Plumbing accessories are important to maintain and improve your home’s plumbing system. They can also add aesthetic value to your bathroom and kitchen.
When choosing the right plumbing supplies, consider your family’s needs and budget. It’s best to choose high-quality fixtures and fittings for a lasting, functional and beautiful finish.
Couplings
Couplings are used to connect different sized pipes. They can be made from many different materials, including stainless steel and copper.
They are also available in a variety of shapes and sizes, allowing for a variety of applications. They are an efficient and cost-effective method of piping repair, as well as connecting pre-manufactured pipe systems.
Some couplings can be designed to accommodate misalignment, compensate for axial movement and absorb shock. These features make them ideal for use in a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.
It is important to select a coupling that will withstand all of the misalignment conditions that are present in your application. This includes angular, parallel and axial misalignment.
Cross Fittings
A cross fitting is a type of plumbing accessory used in systems to connect straight sections of pipe or tubing. They may be used for a variety of purposes, including adapting a pipe to a different size or shape, and regulating fluid flow.
They are available in a range of materials, including copper, steel, PVC, CPVC, and ABS. They also have to be compatible with the other parts of the system, and with the fluids being transported.
T-shaped fittings are a popular choice for connecting two pipes together in a system, with one inlet and two outlets arranged at a 90-degree angle to the main line. When all three sides of the T-fitting are the same size, it is called an equal tee. If they are different sizes, it is a reducing tee.
Tees
Tees are a big deal in the world of gastronomy. These hardy little gems help us chew, speak, smile and even give our faces a nifty smooch. Each one is unique and serves a purpose in its own right. We have a few tooth aficionados, who are willing to share their tidbits of wisdom with the rest of us. For the discerning, there are teeth specialists to be found in every major metropolitan area.
In short, a good old-fashioned teeth cleaning and examination is a must for optimal oral health. However, with so many different types of dental care out there to choose from, it can be overwhelming and time consuming for patients who aren’t familiar with the field. For those who have the patience and foresight to invest in an annual teeth checkup, the benefits can be immense and include a more pleasant visit from your dentist, less time in the chair and a healthier mouth in general.
Unions
Unions are pipe fittings designed to join two pipes together. They are generally used for small-diameter piping connections that require positive seals and easy assembly as well as disassembly.
They are also useful for joining pipes of different diameters. They can be shaped like a bell adapter or fit inside the larger pipe (a reducing bushing).
Dielectric unions, which break an electrical path with a plastic liner, prevent galvanic corrosion, in which two dissimilar metals touch each other and form an electrochemical couple that generates voltage and moves metallic ions from one to the other.
Unlike couplings, which are glued or soldered to make a permanent connection, unions come apart and can be reassembled many times for repairs. They’re a good choice for connecting pipes that cannot be threaded into a coupling, such as those with odd angles or flanges.
Valves
Valves are devices that work to control, regulate or direct flow within a system. They come in a range of characteristics and groupings to help define their ideal application.
They may be manually operated, by handle, lever, pedal or wheel. They can also be automatic, driven by changes in pressure, temperature or flow that act upon a diaphragm or piston.
They are used in a variety of applications, including water supply, waste-water treatment, fire protection and gas supply. They can also be found in chemical and oil industries, fuel handling systems and power generation.
