Types of pipe fitting
By Tom Drake | 25th June 2024 | 7 min read
Understanding the various types of pipe fittings, such as elbows, tees, couplings, and valves, is essential for the proper installation and maintenance of plumbing systems. In this article, we examine the types of pipe fitting, their functions, and where you might need to use them in your plumbing system.
Jump to:
- Couplers
- Reducers
- Elbows
- Tees
- Washing machine
- End caps
- Olives
- Inserts
- Pipe clips
- Hose clips
- Backnuts
- Pipe insulation
- Isolating valves
- Service valves
- Double check valves
- Ball valves
- Stopcocks
- Drain cocks
Couplers
Pipe couplers are used to join two different pipes together. Couplers feature a socket at both ends where a pipe can be connected.
Reducers
Pipe reducers are used to change the size of pipework in your plumbing system to either a larger or smaller size. They feature two or more differently sized sockets to allow you to connect different pipe sizes. Pipe reducers will often be used when connecting new pipes to an existing system.
Elbows
Elbows are used to create bends in a plumbing system. With a socket at either end, they are used to change the direction of pipework, such as taking a pipe upwards, downwards or around a corner.
Elbows are commonly found in 90-degree or 45-degree angles, but ‘obtuse’ elbow shapes are also available.
Equal elbows
Equal elbows are used to create a bend in pipework when the two pipes you want to connect are the same size.
Reducing elbows
Reducing elbows can be used to change pipe size and direction at the same time.
Equal tees
Equal tees are used to connect three pipes of the same size.
Reducing tees
Reducing tees feature two outlets of equal size and a third outlet that's a different size. This allows you to change pipe size at the junction.
Swept tees
A swept tee features a curve at the intersection of the fitting. This can help improve water flow and reduce the risk of blockages in waste pipes.
Washing machine fittings
Washing machine pipe fittings are used to connect a washing machine to your water system and are available in straight, angled and tee shapes. Many washing machine fittings include a valve so you can disconnect your washing machine without turning off the water in the rest of your home.
Inserts
Pipe inserts are inserted into a pipe to help it keep its shape when being connected or cut.
Pipe clips
Pipe clips are used to secure pipework to a surface. They are commonly used when pipes need to run along or up a wall.
Hose clips
Hose clips are used to clamp a hose or tube to other fittings. One common use is clamping a garden hose to a radiator drain-off when draining a central heating system.
Pipe insulation
Also known as: Pipe lagging
Pipe insulation is used to reduce heat loss from water and heating pipes. It can also help prevent pipes freezing and bursting in cold winter weather.
Isolating valves
Also known as: Shut off valves
Isolating valves are used to completely shut off the flow of water to a section of a plumbing system. Isolating valves are frequently positioned before fixtures like toilets or taps, so repairs or replacements can be carried out without shutting off the water supply to the entire home.
Service valves
Service valves are used to shut off the flow of water to a specific appliance or fixture. They are connected directly to the appliance or fixture, unlike isolating valves which are fitted between two sections of pipe before the appliance.
Double check valves
Double check valves are backflow devices. They are designed to prevent the reverse flow of water which could lead to the contamination of clean water supplies.
Ball valves
Ball valves are used to stop or adjust the flow of water in a plumbing system. Ball valves contain a ball with a hole in the middle that water can run through. Turning the handle of the valve turns the ball, which closes the hole so water can’t flow. The design of ball valves allows them to be shut off faster than other valve types.
Stopcocks
Also known as: Stop taps
Stopcocks can completely stop the flow of water. They are commonly used to switch off the mains water supply coming into a property to prevent leaks or allow changes to be made to a plumbing system.
Drain cocks
Also known as: Drain off valves
Drain cocks are used to drain water from a plumbing system. They are used in central heating systems to drain the water from radiators for repair or replacement.
