Regarding plumbing, several hardware elements are needed to construct the entire circuit. From PVC pipelines to the elbow and T-joints, these are worth considering. If any plumber fails to use the right plumbing element, the water flow will get disrupted, leading to huge consequences.

To strengthen the plumbing systems, most professionals rely on fittings made from brass and copper. Both these are used in huge quantities, owing to their numerous benefits. But as a plumber, you must learn their differences to decide. Keeping this in mind, we have presented a differential study of brass and copper fittings for your better understanding.

What are brass and copper fittings?

Copper and brass fittings are often used to connect different pipes in plumbing systems. This helps maintain a directional fluid flow, perpendicularly or at a certain angle. For example, if you need to build pipelines around two walls, use an elbow or L-shaped fitting. Similarly, the T-shaped fitting is ideal for connecting three pipes.

From the definition itself, it is evident that the fittings make plumbing connections much easier and hassle-free. These won’t cause any problem maintaining the water flow at the highest speed where the entire flow volume can be attained.

What are the different types of fittings?

A plethora of brass and copper fittings are used in plumbing projects. Knowing about them and their uses will be of huge help.

• Elbow joints: Known as L-shaped joints, these are used to change water flow direction perpendicularly. It has two open heads for connecting two pipes.


• Tee-type fittings: These have three openings, where two are arranged at 180 degrees and the other at 90 degrees, as the name suggests. They have one inlet and two outlets of the same or different diameters.


• Couple fittings: Most couple fittings form a bridge between two pipes with the same diameter.


• Reducer joints: From the name itself, it can be understood that the reducer copper fittings are used to reduce water flow area and volume. It has one mouth slightly larger than the other, where the former acts as the inlet.


• Male and female joints: These are used to attach two pipes having different threads. On one end, the threads are etched around the exterior circumference, while on the other, you will find threads milled on the interior.

How do brass and copper differ in terms of fitting?

While there are many similarities between brass and copper fittings, knowing about the differences will be helpful. For instance:

• Copper fittings can withstand higher water pressure due to their rigidity. But when the brass ones are considered, water pressure must be medium.


• Copper is costlier, so many plumbers prefer to use brass fittings when the project budget is limited.


• Also, copper fittings and joints are heavier, which is why the pipes that will be attached should be more durable. But brass is lighter and can be easily used in any plumbing system.

Conclusion

As we have walked you through brass and copper fittings and their types, choosing the best one is a brainer for plumbers. But while doing so, weighing the pros and cons of both materials will be helpful. It prevents wrong choices and ensures the plumbing lines can be completed without flaws.