TYPES OPF PLUMBING FITTINGS

1. Adapter
a) An adapter has male and female ends, the male having threads on the
outside and the female on the inside.
b) They are used to connect different sized pipes, or even turn a male pipe
into a female, and vise versa.
c) There are three types of adapters: male, female, and straight threaded. If
one of the ends of the adapter is without threads, it needs to be welded
or soldered onto the pipe.
d) Adapters are essential when it comes to extending or terminating pipe
runs.

2. Nipple
a) It connects pipes to appliances such as water heaters, and connects
two straight pipe runs.
b) The nipple fitting has two male ends and comes in various materials and
finishes, such as brass, aluminum, copper, PVC, carbon steel, and
stainless steel.
c) There are five types of pipe nipples which are:
1) Weld nipple – used to connect tube fittings. They are strong and can
be used under extreme pressure surges, vibrations, and changes.
2) Hexagon nipple – This has two threaded ends and a hexagonal
center.
3) Swage nipple – Used to get fluids through one pipe size to a different
size.
4) Barrel nipple – Short tubular nipple with an external taper thread at
each end, and is un-threaded in between.
5) Close nipple- Threaded throughout both ends. Also referred to as a
“running nipple”.

3. Union
a) It is made up of three parts: a nut, a female end, and a male end.
b) It is designed to connect two pipes with the possibility of being
detached without damage or deformation to the pipes.
c) It is conveniently used in maintenance or cases of planned
replacements in the future.
d) It is easy to install.
e) Pipe unions are available in a wide range of durable materials such as,:
cast iron, nickel, brass, bronze, plastic and rubber.
4. Barb
a) It is generally male at one end and has a tapered and ridged cone at the
other.
b) It is designed to grip the inside of a tube and seal the connection.
c) Barbed fittings are generally used in gas, air, and fluid control
applications in low pressure.
d) For water connections, plastic barbs arte used in cold water.
e) Brass barbs are used to carry hot water.

5. Coupling
a) They are very similar to unions. However, these cannot be detached
without damage to the pipes.
b) They can be used to connect two pipes of the same size and diameter.
c) Unthreaded couplings are used for either copper soldering or plastic
solvent welding.
d) There are two main types of couplings, such as:
1) Compression – Connected between two pipes using gaskets or
rubber seals on both ends.. The seals prevent leaking.
2) Slip – Usually used to repair a certain length of damaged pipe.
e) Coupling fittings are available in a range of materials, such as: ABS,
Chrome-plated brass, brass, CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride),
PVC, stainless steel.

6. Cross
a) They are four-way fittings, a combination of two tees.
b) They consist of one inlet and there outlets, and these often have
solvent-welded socket or female-threaded ends.
c) They are mostly used in plumbing where thermal expansion is not an
issue, such as fire sprinkler system.
d) These fittings are available in the following materials: brass, steel,
stainless steel, malleable, PVC.

7. Tees
a) They are three-way fittings.
b) They look like a coupling with an outlet in the middle.
c) They are short pipes with a 90 degree branch at the center.
d) There are two main types of tees, such as:
1) Straight tee – used in setups where the pipe run is the same size as
the tee branch.
2) Reducing tee – used where the tee branch is smaller than the run
pipe.
 e) Tees are available in a range of materials such as: ABS, Chrome-plated
brass, brass, copper, CPVC, PVC, stainless steel

8. Saddle Tee
a) Saddle tees look very similar to a real saddle.
b) They are only available in PVC and used to ass a tee to an existing pipe
without the need to cut or re-solder.
c) These are most often used in irrigation systems when you need to add a
new sprinkler line.

9. Wyes
a) They look like the letter “Y”.
b) They are generally used in drainage fittings and have a 45 degree
branch.
c) The angling of the branch is designed to reduce turbulence and friction.
d) They connect vertical drain pipes to horizontal ones.
e) They are available in: ABS, PVC, Brass

10. Flanges
a) It is a round fitting used to connect pipes.
b) The pipes are either threaded or welded to the middle of the flange, and
then sealed together.
c) The holes on the outside are used for bolts.
d) They are mainly used in industrial applications due to their ability to
handle high pressures.
e) They are also used in residential; pump systems.
f) At home, PVC flanges are used when mounting toilets to the floor. They
are also referred to as “closet” flanges.
g) They are available in: copper, malleable, PVC, Brass

11. Elbows
a) They are curved and are mainly used to change flow directions.
b) They are mostly produced in 45 and 90 degree angles and can be
swealed or threaded.
c) The ends of the elbow fitting can be made for butt welding, threading or
socketed.
d) A reducing elbow is when the two ends differ in size.
e) They are available in: brass, chrome-plated brass, CPVC, copper, ABS,
PVC

12)Caps
 a) They are used to cover the end of an open pipe and are liquid-and gas-
tight.
b) They can be attached to the pipe end by interior threading (female), or
solvent-welded socket.
c) The outside of a cap can be square, round, rectangular, I- or U-shaped.
d) They are available in: ABS, copper, CPVC, brass, chrome-plated brass,
PVC, malleable

13)Plugs
a) They are similarly to caps, but instead of being fitted on the pipe, they
are fitted inside.
b) These are usually threaded to allow the plug to be removed for future
use of the pipe.
c) They are available in: ABS, copper, brass, stainless steel

14)Bushings
a) They look like small screws, mainly used to connect pipes of different
sizes, reducing a large fitting to a small pipe.
b) These can be threaded on the inside and outside.
c) They are available in: brass, chrome-plated brass, CPVC, ABS, copper,
PVC, malleable

15)Mechanical Sleeve
a) It used to join two pipes using a screw or other device and is easy to
install.
b) It is usually made of rubber and is inserted into a stainless steel clamp.
The clamp compresses the rubber, which creates a tight seal.
c) This type of fitting is slightly flexible and can be used in misalignments
in difficult places.

16)Valve
a) A valve is used to regulate or stop the flow of gas or liquid.
b) Valves are generally categorized by application, such as:
1) Isolation – Used to disconnect a part of a pining system temporarily.
Usually left fully open or closed, and can be in place for years before
replacement.
2) Throttling – Used to control the pressure of a fluid. Designed to
withstand wear and stress, however, they might eventually give in.
Usually installed along with an isolation valve in case of malfunction.
 3) Non-return – Also called check valves, these allow a free flow of
fluids in one direction, but prevents reverse flow. Often used in
sewage and drainage systems.
c) They are available in: bronze, cast iron, cast steel, stainless steel,
carbon steel (used for high pressure or hign temperature)

17)Reducer
a) A reducer is used to reduce flow.
b) It comes in two types:
1) Concentric reducer – Designed to join two pipe sections on the same
axis. Usually used when there is a change in pipe diameter.
2) Eccentric reducer – Used in piping systems where the upstream pipe
is larger than the downstream pipe.
c) They are available in: carbon steel, alloy, stainless steel

18)Clean outs
a) A clean-out fitting features removable parts that allow access to drains
without the need to undo plumbing fixtures.
b) Clean outs will enable an auger to enter and clean a clogged drain.
c) Larger plumbing systems feature several clean-outs that will be placed
at regular intervals.

19)Combo tee
a) Combination tees have a gradually curving central branch.
b) They are used in drains to give a smooth, slightly curving path to
reduce the chances of clogs.
c) The curve also makes it easier for a plumber to push a snake tool
through.

20)Diverter tee
a) This is mainly used pressurized hydronic heating systems.
b) It diverts portions of the flow from the primary line into a side branch
that is connected to a heat exchanger.
c) It is designed to allow a regular flow through the main line, even if the
branch is shut off.
d) They are available in: stainless steel, ABS, brass, chrome-plated brass,
copper, PVC