Most types of metal piping can be constructed to varying diameters. Most piping is available with threads or couplings, allowing easy connection to other pipes. Copper piping as well as steel piping and most other types of piping is resistant to rot. Most metals like copper and steel are very ductile, which means that under pressure, they bend instead of break. Piping made of steel is some of the strongest piping available to consumers. Since most metals have high melting points, they can be employed to transport liquids that are very hot. Piping made out of many metals like copper do not encourage bacterial growth.
Metal piping does, unfortunately, offer certain drawbacks. Some consumers may notice a metallic taste linked with the potable water drawn through their copper plumbing. Certain types of metal piping are not designed for transporting acidic solutions. Pinhole leaks can appear in copper piping that has been employed to transport acidic solutions. Perhaps one of the biggest disadvantages linked with metal piping is that it can be very expensive to purchase. Metal piping can also be very heavy, especially steel piping.
Galvanizing a metal makes the metal more resistant to corrosion in the presence of moisture. The idea behind galvanizing involves coating a metal work piece with a layer of corrosion-resistant material like zinc. Hot-dip galvanizing is one of the simplest and most widely employed methods of galvanizing. This process involves simply dipping a metal work piece into a vat of liquid zinc. Hot-dip galvanizing is a very effective method of adding increased corrosion-resistance to a metal.
Certain types of metal piping are designed for seemingly endless applications while others are designed for specific applications. Steel piping is widely employed in the automobile, oil, shipping, food and petroleum industries. Steel piping can be found everywhere from oil refineries to schools. Certain grades of steel pipe, aluminum pipe, copper pipe and yellow brass pipe are designed to transport gases. Yellow brass piping is almost exclusively used in indoor gas transportation applications. Drainage piping is often constructed out of steel. Copper piping is widely used in homes and building to transport potable water.