How to choose and install a cap for a water pipe

To prevent possible water leakage during the repair of the communication section, a threaded plug is placed on the water pipe. This sealing option is the easiest.

Purpose and principle of operation

A plug is a special fitting that can be used to shut off the water supply in a system over a specific section of it. The element has the shape of a circle or square. The latter are rarely used in plumbing.

The plug is used for such purposes and in the following situations:

• Protection of the inside of the pipe from moisture and dirt, penetration of rodents, insects. This option is observed when installing the fence posts of round / square tubes.
• Jamming of a plastic water pipe or sewer metal / polymer at the time of repair plumbing in the system (installation / dismantling of its individual elements).
• Protection of tubes from the ends at the time of their transportation.

To muffle the gas pipeline, special flange plugs are used. They are subject to repeated assembly / disassembly.

Any plug works on the principle of complete sealing of the pipe opening. It is a kind of cork. If necessary, lengthen the system (sewer, gas or water supply), the plug is simply removed from its place.

Types of Stubs

All fittings used for silencing pipes are classified according to the material of manufacture, installation method and type of construction. They make products from the following materials:

• Metal (brass, steel, cast iron elements). Fittings have a high tensile strength, therefore, are widely applicable in public highways (gas and water supply, sewage). However, metal plugs are subject to corrosion. An exception is chrome steel fittings. This material does not rust. To metal fittings include a special plug for sealing. It has a special technical hole for installing the seal. As a result, interference with the system by outsiders will be impossible.
• Polymers Plastic corks are widely used in private construction. The material does not rust and does not wear out. Polymer fittings are deformed under the influence of high temperatures (sun, hot water from +85 degrees). Polyethylene fittings are used for the inner plug of the pipe.
• Rubber. The simplest type of element used either for decorative purposes, or exclusively in private water supply.

By design, fittings for jamming are divided into the following types:

• Threaded. The simplest of all stubs. Simply screw into or onto the pipe.
• Flanged. Assume the presence of technical holes along the edge into which fixing bolts are driven. The flange plug is often attached to the casing or gas pipe using reinforced hardware (nuts / bolts). If necessary, the fitting can be removed at the right time. Typically, a flange element is made of metal.
• Pneumatic Made of rubber. You can install such an element using a pump by pumping air into it. The fitting has a special fitting with a hose. Through it, air is pumped and pumped into the plug and back. Such an element can operate at temperatures from -40 to + 70 degrees. The peculiarity of the pneumatic fitting is that it tightly closes the lumen of the pipe, regardless of the evenness of its inner walls.
• Elliptical. Installation is performed using welding.

By type of installation, all water supply elements for jamming are divided into two types:

• Internal Mounted with special ribbed notches. The upper part of the fitting is covered with a lid.
• Outdoor. They work simultaneously as a decorative element and as a damping one.

The types of plugs are distinguished according to their purpose - end and transportation. The first jammed part of the system. The second are used to protect the ends of the pipes during transportation. Their strength characteristics are seriously inferior to those of end caps.

Fitting Criteria

The stub is selected according to several parameters:

• The material of manufacture. As a rule, PVC fittings are used for metal-plastic pipes, polyethylene fittings for PET, steel or brass fittings for metal. Rubber used as temporary.
• Diameter, size and shape. Section plugs must exactly match the parameters of the communication pipes. In addition, round fittings take round fittings, for profile ones - square fittings.
• Destination For long-term pipe sealing, it is better to buy a threaded or elliptical fitting. If the plug is placed for a short time, it is better to take a flange. Moreover, for a domestic hot water system or heating pipes, it is not recommended to buy rubber and polymer plugs. They change their shape under the influence of high temperatures. As a result, depressurization of the system may occur. Pneumatic and threaded plugs are not placed on gas pipelines. It is better to use flanged ones.

Decorative caps are made from PET in various shades. Kohler is added to the polymer during the casting phase. The fitting is painted uniformly and throughout the thickness of the plastic.

Principles and features of installing various types of plugs

A pipe silencer can be installed in various ways, depending on its design features. The following actions are performed:

• Screwing in. In this way, a threaded fitting is installed. Before you mount it, you must use the fum tape and sealant. They additionally protect the system from leakage. The tape is wound in a small layer on the outside of the fitting and wound it. The screwing of the threaded plug is carried out by hand until it stops, but without excessive tension.
• Welding. Suitable if installing an elliptical element. It is possible to achieve complete tightness of communication. In this case, work should be carried out only by a specialist. The welded plug is placed for a long period and is not suitable if any repair work on the communication section is expected in the near future.
• Use of bolts and nuts. This method installs a flanged silencer. Before mounting, place a seal between the fitting and the pipe. It, in turn, is selected in accordance with the permissible temperature indicators for a particular system and according to the pressure requirements in it.
• Air injection. A cork for water supply can be put in several stages. Water is removed from the pipe, a hole is made in the desired section of the system, the fitting is inserted and air is pumped into it. When expanding, the walls of the cork fit snugly against the inside of the pipe. Remove the pneumatic fitting at the end of the repair work. To do this, simply pump out the air from the rubber plug and remove it.

Thanks to the huge assortment of locking fittings, it is possible to solve the issue of sealing the pipeline and the decorative appearance of the profile tubes used as fence posts. It is only important to make the right choice.