction. Instead use black steel pipes. |
| homes will usually have galvanized pipe and | | | | |
| depending on how much pipe you need to | | | | Making responsible choices for the pipes in |
| replace you may want to stick with that. It | | | | your home will save you time and money in the |
| is important to check your local building | | | | long run. Again it can't be stressed enough |
| codes when choosing pipes. Some locations | | | | please check your local building codes before |
| will not allow plastic supply lines, meaning | | | | choosing what types of pipe and piping |
| you will need to use copper. Copper is more | | | | systems you will use in your home. |