20 Types of Plumbing Fittings
There are pieces of flexible tubing that come in various shapes and sizes. They allow condensate from a drain to flow back into the water supply, provide water to the fixture where needed or connect a pipe with another pipe or fixture. Below are 20 types of plumbing fittings.
1. Sink Fittings
Sink faucets and cartridge filter backs use a standard compression-type swivel connection. They include a gate handle (any sink and bath fixture) and waste and backflow prevention devices (sinks, bidets, and showers). This type of plumbing normally connects to the sink drain pipe.
2. Spout Fittings
Spout fittings connect a faucet or spout to the sink drain or bathtub. High-quality spout fittings are made of brass and built to last. They include the Leland single-handle cartridge type (sinks, tubs, and showers), compression type (sinks and tubs), and European style (sinks only). This type of plumber fitting normally connects to the sink drain.
3. Elbow Fittings
Elbow fittings connect two pipes with 90° bends. This way, water can flow in only one direction. Most elbow fittings connect to the sink drain or tub drain, or both.
4. Tee Fittings
Tee fittings connect three pipes. They are used to make changes in the direction of the flow, divide the flow into two or more parts, or divert the water to another pipe.
5. Cross Fittings
Cross fittings are used at cross points in a plumbing system. They eliminate sharp interior elbows that can clog up with mineral deposits, especially if the water is hard. They can also make it easier to patch a pipe.
6. Reducing Fittings
Reducing fittings connect pipes of different thicknesses and threads. They include: slip (sinks and tubs) and reducing (sinks and tubs). Most reducing fittings are made of galvanized steel. They are often used in disaster meals to allow survivors to get water without calling a plumber or using a water pressure reducer.
7. Adaptors
Adaptors connect the threads of two different-sized pipes. They include bell and spigot (sinks and tub drains), and male and female (sinks and tub drain). Most adaptors are made of brass, copper, or galvanized steel.
8. Cap
Plumbing caps are not used as often as they used to be. They are usually found on sinks or bathtubs that have water jets built into the overflow drain. The caps are placed over the jet hole when not in use. When removed, they allow water to flow out of the jet.
9. Sock-Female Fittings
Sock-female fittings connect female threads to male threads. They are used to connect one pipe to another. They are normally found in combination with another type of plumbing fitting.
10. Sock-Male Fittings
Sock-male fittings connect male threads to female threads. They are used to connect one pipe to another. They are normally found in combination with another type of plumbing fitting.
11. Compression Fittings
Compression fittings connect to the pipe using a compression-type connection. They have a seal inserted in the opening to provide a tight seal between the connecting pipe and plumbing fitting. They include compression (sinks, bidets) and threaded (sinks, tubs).
12. Reducing-Female Fittings
Reducing-female fittings connect two pipes with the same thread size. They include: reducing, union (bathtubs), and one-piece (showers). Most reducing fittings are made of brass, copper, or galvanized steel.
13. Barb Fittings
Barb fittings connect a pipe to a barbed fitting or a barbless fitting. They are used to connect one pipe to another. They are usually found in combination with another type of plumbing fitting.
14. Push Fittings
Push fittings have a flange nut that pushes the pipe into the fitting from the outside. They include shut-off 90, shut-off 45, and compression. They normally connect to the sink drain or tub drain, or both.
15. Compression-Female Fittings
Compression-female fittings connect two pipes with different thread sizes. They include compression, gate valve (sinks), stop-and-waste (bathtubs), and one-piece (showers). Most compression fittings are made of brass, copper, or galvanized steel.
16. Glues
Glues are used to connect PVC pipes and fittings. They include PVC pipe and fittings and flexible PVC (glue and primer). They are made of PVC glue, which joins together two pieces of PVC pipe and plumbing fittings.
17. Mechanical Couplings
Mechanical couplings connect two different diameter pipes or a pipe to a fixture. They include Grout-A-Mate and Bushing. They are used to attach one pipe or plumbing fitting to another.
18. Tee Couplings
Tee couplings connect two pipes with a 90° angle. They include Tee and reducer (sinks and tub drain) and compression (sinks and tub drains). Most tee and reducer fittings are made of brass, copper, or galvanized steel.
19. Elbow Couplings
Elbow couplings connect two different diameter pipes. They include Fittings (sinks and tub drain) and Compression (sinks and tub drain). They are used to attach one pipe or plumbing fitting to another.
20. Sock-Male Couplings
Sock-male couplings are used in conjunction with a saddle and saddle nut to connect a straight piece of PVC pipe. They include glues and brass. They are used to connect one pipe to another.
Conclusion
Plumbing fittings keep your plumbing system together and work with the pipes to carry the water and waste away. To tighten them, you can use an adjustable wrench or pliers.
