Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping is acceptable for use in drain waste vent plumbing, and it’s use in these systems is widespread. One of the reasons for that is it is relatively inexpensive, lightweight and easy to join with simple tools. PVC pipe is joined together with PVC fittings using cement. Before the cement is applied a special primer is brushed onto the surfaces to be joined.

The rigidity and toughness of the type of polyvinyl chloride used in PVC piping requires treatment by a primer, which softens the material in order to improve the adhesion of the cement bond. It also cleans the pipe of grease and dirt.

Plumbing made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic pipe is joined together with cement adhesive and fittings. Plastic pipe’s ease of joining is one of it’s advantages over copper and iron piping. It does not require soldering, so there is no danger of starting a fire when installing or repairing it as there is with copper, and unlike no-hub iron pipe, it can be worked on in areas with limited access. Joints are highly leak-resistant once cemented, the inner bore is very smooth, which helps solid waste pass and lessens frictional loss.

Water supply to a house doesn’t always come at the perfect pressure; the municipal water main pressure may be too high or too low for a home’s needs. Different regulating devices are available to compensate for the various problems with water supply pressure. The following lists the basic types of devices and their uses.

Copper pipe used in home plumbing systems is joined by soldering. Soldering, or “sweating”, as plumbers call it, creates a watertight seal at the fitting between two pipe lengths. The basic steps are- flux is applied to the outside of the copper pipe and the inside of the fitting; the fitting and pipe are then assembled and heated with a soldering torch and the solder is applied to the joint. It’s called sweating because tiny sweat-like droplets of hydrochloric acid are formed on the surface of the copper pipe when it is heated.

Plumbing pipe made from galvanized or bare steel can be threaded to mate with other threaded pipe via fittings. Specialized tools are available for cutting and threading these materials, and should be used for these jobs. The exception is that steel pipe can be cut with a reciprocating saw or hacksaw, however, a tool called the Ferrous Pipe Cutter works best. Other tools for this job are a pipe vise, pipe reamer, ratchet threader, and a machine called a mule.