Pipe's FAQ Guide

What are the Common Problems With Pipes

access problem

Pipes on the ground should try to avoid crossing with roads, railways and waterways. When crossing cannot be avoided, the crossing height should also enable pedestrians, vehicles and boats to pass safely. Underground pipelines are generally laid along roads, and various pipelines are kept at an appropriate distance for installation and maintenance; the surface of heating pipelines has an insulation layer, which is laid in trenches or protection pipes to avoid being crushed by soil and allowing the pipes to expand move.

support problem

Pipes may be subjected to many kinds of external forces, including their own weight (weight of pipes, valves, pipe joints, insulation and fluid in pipes), the thrust of fluid pressure acting on pipe ends, wind and snow loads, soil pressure, thermal expansion and cooling Thermal stress, vibration load and earthquake disaster caused by shrinkage. In order to ensure the strength and rigidity of the pipeline, various supports (hangers) must be set up, such as movable supports, fixed supports, guide supports and spring supports. The setting of the bracket is determined according to the conditions of the pipe diameter, material, pipe wall thickness and load. The fixed bracket is used to control the thermal elongation of the pipeline in sections, so that the expansion joint can work evenly. The guide bracket allows the tube to move only axially.

Compensation issue

If the pipeline cannot expand and contract freely, it will generate huge additional stress. Therefore, on pipelines with large temperature changes and normal temperature pipelines that require free displacement, expansion joints need to be set to compensate for the expansion and contraction of the pipeline and eliminate the influence of additional stress.

safe question

In order to ensure the safe operation of the pipeline and prevent the expansion of the accident in time, in addition to installing detection and control instruments and safety valves on the pipeline, special safety measures are also taken for some important pipelines, such as gas pipelines and long-distance oil and natural gas transportation. An accident relief valve or emergency shut-off valve is installed on the pipeline. They can automatically stop delivery in a timely manner in the event of a catastrophic accident to reduce disaster losses.

How to solve common problems with pipe

If you're having trouble with your pipe, there are a few things you can do to try to fix it.

First, make sure that the pipe is properly seated in the fitting. If it's not, unscrew the fitting and try again.

Next, check for any obstructions in the pipe. If there's something blocking the flow of water, you'll need to remove it.

If there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the pipe itself, the problem may be with the fitting. Try tightening or loosening the fitting to see if that helps.

If none of these solutions work, you may need to replace the pipe or fitting altogether.

If you have a blocked pipe, the first thing you should do is turn off the water to your home at the main shut-off valve. This will prevent any more water from entering the pipe and causing more damage.

Once the water is turned off, you can start to troubleshoot the problem. Here are some common issues that can cause a blockage in your pipes and how to solve them.

Issue: Debris in the Pipe

If there is debris in your pipe, such as leaves or dirt, you can try to flush it out with a garden hose. Attach the hose to an outdoor faucet and turn on the water. Aim the hose into the cleanout plugs located on either side of the blocked section of pipe. The water pressure from the hose should be enough to push the debris out of the pipe and clear the blockage.
Corrosion and cleaning

To prevent soil erosion, the surface of underground metal pipes should be coated with anti-rust paint or tar, asphalt and other anti-corrosion coatings, or covered with asphalt-impregnated glass cloth and linen cloth. Pipelines buried in highly corrosive low-resistance soil must be provided with cathodic protection devices to prevent corrosion. In order to prevent atmospheric corrosion, the steel pipes on the ground are coated with various anti-rust paints on the surface. All kinds of pipes should be cleaned before use, and some pipes should be cleaned regularly. For the convenience of cleaning, a filter or a purge hole is arranged on the pipeline. On pipelines that transport oil and natural gas over long distances, cleaners must be used to regularly remove the dirt accumulated in the pipes, and special devices for sending and receiving cleaners should be set up for this purpose.
How to connect pipes

The connection method between pipes, pipe joints, valves and the inlet and outlet pipes on the equipment is determined by the properties, pressure and temperature of the fluid, as well as the material, size and installation place of the pipes. There are mainly threaded connections, flange connections, sockets and sockets. 4 methods such as joining and welding:

①Threaded connection: mainly suitable for small diameter pipes. When connecting, it is generally necessary to wrap fluoroplastic sealing tape or paint thick paint, and wrap around hemp wire and other sealing materials on the threaded connection part to prevent leakage. When the pressure is above 1.6 MPa, gaskets are generally added to the end face of the pipe to seal. This connection method is simple and can be disassembled and reassembled, but a union must be installed at an appropriate place in the pipeline to facilitate disassembly and assembly.

②Flange connection: the applicable diameter range is large. When connecting, choose different flanges and gaskets according to the nature, pressure and temperature of the fluid, and use bolts to clamp the gasket to keep it sealed. Flange connections are mostly used at pipe sections that need to be disassembled frequently and where pipes and equipment are connected.

③Socket connection: It is used for the connection between cast iron pipes, concrete pipes, clay pipes and their joints. It is only suitable for water supply, drainage and gas pipelines working under low pressure and normal temperature conditions. When connecting, generally fill the slot of the socket with hemp silk, cotton thread or asbestos rope, then fill it with asbestos cement or lead and other materials, and also fill in the rubber sealing ring in the socket to make it have better performance. flexibility, allowing a small amount of movement of the tube.

④Welded connection: This type of connection has the best strength and tightness, and is suitable for various pipelines, saving labor and materials, but the pipe and pipe joints must be cut off when disassembling.