How to change water pipes in an apartment. Replacing water supply risers in an apartment - what will you have to face? We connect pipes with hot welding

With your own hands, you decide. This is not difficult to do if all the necessary tools and some knowledge are available. The article discusses what material to choose for water pipes and how to change pipes in an apartment.

Changing pipes yourself is quite difficult

When is the replacement of water (sewer) pipes required?

Several signs may indicate that the moment has come when it is time to change the pipes in the apartment:

1. Clogged pipes. If the pipes are clogged, then no matter how much you break through them, you still have to change them. The reason is that over time, slag is deposited on the walls of the steel pipe, preventing the flow of water. Another reason is that the service life of steel pipes is relatively short, and most of them have not changed since the Soviet Union. When dismantled, such pipes crumble in the hands.
2. Leaks in different places. It is also better to replace seam pipes immediately than to call a welder for each new leak. They have a feature: leaks begin in different places along one seam, and after a fairly short interval of time.
3. Appearance. When planning repairs, this issue is particularly acute. Who wants their new Italian tiles to be accentuated by the "design" of an old and rusty plumbing? But modern materials allow not only to lose all problems with pipes at once, but also look neat and presentable even without packing them in a box.

The choice of material for plumbing in the apartment

If earlier water pipes were mostly made of steel, now the choice of material has expanded significantly. In order not to get confused in the choice when it is necessary to replace the water pipes in the apartment, consider the advantages and disadvantages of the materials that are used most often.

• Steel. It is better to discard this option immediately, because it has more disadvantages than advantages. The last one is reliability. But there are much more negative sides: fragility, installation features that only a professional can do, the need for a special tool, susceptibility to corrosion.
• . Already better, but installation is still complicated and requires a welding machine. But there are more advantages: anti-corrosion properties of galvanizing and durability are added to reliability.
• Metal-plastic. Positive aspects - deposits do not accumulate in the pipes; simple installation, which can be done by anyone who can more or less hold the tool in their hands; low cost. But there are also flaws: from a temperature drop or water hammer, fittings, joints, begin to leak. To fix the problem, you need to tighten them. This procedure will have to be repeated approximately once a year, so the connection points should always be freely available. In view of this, in some cases it is preferable to change the metal-plastic pipe to a more practical option.
• . Replacement of water pipes is most often carried out using this material. There are several reasons for this: high reliability (guarantee is given for up to 50 years); ease of installation; low cost of the material; does not overgrow from the inside; connections are not flowing. Diffuse welding is used to connect polypropylene pipes. This means that there is a penetration of particles from one part of the pipe into another. This method allows you to make a strong connection that does not flow even after a while. The disadvantages of the material include bulkiness due to the large wall thickness; during installation, you need to act quickly, otherwise the heated by a soldering iron and not immediately connected area becomes unusable.

Replacing the water supply also involves the installation of all additional elements of the line.

Important! When choosing a metal-plastic pipe, pay attention to some details: it must be seamless and not exfoliate. Polypropylene greatly changes its volume under the influence of high temperature. Heated to 100˚С, a ten-meter pipe increases by fifteen centimeters! This is a lot, so for hot water you need to use a reinforced pipe. This will help avoid breaks.

The subtleties of replacing the water pipe with your own hands

When you have come to the conclusion that you need to change the water pipes in the apartment, the next step is to find out where to start and how to do it. If you decide to change pipes to plastic, then the following recommendations are for you.

We change the old water shut-off valves: valves, faucet

It should be borne in mind that the replacement of the water supply begins with checking the valves at the entrance to the apartment. Most often, they no longer perform their function, so they need to be replaced. In order to change the water valve, the water in the riser is blocked.

Do-it-yourself pipe wiring

If you don’t know how to turn off the water in the apartment, the best solution would be to call a plumber, then the likelihood that one of the neighbors will turn on the water in the basement when your water supply is dismantled will be reduced to zero. Yes, and a common problem when the thread breaks off from the side of the riser will not become your headache. And for a plumber, this is an ordinary case, which he will solve in a short time.

Important! It is necessary to call the plumber officially, with the registration of the application.

Installing filters

Slag, sand, and other debris cause faucets to fail much sooner than one would expect. Therefore, the installation of filters is required. Take the simplest coarse filter, it makes no sense to take an expensive one: all he needs to perform his duties is a stainless metal mesh and a small sump in which debris accumulates.

Important! You need to install the filter with the sump down, otherwise it is useless, because it does not retain slag.

The correct and incorrect installation is shown below: the lower filter is in the correct position, but the upper one is not.

We collect threaded connections and make a riser

The thread is used when mounting the filter to the valve and when mounting the first polypropylene fitting to the filter. Let not a modern, but time-tested method - the use of linen winding and paint.

You can also use more modern materials, for example, fum tape. It doesn't need paint.

We connect polypropylene pipes

Replacing water pipes is quite feasible for non-professionals. First, polypropylene pipes need to be prepared - cut into the desired length of the segment, and only then proceed to welding. To do this, you will need a special soldering iron, which you can buy or rent.

Choose a suitable nozzle, heat the soldering iron to a temperature of 260 ° C and start welding. You need to work quickly. Now, using special plastic fasteners, fix the pipe on the wall, and the replacement of pipes in the apartment has taken place.

WATCH VIDEO

If, after reading all the recommendations, you did not dare to replace the plumbing yourself, you can find out what is the average price for replacing the plumbing in an apartment. Calling the wizard is justified if you do not want or cannot do this work yourself. Replacing the plumbing is not difficult, but requires certain skills.

You should start right away with the fact that the replacement of the water supply must be carried out completely. Some, due to financial difficulties, are trying to change individual sites. However, this is wrong, and if the decision to replace has already been made, then work will have to be done on the entire water supply system.

So, replacing the plumbing, regardless of the amount of work, requires some tools. In addition, you should carefully consider the choice of material for plumbing. Replacing water supply pipes can be done with pipes made of different materials. However, each has its own scope.

• In the case when the replacement of water pipes is hidden, it is best to use polypropylene pipes, which are reinforced with fiberglass;
• Today, metal-plastic pipes are very widespread, but the metal age is already over. However, the best at the moment of all pipes for hot water supply are polypropylene. They are better than metal-plastic ones in that the latter, with repeated repetition of the change in temperature regime, become unusable;
• As for the connections, they must be made by hand in accessible places, so that in the event of an accident they can be very easily reached and repaired;
• Replacement of water pipes in the apartment should be accompanied by the replacement of valves. You need to choose only those taps that have a ball mechanism;
• As for pipes, only those that are suitable for its characteristics should be used for plumbing. For example, the temperature of the incoming water in the apartment, the quality of this water, the availability of material resources;
• As already mentioned, for hot water supply, polypropylene products are the best option. They are able to withstand media temperatures up to 80 degrees, while being easy to operate and have an optimal price / quality ratio.

Advice! When choosing plastic pipes, special attention should be paid to their marking, since there is a type of product that is intended only for cold water supply systems.

• Replacing the water supply in the house with your own hands is often done because the old water supply system could not provide consumers with normal pressure. There can be many reasons for this. In order to ensure normal pressure even with very low pressure in the system, a device such as a booster pump is introduced into the new circuit;
• To purify water, it is necessary to install special filters. They can be part of the risers, or displayed separately. I must say that coarse filters are more suitable for risers, which will rid the water of sand, rust and similar impurities. As for thinner filters, they are placed directly under the tap.

In addition to all the listed materials, numerous rubber gaskets will be needed. And you may also need special fasteners for drains and horizontal pipes.

Preparing for the installation of a new plumbing

I must say right away that replacing the plumbing in a house or apartment with your own hands begins with the preparation of a plan.

To do this, a diagram is drawn in which all sizes of risers, all sizes of horizontally laid sections, and the number of connecting elements will be indicated. When specifying risers, it is necessary not to forget about the presence of a filter, if it is planned to install it, and so on.

Advice! When buying, you should not be guided by the figure that turned out during the calculations, but by 5% more.

Indeed, the replacement of water supply risers, as well as the replacement of other parts of the water supply, is always accompanied by some loss of material, so the stock must be mandatory.

When polypropylene pipes are purchased in the right quantity, it is necessary to purchase all additional elements, that is, fittings, couplings, adapters, taps, and so on.

Removing the old plumbing

It is clear that in order to install new water pipes, it is necessary to remove the old ones. If we are talking about a house with an autonomous water supply, then all the elements of the water supply can simply be removed separately.

If we are talking about an apartment building, then first you need to turn off the water.

Especially for this purpose, cranes are installed at the entrance, as a rule, in the design of risers.

They need to be completely covered. Naturally, both taps must be turned off both from the cold water supply system and from the hot one.

After shutting off, check the plumbing system for leaks. You just need to turn on the water. If at least from any tap water continues to drip, then it is necessary to call the plumbing team to change the valves.

In this case, the replacement must be carried out by them, since they have the right to turn off the water in the entire house or in its separate circuit in order to carry out the work.
After the replacement of the shut-off valves has been completed, you can begin to dismantle the old water supply.

It all starts with the dismantling of risers in the apartment. If there are several, then they are removed one by one.

In the case when the old pipeline was made of metal pipes, it is most convenient to install them using a grinder.

In those places where polypropylene pipes will be attached, metal pipes must be unscrewed.

This may require a torch and an adjustable wrench. When all the elements of the old water supply system are cut down, and the remains of the risers are unscrewed, the water pipes can be replaced.

Riser replacement

Installation of water supply risers in an apartment building begins with the fact that they are screwed into the old connector or screwed onto it. If we are talking about a private house, then the replacement of water supply risers is carried out along with the replacement of water supply parts that are outside.

Advice! When choosing pipes for risers, it is better to focus on the diameter of the old ones, since all the necessary holes in the walls or floor have already been made for them in the house.

Plumbing is one of the most important components of a home, but did you know that it needs to be changed over time? It is easy to change the plumbing in an apartment or a private house on your own, with instructions, a set of plumbing tools and a bright head at hand.

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In recent years, there has been a great demand for European-style renovation in the country - covering the apartment with plasterboard, the massive use of plastic and many other miracles of progress. But at the same time, they are increasingly forgetting about the water supply, and in fact in old houses there are often (overgrown with rust and plaque) still Soviet pipes.

Why you need to change old water pipes

In addition to pure H2O, a huge amount of impurities pass through the water supply every second, which tend to settle on the inner surface of the pipes. Over time, the lines become clogged with particles of oxidized metal, which leads to corrosion. In addition, the appearance of old Soviet metal pipes does not harmonize with the modern interior of the apartment at all. Sooner or later, but almost all owners of old apartments come up with one simple thought - pipes need to be changed.

The cost of replacing water pipes with plastic ones

At the moment, the most popular pipes are made of polypropylene, metal-plastic (the so-called "reinforced pipes"), or polyethylene. The price for them differs not only depending on the material, but also depending on the region of residence.

So, the price per meter of a propylene pipe with a diameter of 100 mm will be 500-600 rubles, a reinforced pipe with the same characteristics will cost 1300-1600, and the cost of a polyethylene pipe will be in the region of 300-500 rubles.

To determine the price of a new water supply, take a diagram, calculate the total length of the pipes, add 15% - just in case, add the cost of fittings and fasteners and ... voila - you will have the cost of all elements and installation of the main in your hands.

Benefits of plastic plumbing

Firstly, plastic does not rust, which makes it much more durable and safer than Soviet-era metal plumbing.

Secondly, it does not have a fragile internal coating, which again prolongs its service life and keeps the water clean even after a couple of decades of operation.

Thirdly, it is more reliable, as it is easy to solder and resistant to temperature extremes. So, if you do not know what to choose - metal or plastic - feel free to buy a polymer.

The frequency of replacing water pipes

There is no unequivocal answer to this question, but the result of a statistical survey was obtained “once in 30-40 years if it is plastic and once in 20 years if it is metal”. Due to the high wear rate of the latter, the water supply system becomes unusable faster. On the other hand, if the pipes are outwardly in good condition, and the pressure and purity of the water in them correspond to your understanding of the norm, you can postpone the replacement.

As the saying goes, "don't break what still works." But if troubles appear ahead of time, you need to change it, and quite urgently, since problems with pipes can have disastrous consequences. In addition, it is recommended to immediately change the entire system - simply because the method of joining plastic to metal is still not as reliable as joining two identical materials that can be securely fixed in many different ways.

Decide on the choice of material

Before you plunge into the work, decide on some questions. And the first of them is what kind of material to use in the apartment. The three most popular options have already been presented, so now let's look at their pros and cons.

Polypropylene plumbing

Until recently, polypropylene pipes were the absolute champion in the choice of material for plumbing. They are almost not subject to wear, are relatively easy to install, do not conduct electricity, are thermally stable, and reliable. But there are also disadvantages - for example, the connections cannot be disconnected, since the only really reliable method of connecting one pipe to another is welding, and the only way to fix bad soldering is a pipe cutter.

Metal-plastic and reinforced pipes

An older version from the 90s. It was then that the country was hit by a plastic boom and reinforced polymer was almost everywhere, including plumbing. On the other hand, since polypropylene simply did not exist then, metal-plastic was indeed the best option, especially in comparison with galvanized (or even non-galvanized) Soviet steel pipes. Metal-plastic holds physical impacts well, wears out little and looks great, but it also has disadvantages - it is much more expensive than its competitors and is extremely negative about temperature changes, which is why it starts to flow after 2-3 seasons. On the other hand, it is even easier to install than polypropylene, so if you are doing plumbing in a country house or other place where there is no electricity for welding yet, metal-plastic will be the best choice.

HDPE pipes (polyethylene)

A relative newcomer to the market, so it will be difficult to say exactly how good they are, but in theory everything looks just fine - polyethylene pipes are not only strong, but also flexible, which allows them to be used even where a construction made of polypropylene or metal-plastic would be too bulky. In addition, they can freely change geometry, which provides a high level of protection against physical impact. On the other hand, heat resistance raises some doubts, but for water pipes this is still not so important, especially considering that the price of these pipes is lower than that of polypropylene counterparts. Alas, they also share a minus with polypropylene - the only truly durable connection method is welding.

Choosing a mounting method

There are two ways of normal installation of plastic pipes - welding and press fitting. Welding is divided into two types - cold (using epoxy glue) and hot (with a welding machine).

cold method

Cold welding is not only a method, but also the name of the main consumable when using it. These days, almost every hardware store sells a fast-curing, reliable adhesive that allows you to tightly connect plastic pipes together. This method is more resource-intensive than hot welding, but does not require an expensive welding machine. It will also take a little more time - the glue needs to harden, and money, since the material, although inexpensive, needs a lot of it.

On the other hand, it prevents the appearance of sagging inside the pipes, which increases their normal service life. We recommend using this method, as durability and reliability are more important than immediate savings in time and money.

Welding

The classic method of joining pipes, not only plastic, but also metal. Requires a powerful power source, as well as a set of equipment - a welding machine, a protective mask, etc. This method is faster than cold welding and traditionally considered more reliable. But, as studies show, cold welding is not inferior to hot welding in terms of speed and reliability. On the other hand, improper use of hot welding can lead to the formation of sagging on the pipes, which is guaranteed to lead to clogging of the pipes in the next few years.

Press fittings

Another option for connecting pipes, this time - purely mechanical. This method is characterized by the use of fittings made of plastic material, which, after installing pipes in them, are pressed with force by a special press machine. This leads to their deformation and fixation of the joints. The result is a strong connection.

Do-it-yourself plumbing installation in an apartment

Preparing for plumbing installation

Dismantling old pipes and installing new ones is easy, so you can do it all yourself. It is better to do the work with at least one assistant. What to do first:

1. Locate the inlet valve and close. Make sure you wrap it up completely - even if the remaining trickle is as thick as a match, a lot of water can leak out. Be careful not to break the valve.
2. Disconnect all plumbing fixtures. Do not forget about the heating boiler, if any, as well as the washing machine and dishwasher.
3. Dismantle old pipes. If they are steel or cast iron, wear goggles and a respirator. Cast iron tends to crumble, which makes it easy to break, but small particles can get into the eyes or windpipe. Cover your ears, wear thick gloves.
4. Cut the pipes according to the diagram. This is done with a pipe cutter, regardless of the type and material of the pipes. You can try an ordinary grinder, but the cut should be perfectly even. When cutting, consider the depth - that is, add half the depth of the fitting to each end of the pipe that will enter it.
5. Align the pipes with a gauge. This will eliminate the ovality and make them round.
6. Clean the pipes of any contaminants, and also remove bumps at the ends, if any, remain after the pipe cutter has been used.

Then everything depends on the chosen method of fastening. If hot welding - warm up the welding machine, if the press fitting - prepare the press machine and the fittings themselves, if cold welding - no preparation is required, unless you forgot to buy glue.

How to glue pipes with cold welding

The simplest option, requiring only high accuracy in the execution of instructions:

1. Chamfer the end of the pipe. The angle is 15 degrees. The tool is a beveler, bought at any hardware store. The procedure is quite complicated, since barbs must be avoided as much as possible. In general, we advise you to practice first and start installing pipes only after you are completely confident in your abilities.
2. Clean the fitting sockets of dirt, dust and moisture manually or using a special CPVC cleaner. Better than the last - it's more reliable.
3. Apply glue with a brush, manually, carefully. As tightly as possible both on the surface of the pipe and on the inner surface of the socket. In this case, it is better to spend more glue than you need than to think about how to patch the current connection.
4. Insert the pipe into the socket. Do it as soon as possible, ideally immediately after applying the glue.
5. Rotate the pipe 90 degrees around the fitting. Or vice versa - rotate the fitting relative to the pipe. This is done in order to distribute the glue as evenly as possible.
6. Hold the pipe and fitting together for 20-30 seconds. Need absolute fixation, scrolling or changing the depth of the pipe entering the fitting - not recommended.
7. Check for an even layer of adhesive around the circumference. After the fixing period has ended, inspect the pipe from all sides and make sure that excess adhesive has come out of the fitting. If there is too much, remove with a soft cloth.
8. Continue installing other pipes, but remember that it will take a long time before the final solidification of the glue.

We connect pipes with hot welding

Hot welding can be different - polyethylene pipes can also be welded by the butt method, but polypropylene will have to be processed with a socket. And there is also electrofusion, which will also have to be taken into account. So first decide on the method that you will use, and then proceed to the appropriate procedures.

Yulia Petrichenko, expert

Butt method

Due to the high flexibility and ductility of polyethylene pipes, they are welded directly without the use of fittings. For this you need:

1. Center the pipes.
2. Make sure they are as close to each other as possible. This is important because reflow cannot correct really large defects (greater than 1/5 of the pipe wall thickness).
3. Separate them again and insert a heated heating element between them. Then press them against him again.
4. Wait until the ends melt - you will know this by the amount of burr squeezed out under the influence of mechanical pressure. The height of the burr must be indicated on the welding table that came with the pipe or with the welding machine.
5. When the ends have melted, release the pressing force and wait for the deep heating of the ends. This takes the time indicated in the welding table.
6. Now remove the heating element and firmly press the ends of the pipes together for a while, gradually increasing the pressure. This must be done as quickly as possible. The phase is relatively short and should never be exceeded, so it would be better to interrupt the “settlement of the seam” procedure a little earlier than ruin the whole work from excess diligence.
7. Maintain the compression force of the pipes for some more time, but just do not increase it! This will help the pipes not "play" back during the cooling.

Socket welding

This process requires the use of fittings. Ideal for polypropylene pipes. It is carried out with a welding machine according to the relevant instructions, but since we work “with our own hands”, we will show the installation using an ordinary blowtorch with a special nozzle consisting of a mandrel and a sleeve.

1. Warm up the welding machine to the desired temperature.
2. Put the fitting on the mandrel (this will require effort), and insert the pipe into the sleeve. This must be done as quickly as possible.
3. In the process of heating, increase the pressing force of the pipes to the mandrel and the coupling. This must be done until they are completely inserted into the nozzle for welding. After that, stop the pressure.
4. When the parts are hot enough, quickly remove them from the nozzle and press them together. After that, you get a one-piece construction of two parts.
5. Weld a plug or the next pipe into the other end of the fitting.

Electrofusion welding

This type of welding is used in the installation of gas pipelines, as it is expensive, but reliable. If you want "only the best", you can use it when installing the plumbing. It will require a special electrical fitting - a polyethylene fitting with a built-in heating element. The method is only suitable for round polypropylene pipes.

1. Prepare the welding machine.
2. Degrease and clean the contact surfaces of the pipe and fitting.
3. Put a mark on the pipe, indicating the boundary of its entry into the fitting.
4. Firmly fix the pipe and fitting. The fitting can push it out due to thermal expansion, and your task is to prevent this.
5. Connect the welding machine to the fitting and press the "Start" button on it. It will turn off automatically.
6. Leave the parts and fitting alone for at least an hour. Before the expiration of this time, the connection cannot be used!

Press fittings

A press fitting is used in cases where the pipe does not tolerate welding well and is the main method of fastening metal-plastic pipes, although polypropylene can also be fastened this way. This is the simplest method of all listed, but the least reliable.

1. Slide the compression fitting onto the pipe.
2. Insert the fitting with o-rings into the pipe.
3. Crimp the coupling with special press tongs. It is advisable to use electric tongs, as they provide more force and high reliability.

Using the selected technology, replace all water pipes with new ones. The sewerage system is installed in much the same way (this is shown in more detail in the video below), and preferably at the same time as the water supply, so as not to stop the riser again later. It is very important to do everything according to the scheme, but even after the end of the process, do not rush to turn on the water. First you need to test the system with a pressure pump.

Video lesson: Replacing water pipes with plastic ones

Pipe pressure testing

Pressure testing of pipes is an increase in pressure in one of the sections of the network in order to identify leaks or structural weaknesses in it. This is done using a special pressure test pump.

1. Hermetically cut off the pipe section from the rest of the network. This is done either by elevator valves or pneumatic plugs.
2. Connect a pipe pressure pump to the site and pump cold water into the site.
3. Give the pipe a pressure that exceeds the standard by 10-20%. For heating, plumbing and sewerage, this is 6-8 kgf / m2.

If the site passes the test, move on to the next one. If not, think about how to replace it or at least strengthen it.

TOP-5 mistakes when installing a plastic water pipe

In this section, we have collected the most offensive and popular mistakes when installing plastic pipes.

1. Incorrectly marked boundary of the pipe entry into the electrical fitting. It will force you to lose one fitting and two pipes, but in general - nothing fatal.
2. Too much butt welding force. Again, there are two pipes in the list of losses, but you lost them not because of inattention, but because of your own diligence.
3. Loose bevels in cold welding. The result will be a fragile connection that will only hold on to the glue.
4. Uncleaned pipes from dust and grease during welding. The result is a fragile connection that will simply crumble after a few years.
5. Incorrectly measured fitting size before pipe cutting. Forced to spoil all the material. There is no solution, and the process itself is characterized by large financial and time losses, for which this error gets the first place. As the saying goes: "Measure seven times, cut once."

Expertise - sewerage, water supply

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Do-it-yourself replacement of water pipes in an apartment with plastic ones: cost, video instruction - print version

Replacing pipes inside an apartment or house must be approached with all seriousness. Even if you have experience in installing plumbing, heating, sewerage, anyway, each new object always has its own unique features.

Replacing water pipes in an apartment with your own hands is quite within the power of everyone, however, this occupation is far from being as simple as it seems. Let's look into the nuances together.

Exists four main types of pipes, which is installed inside the apartment.

Pipes are:

1. Steel, galvanized, cast iron.
2. Copper.
3. Metal-plastic.
4. Polypropylene, PVC.

Each material has its pros and cons. Let's consider them.

Steel, galvanized pipes

Steel pipes came to us from the last century. Just before there were no pipes made of artificial materials.

So I had to mount heavy steel pipes, threading, using welding, a burner. The plumbers of that time were physically very developed people.

Advantages of steel pipes:

• Reliability. Such pipes are connected by a threaded or welded method, while the connection becomes monolithic.
• Strength. Steel pipe is quite durable.

But the cons of such a pipe still exceed the pros:

• fragility. Maximum 20 years and the pipe needs to be replaced as from the inside, it becomes inaccessible.

• Heavy installation, special equipment and tools. Not everyone has the skills to cut threads, weld a seam. Connections are required to be laid with tow, lubricated with sealant. All in all, pretty troublesome.
• It's hard to get into the pipe. Again, equipment and skills are required.

That is why the most common type of plumbing work is the replacement of metal pipes with plastic ones.

The same pros / cons occur with a galvanized pipe, with the difference that its service life is slightly longer. But installation is more troublesome, so it's better to invite professionals.

Copper pipes

Previously considered elite, when there were no plastic pipelines.

Copper has a number of positive properties, for which it continues to be put so far:

• The antibacterial effect of copper is well known, which is the main reason for its use.
• Thermal conductivity. Copper is an excellent conductor of heat, which allows it to operate over a very wide temperature range, especially in the refrigeration industry. Copper does not become brittle at low temperatures.
• Reliability and aesthetics. Copper withstands high pressure, its linear expansion is minimal, i.e. it does not "play" with temperature changes.
• Copper is a natural, environmentally friendly material.

Among the minuses, we highlight the following:

• The high cost of the pipe, since copper is a rather expensive material.
• Installation requires professional skills. Copper is compressed by a press or soldered by capillary welding. In both cases, it is better to use the services of specialists.
• There may be “stray” currents in the copper pipeline circuit, so it is better to entrust the laying scheme to a specialist.

Copper pipe is produced in coils and in straight lengths, it depends on the diameter of the pipe. Therefore, if you want to cool and permanently replace the pipes in the apartment, you may well use the copper option, but always with the involvement of professionals.

Metal-plastic pipes

This is the most common option today. This is explained simply - very easy and affordable installation, plus the inexpensive cost of materials. It turns out a kind of budget-home option.

Such a pipe is a five-layer structure, in which the outer and inner polyethylene layers are glued to the aluminum layer with adhesive layers. It turns out a kind of sandwich, which easily bends and assembles.

Advantages of a metal-plastic pipe:

• Easy assembly. Repairing pipes in an apartment is similar to picking up a children's designer.
• pipeline cost. This is the most economical piping method.
• Savings on workers' wages. The amount saved is pretty decent. You yourself are quite capable of assembling the entire pipe at the proper level, except that you can change the entrance valves to the apartment with the help of professionals.
• You can always crash into a finished pipeline, and it won't take long.

• Over time, the connections will loosen and will need to be tightened. Therefore, such a pipe can be hidden in the floor or walls only if it is installed using press equipment.
• Pretty low reliability. Joints may begin to leak as a result of water hammer or a large temperature difference.

Tip: when choosing a pipe, make sure that it does not exfoliate and is seamless. Otherwise, you will not have any trouble during installation.

There are a number of nuances in how to properly connect metal-plastic pipes:

1. Cut the pipe with special scissors, which you hold strictly perpendicular to the pipe. Otherwise, an uneven cut will give trouble when tightening the fitting nut.

1. Calibrate the end of the pipe with the nut and ring fitted to calibrate evenly without distortion.

1. Use a spring-loaded pipe bender where possible. The metal-plastic pipe bends very easily, but if the bend is significant, it can simply “fold”.

This saves on fittings and reduces the number of connections.

These pipes are gaining popularity in the segment of domestic water supply, heating and sewerage. The reason for the growing popularity of such water pipes as connections with.

To connect PP pipes, a special soldering iron is used, which heats the pipe and fitting evenly to a temperature of 260 degrees and then the products are simply connected.

Diffusion welding takes place, i.e. penetration of particles from one part of the product into another (diffusion).

Often, the replacement of heating pipes in an apartment is carried out using polypropylene pipes.

They are produced in a wide species range, which divides the pipe according to the temperature purpose.

We list the types of polypropylene pipes and their purpose:

1. PN-10. The simplest polypropylene pipe. Used for cold water supply only.

1. PN-20. Universal pipe. Can be used for both cold and hot water supply.

Important! Polypropylene is a material that changes volume strongly with temperature. For example, if the temperature changes by 100 degrees, a 10 m long pipe will become 15 cm longer!

This is a lot, so use a special reinforced pipe to avoid pipe breaks for heating and hot water supply.

1. PN-25. Reinforced pipe used for any water supply and heating.

Reinforcement is of three types:

• External reinforcement with foil. Such a pipe must be cleaned of foil to the depth of soldering, otherwise the connection will not work.

• Internal reinforcement with fiberglass.

• Internal reinforcement with foil.

This version of the pipe can still have a polyethylene layer instead of the inner PP layer, which somewhat improves the temperature characteristics of the pipe as a whole.

Replacing water pipes in an apartment with polypropylene pipes also has its positive and negative sides.

• Very reliable connection. With the right choice of pipe type, the water supply system as a whole practically does not deform as a result of temperature changes. The joint does not leak.
• Polypropylene is easily cut with special scissors, as in the example of a metal-plastic pipe, edges are easily processed.
• After a little practice, the process of soldering pipes is not difficult, this work is available to almost everyone.

• Some bulkiness of pipes, since they have a rather large wall thickness.
• The rigidity of the pipe, the dimensions must be carefully adjusted.
• If the section of the pipe and fitting heated by the soldering iron is not immediately connected, then it will no longer be possible to reheat due to structural changes in the material. Just take a new piece of pipe and a new fitting.

Tip: take the pipe and fitting with a reserve for contingencies, with an agreement to return the remaining unused parts back to the store. Sellers go for it without problems.

Tip: in the case of installing a polypropylene water pipe, replacing water pipes will not cause you significant difficulties. In addition to the pipe and fitting, you will have to purchase some tools that will always come in handy, but we do not recommend purchasing a special soldering iron. The thing is quite expensive and can only be used in soldering polypropylene pipes. Although, if you plan to engage in installation on an ongoing basis, then another matter.

For heating, take only a reinforced pipe, and fiberglass reinforcement is preferable. Such a pipe practically does not "play" from temperature changes.

Also, a sewer pipe is made from polypropylene. It looks very aesthetically pleasing, although polypropylene is recommended only for the internal sewer system.

If, after reading this article, you still did not decide to carry out the work to replace the pipeline yourself, then at least you will already be able to qualitatively control the performance of these works by the builders. Well, write an application for the replacement of pipes to the installation organization, coordinate the completeness with the workers, draw up a plan and proceed with the repair. Everything will work out.

Sooner or later, any, even the highest quality water supply system requires repair. There can be many reasons, and one of them is the need to replace part of the pipeline. How to change the water pipes in the apartment, and will be discussed in this article.

Reasons for replacing plumbing pipes

Replacing the water pipes in the apartment may be required for the following reasons:

1. Complete loss of bandwidth. Metal pipes that do not have corrosion protection are gradually overgrown with various impurities in the water. As a rule, after a few years, the throughput of the pipe drops several times. Of course, it always remains possible to disassemble and clean the pipeline if you know how to clean the cold water pipe in the apartment, but in this case, this operation will have to be repeated soon. It is also worth considering the fact that thin-walled pipes were often used to equip the water supply system, which simply crumble after the expiration of their service life.
2. Loss of tightness of the pipeline. Seamless pipes rarely leak, but welded products sin this, and the leak occurs in several places at once. In this case, there are also half measures - the pipe can be welded, but after each welding, the quality of the pipeline decreases.
3. Loss of visual qualities. Steel plumbing pipes that have been in service for more than a decade usually look very unattractive - numerous paint streaks, chips, scratches and rust. It would be possible to hide them in a box, but then it will not be possible to notice the problem that has arisen immediately, and it will be much more difficult to solve it. If it is vital to hide communications, then it would be best to make a simple collapsible box, which will greatly simplify further actions. Sometimes also people cannot understand why water pipes are buzzing, and they want to replace them.

The best solution to solve all these problems is the complete replacement of water pipes.

Material selection

On the building materials market, you can find a lot of options for water pipes:

• Steel pipes;
• Galvanized steel pipes;
• metal-plastic pipes;
• Polypropylene pipes.

Each option has special characteristics that you need to consider before changing the pipes in the apartment:

1. Steel pipes. The material is familiar, but outdated - in most characteristics, steel products are inferior to relatively young counterparts. That is why you should not stop your choice on such pipes.
2. Galvanized steel pipes. Pipes with a zinc coating are head and shoulders above ordinary steel products in terms of parameters. The main difference lies in corrosion resistance, so the water supply system assembled from galvanized pipes will not overgrow and rust. The main disadvantage is the complexity of installation and threading, if there is none. In order to make a thread, you will have to purchase special tools, which, coupled with the high cost of the pipes themselves, will greatly increase the cost of repairs.
3. Metal-plastic pipes. Pipes made of metal-plastic are distinguished by good visual qualities and good performance. The biggest problem associated with the use of such pipes is the weakness of the fittings, which begin to leak after only a few temperature cycles. To monitor the performance of metal-plastic pipes, fittings must be installed in an accessible place and not closed in order to get quick access if necessary.
4. Polypropylene pipes. Plastic pipes have a lot of advantages that are realized in water supply systems. Perhaps the only serious drawback of polypropylene pipes is non-separable connections. Pipes are attached to each other using a special soldering iron. It is inexpensive, and the pipes are cheap, so if necessary, you can simply cut out the damaged area and install a new one.

The best repair option is to replace metal pipes with plastic ones (more details: ""). They can work at different temperature conditions, have a perfectly smooth inner surface, to which deposits do not stick, and are completely resistant to corrosion.

The mechanical strength, although inferior to steel pipes, is still quite high and allows the pipes to be operated under normal living conditions. Leakage of plastic pipes is impossible, and in case of serious damage, the pipe in the old water pipe is cut out and replaced with a new one.

The general cheapness of polypropylene pipes is also emphasized by the low cost of fittings compatible with them - their range is unusually wide, and it is very easy to find the right parts. Installation is also simple - replacing pipes in an apartment with your own hands is quite possible if you use plastic products.

Installation of water shut-off valves

The water supply installed in the old house is a structure that fails completely and completely. In addition to pipes, valves also have their own tensile strength, which lose the ability to normally retain water in the system, and at some point simply stop working, so they also need to be changed.

To replace the valves in an apartment in a multi-storey building, the first step is to shut off the risers of hot and cold water supply. To do this, you need to submit an official request to call a plumber - this will guarantee that during the work, none of the residents of the house will arbitrarily start water.

The benefit of calling a plumber is also that when repairing an old riser, a thread can break off, which will have to be welded. This requires a welder and special equipment - and a formal request will help solve this problem.

In any case, when the valves are installed, further replacement of the water pipes in the apartment is carried out with their own hands.

Installing filters

Regardless of the type of mixers used, water filters should still be installed behind the valves. The fact is that various small impurities present in the water can very quickly render any faucet unusable, not to mention the numerous minor blockages that will have to be regularly disposed of.

Conventional coarse cleaning devices are best suited as filters. There is no point in expensive multi-level systems that can be offered in a store - a regular stainless steel mesh and a small sump to collect slag will be enough.

Pipe connection

The valve filter and the first polypropylene fitting are attached with a threaded connection. Often, threading is also used for mounting most mixers. So that the installed threaded connection does not leak in the future, during installation you need to take a little linen winding, smear it with drying oil or paint, and then screw it onto the thread. It is worth generously smearing the winding - all the excess will squeeze out on its own, so there will be no problems during operation.

The installation of polypropylene pipes is not particularly difficult. First, the correct nozzle is selected, the fitting with the pipe on it is heated, after which the molten parts are tightly compressed and held in this state until solidification. To fix the pipes on the walls, special fasteners are used.

Conclusion

Replacing water pipes is quite simple. Proper selection of materials and competent performance of work are the main components of a quality repair of the pipeline of the water supply system.