All pipes used for all utilities at homes combined are called Home pipes. These pipes are required to carry water, waste, conduits for electrical & data wiring, air conditioning drains and piped gas.
On this page, we will restrict our discussion to water pipes and drainage pipes.
Pipes are used in transporting drinking water. They are used in water distribution networks where the water is treated before distribution and chlorinated to prevent contamination.
There are broadly two categories of pipes being used for homes. One for water piping and other drainage piping.
These are pipes which supplies water throughout the house. These are all pressure class piping and material selection shall depend upon their use for cold water only or for hot and cold water.
PVC water pipes are relatively economical and are meant for cold water only. The advantages of PVC water pipes are that they do not corrode or scale and last long. Further they are easy to install and handle.
In some places plumbing is done as a combination of PVC water pipes for cold water and CPVC pipes for hot water. Although such combinations help reduce plumbing cost for end users however plumbers installing such systems must take utmost care not to make mistakes which might cause issues later.
In India CPVC Pipes are being most extensively for hot and cold water plumbing. These pipes can withstand hot water upto 93 Deg C, do not corrode or scale, are easily to install and are suitable for potable water applications. Joining is done using CPVC solvent cements and is fast, easy and leak-free. Due these reasons these pipes have becomes plumbers and home owners number one choice.
Traditionally GI pipes were used for this application however since the last two decades they have been fast and almost completely replaced by polymer piping. GI pipes are prone to corrosion and scaling.
PPR also is being used for hot and water application. PPR jointing is done using heat welding method and requires power and welding machines at site.
Due to this reason its use has steadily waned overtime and most manufacturers of PPR have switched to offering CPVC and UPVC based plumbing systems.
These pipes are the latest entrants in India for plumbing. They use the crimp or compression technology for making joints. Currently they use remains limited to few residential projects across India.
These pipes are used for soil, rain water and waste disposal purposes throughout homes. Depending upon preferences many types of drainage pipes are available:
PVC pipes are light weight, easy to install and last long. These are available in solvent jointing type and rubber ring jointing types.
Traditionally these were used for drainage however their use has become substantially reduced and are limited to very few construction projects across India.
These are the latest entrants in India and feature low noise transmittance for relatively silent spaces inside buildings.