What Is Pipe Fittings (Plumbing Fittings)?
Pipe Fittings are plumbing work components that help in changing the direction of the flow of water such as elbows, tees. To change the size of pipe in plumping such as reducers, reducing tees. To stop the water flow at the dead-end of the plumbing lines such as couplings and Caps.
There are various types of pipe fitting used in plumbing fittings. plumbing Fittings used in plumbing work are listed below.
Types of Pipe Fittings
Following are the Pipe Connectors or plumbing fitting types,
1. Adaptor
Adaptors are mainly used for extending pipe runs in the forward direction with the same or different diameters. By using an adapter we can connect two dissimilar pipes in the same run.
Adaptors’ function is generally similar to pipe couplings, with the difference that they connect pipes of different types, one of which is an IPS (Iron Pipe Size).
It may have female or male IPS or threads on one end of the opposite gender on the other end, which need to be welded or soldered onto a smaller pipe. Adapters can be used for various utilities, but they are typically used to connect different pipes to fixtures.
2. Barb
A barb is generally used to connect hoses to pipes.
It is essential to have a male at one end and on the other end has a barbed tube, which is a ridged and tapered cone.
Plastic barbs are used when it needs to carry cold water and brass if they carry hot water.
3. Coupling
It is mainly used to connect the two piles of the same diameter. Couplings can also be used to fix pile leakage or broken problem.
Couplings have two mains types named compression coupling and slip coupling. Compression coupling is mostly used to connect two pipes and it is able to prevent leakage by the arrangement of gaskets or rubber seals on both sides, otherwise, glue is provided.
Slip coupling has two pipes that are arranged as one into another. It is made up such that the inner pipe can slide up to some length. So, we can solve the problem of long length damaged pipe by slip coupling.
Plumbing Fittings Types
Read More: Plumbing Valves and Types of Plumbing Valves
4. Cross-type
Cross-type pipe fitting has 4 vents or opening in all 4 directions and there are perpendicular to each other. This type of fitting is used when there are 4 pipes that are meeting at the same point.
These types of pipe fitting must be made from strong material as it has to bear more stress. These stresses come from the point where all 4 pipes connect from different directions. These types of pipe fitting are majorly used in the sprinkler system.
5. Double Tapped Bushing
The double-tapped bushing is one type of nipple itself, but it has to thread on both the inside and the outside.
It is named as double-tapped bushing because of its center hole is threaded (tapped) from both top and bottom.
It has only a female end. (Types of Pipe Fittings)
6. Elbow
It is generally used to change the direction of the pipe run. Elbows are available in different angles 22.5º 45 º and 90 º. Normal types of elbows are used for a pipe of the same diameter and reducer types of elbows are used when diversion is to be done for a pipe of different diameters.
They are made from different materials. Elbows are mostly available with female threads and we can fix them by butt or socket welding also.
7. Mechanical Sleeve
Mechanical pipe sleeves are generally used to connect two pipes by a screw or other fixtures. This arrangement makes it easy to fix and repair.
The mechanical sleeves are mostly manufactured from a rubber material that is inserted inside a metal jacket (stainless steel clamp).
As we tight the mechanical sleeves claim, it compresses the rubber inside to make a tight seal. (Types of Pipe Fittings)
8. Nipple
It is the most useful pipe fixture in the plumbing system. The nipple is not connected to two pipes, but it connects two pipe fittings together.
It is a small pipe fitting that can be made of metals such as copper, brass or steel, or chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC).
A nipple with continuous threading, then it is called a closed nipple. The nipple is available in males and comes in varying lengths.
9. Reducer
The fitting used to make a larger flow area smaller is called a reducer. It has two types one is concentric reducer joins two pipes on the same axis, and the eccentric reducer is used to join pipes of different diameters.
The concentric reducer mostly has a cone shape while eccentric reducers look somewhat like bells with offset center lines. They prevent air bubbles in the pipes. (Types of Pipe Fittings)
10. Tee
It is has shaped like the letter “T.” it has an inlet and outlet. Tees are available in different sizes and are considered sturdier than the cross fitting.
A diverter type of Tee is used in heating systems that use water. This Tees has the directional marking and needs to be installed correctly for the system to operate.
11. Union
It can have both male and female threads. Unionsomehow similar to couplings, but the difference is unions are easy to remove making them convenient for maintenance or a planned future replacement.
A coupling nature is more permanent and needs to be cut out.
Generally, it has three parts: nut, male end, and female end. It is mainly utilized to join the male and female ends.
12. Valve
Valves allow mainly used to regular or stop the flow to fluid in a pipe. There are various types of valves such as throttling, non-return, and isolation. Non-return valves only allow the liquid to flow in one direction and are often found in drains. They’re also called check valves.
Isolation valves are an important part of the plumbing system so that the system can be serviced or maintained. These valves have the nature of left open or left closed all the time. However, they are mostly used in an emergency, they should be checked now and then to see if they’re operational.
Throttling valves are likely used to control the pressure and amount of fluid. Because this valve experiences the stresses mechanism, they tend to wear out faster than other valves. Generally, these types of valves are installed near isolation valves.
Plumbing Fittings Types
13. Wye
Wyes type of pipe fitting resembles the letter “Y,” this fitting is made to connect three pipes.
Wye fittings permit the pipes to change their elevations and to branch out into freshwater lines or drains.
Wyes fittings are somehow similar to Tee but the smoother angling reduces friction and turbulence in the water. It is mainly used to connect a vertical drain pipe to a horizontal one.
14. Cap
It has almost similar utility to a plug.
But the main difference is that the plug contains male threads and the cap contains female threads which are screws on the male thread of the pipe.
They are manufactured from different materials like rubber, copper, steel, plastic, etc.
15. Olet
Olets types of pipe fitting are generally utilized where there are standard sizes of fittings that are not suitable for our requirement. If there is inlet pipe size is larger compared to outlet pipes in t-sections then also Olets are used.
There are different types of lots available. Some important types of lots are:
- Butt-Weldolet
- Socket weld Olet
- Threaded olet
- Elbow olet
16. Plug
The plug is one of the most important accessories of a plumbing system which is generally used to close pipe opening during inspections and repairs.
Plug most has male threads.
FAQs:
Types of Pipe Fittings
Piping fittings types are as follows:
1. Adaptor
2. Barb
3. Coupling
4. Cross
5. Double Tapped Bushing
6. Elbow
7. Mechanical Sleeve
8. Nipple
9. Reducer
10. Tee
11. Union
12. Valve
13. Wye
14. Cap
15. Olet
16. Plug
How do you connect two pipes together?
Two pipes are connected together by using plumbing or piping fittings. Pipes of the same or different sizes are fitted together through the use of piping fittings such as Adaptor, Barb, Coupling, etc.
Is a coupling a fitting?
Obviously, Coupling is one of the types of plumbing or piping fittings. It is mainly used to connect the two piles of the same diameter. Couplings can also be used to fix pile leakage or broken problem. Couplings have two mains types named compression coupling and slip coupling.
Types of Plumbing Fittings
Plumbing fitting types are as follows,
1. Adaptor
2. Barb
3. Coupling
4. Cross
5. Double Tapped Bushing
6. Elbow
7. Mechanical Sleeve
8. Nipple
9. Reducer
10. Tee
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