Does PE pipe belong to plumbing?

choose plumbing when decorating, many people will ask: "Can the PE pipe I chose be used as plumbing?" To answer this question, we must first clarify the core logic of "plumbing system" and "PE pipe", and then look at the matching degree of the two.

first says "plumbing system" - it is the most common heat transfer system in our lives, and the core is "water as medium": whether it is the heating pipe in winter (sending hot water to the radiator or floor heating), or the domestic hot water pipe (from the water heater to the faucet), it is essentially "water to transfer heat". Simply put, the plumbing system = "water + pipe + heat transfer", and the pipe is the "transportation channel".

Then look at the PE pipe: the full name of polyethylene pipe, is a commonly used plastic pipe. Its advantages are obvious - corrosion resistance (it will not rust and scale like iron pipes), good flexibility (it can be bent into an arc to adapt to complex apartment types), and light weight (it does not take a lot of effort to install). But many people do not know that PE pipes are also divided into "ordinary" and "heat-resistant": the long-term use temperature of ordinary PE pipes (such as PE80, PE100) is about 40 ° C, which is suitable for cold water; while the special "PE-RT pipe" (heat-resistant polyethylene pipe) is designed for hot water, which can withstand temperatures above 70 ° C for a long time, and even withstand high temperatures of 95 ° C in the short term.

Back to the core question: Does PE pipe belong to plumbing? The answer is "divided into situations" -

If it is a domestic hot water system (such as the hot water pipe from the water heater to the faucet), it is completely fine to choose PE-RT pipe. Its heat resistance just matches the temperature of domestic hot water (generally 40-60 ° C), and it is not easy to hide dirt, and the water outlet is cleaner.

If it is a heating system (such as floor heating coil or radiator pipe), PE-RT pipe can also be competent. It has good flexibility, is suitable for floor heating pipe coiling buried under the floor, and has strong frost resistance. It will not expand and break due to freezing in winter.

But if ordinary PE pipe is used for water heating, the trouble will come: ordinary PE pipe is not heat-resistant enough, and the hot water will slowly deform, shorten its life, and even leak.

So the correct conclusion is: the "heat-resistant product (such as PE-RT) " in the PE pipe is one of the pipe materials of the plumbing system, and the ordinary PE pipe is not suitable for the plumbing scene.

Many people have a misunderstanding, thinking that "PE pipe is plumbing pipe", but it is not right - it depends on the "heat resistance" of the PE pipe. For example, if you buy an ordinary PE pipe to pass hot water, there will definitely be problems; but if you choose the right PE-RT pipe, it is a good plumbing pipe.

Finally, to summarize: the plumbing system is a "water heat transfer system", and the PE pipe is a "pipe material". Whether PE pipe can be returned to plumbing depends on "whether it can hold hot water" - heat-resistant PE pipe meets the needs and belongs to part of plumbing; ordinary PE pipe does not. When decorating and choosing pipes, don't just look at the words "PE pipe", be sure to ask whether it is "ordinary PE" or "PE-RT", so as not to step on the pit.