---
title: "Pipe — which one for which job"
description: "8 answers on choosing the right pipe for the material, with the reason behind each and what fails."
url: https://atoneplace.net/which/pipe/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Pipe

8 materials and what works on each.

| For | Use | First alternative |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hot and cold water | Copper or PEX for most installations — PEX is faster and more freeze-tolerant, copper is more robust and takes heat without question. | PEX |
| Waste and drainage | Solvent-weld or push-fit PVC-u or polypropylene, at the right diameter and fall — and ABS and PVC cements are not interchangeable. | Push-fit polypropylene |
| Central heating | Copper, or a barrier-grade plastic pipe — non-barrier plastic lets oxygen into the system and corrodes it from the inside. | Barrier PEX or PE-RT |
| Boiler condensate | Plastic, never copper, at a generous diameter with continuous fall — and insulate any external run, because frozen condensate is the classic winter breakdown. | Larger diameter for external runs (32 mm or more) |
| Gas | Steel, copper of the right grade, or yellow MDPE underground — and in most jurisdictions only a registered installer may do the work. | Copper of the appropriate grade |
| An underground water supply | Blue MDPE for potable water, in one continuous length at the required depth, with no joints under a building. | Black MDPE / alkathene |
| Compressed air | Copper, steel, stainless or a purpose-rated aluminium or HDPE air system — never PVC, which fails explosively. | Copper |
| Irrigation | Low-density polyethylene tubing with barbed fittings for drip lines, and PVC or MDPE for buried mains. | Buried PVC or MDPE mains |

- [Which pipe should I use for hot and cold water?](https://atoneplace.net/which/pipe-hot-cold-water/) — Copper or PEX for most installations — PEX is faster and more freeze-tolerant, copper is more robust and takes heat without question.
- [Which pipe should I use for waste and drainage?](https://atoneplace.net/which/pipe-waste/) — Solvent-weld or push-fit PVC-u or polypropylene, at the right diameter and fall — and ABS and PVC cements are not interchangeable.
- [Which pipe should I use for central heating?](https://atoneplace.net/which/pipe-central-heating/) — Copper, or a barrier-grade plastic pipe — non-barrier plastic lets oxygen into the system and corrodes it from the inside.
- [Which pipe should I use for a boiler condensate drain?](https://atoneplace.net/which/pipe-condensate/) — Plastic, never copper, at a generous diameter with continuous fall — and insulate any external run, because frozen condensate is the classic winter breakdown.
- [Which pipe is used for gas?](https://atoneplace.net/which/pipe-gas/) — Steel, copper of the right grade, or yellow MDPE underground — and in most jurisdictions only a registered installer may do the work.
- [Which pipe should I use for a buried water supply?](https://atoneplace.net/which/pipe-underground-water/) — Blue MDPE for potable water, in one continuous length at the required depth, with no joints under a building.
- [Which pipe should I use for compressed air?](https://atoneplace.net/which/pipe-compressed-air/) — Copper, steel, stainless or a purpose-rated aluminium or HDPE air system — never PVC, which fails explosively.
- [Which pipe should I use for irrigation?](https://atoneplace.net/which/pipe-irrigation/) — Low-density polyethylene tubing with barbed fittings for drip lines, and PVC or MDPE for buried mains.