Week 3 Install Mod Unit 22 Piping and Tubing

What is the difference between pipe and tubing?

• Pipe is always named by its approximate inside diameter, called its nominal size. Tubing is usually measured by its outside diameter. Unlike pipe, the outside diameter of tubing is accurate.

• Straws are tubes

What materials are used for piping and tubing in heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems?

• Copper, iron, steel, aluminum, PVC, and CPVC

• Plastic, Paper, Organic Cardboard

What materials are used for refrigerant piping?

• Most refrigeration lines are made of copper. Lines for ammonia systems are made of steel because ammonia chemically reacts with copper. Some systems use aluminum tubing.

• Metal and lead

What materials are used for fuel gas piping?

• Black iron is used for piping natural gas. Copper is commonly used for LP gas lines, but it should not be used with natural gas because the odorant added to natural gas reacts with copper.

• Aluminum at that gas pump and yellow sulfur infused plastic for natural gas.

What materials are used for water piping?

• Copper, PVC, and CPVC

• Lead, Iron, and Aluminum

What materials are used for drain lines?

• Usually PVC, occasionally copper or CPVC

• Deodorant infused Plastic Vinyl Copper

What is the difference between hard and soft copper?

• Hard copper is rigid and cannot be formed without cracking or buckling. Soft copper has been annealed and can be formed.

• Hard is much stiffer and more ready to go

Why should copper tubing be cut with a tubing cutter instead of a hacksaw?

• A tubing cutter makes a clean, square cut with no chips.

• Hacksaws are far too dangerous

How is copper annealed?

• In the factory it is heated to 1300° in ovens. In the field it is heated until red with a torch.

• Pizza Oven

What methods can be used to join soft copper?

• Compression fittings, flare fittings, soldering, and brazing.

• Super Glue, Gorilla Glue