Tips For Dealing With Dissimilar Pipe Connections
3 min readIf you have an older home, your plumbing system was probably made with pipes that aren’t frequently used today. That means that if you need to do any upgrades or repairs to your home’s plumbing, you most likely will need to join two different types of pipes together.
Dissimilar pipe connections can be a little bit challenging to deal with. The key is to find the right fittings to make the connection. Most hardware stores carry a wide variety of fittings, many of which are designed to accommodate different types of pipes. For instance, there are fittings that are designed to join copper pipes to old galvanized metal water pipes. You can also find fittings that will allow you to join PVC pipes to metal pipes.
When choosing a fitting, you need to make sure that it is sized properly for the pipes that you plan to join together. If you don’t have a lot of experience working with plumbing pipes, this can be a little bit difficult. Fortunately, most hardware stores have experts on hand who can help you determine exactly what you need to get the proper fit.
Before heading to the store, take accurate measurements of the pipes that you plan to join together. That way, you can choose a fitting that is the right size.
Another thing you need to think about when joining two different types of pipes is how the materials will work when they are joined together. Some materials are more compatible than others. For instance, galvanized metal water pipes are coated with zinc. If you try to attach a copper pipe directly to one of these pipes, the zinc can cause the copper to break down over time, which could lead to leaks.
There are a couple of different ways to handle the situation. One option is to use a PVC pipe instead of a copper pipe. Alternatively, you also may be able to use a brass nipple to join the two pieces together. This keeps the zinc from coming in contact with the copper, helping to prevent problems.
Because dissimilar pipe connections can be challenging to deal with, you may want to think twice before tackling them on your own. This is one situation where you may find it beneficial to hire a professional plumber. Even though paying for a plumber can be quite expensive, it could wind up saving you money in the long run by preventing any problems with the connections.
In most older homes, you will eventually have to deal with a situation involving pipes that are made out of two different types of materials. Fortunately, there are a lot of products on the market that are designed to address issues like these. This is particularly true for common situations like joining an ABS pipe to an old sewer line or connecting copper and galvanized pipes.
If you have any trouble figuring out how to make the connection, you can either get advice at your local hardware store or you can hire a plumber to do the job for you.
