A lesson about iron pipe as a plumbing material - Intro to Plumbing Systems

In this video, we review iron pipe materials as part of our Intro to Plumbing Lesson Series. Remember to watch the other material videos in this series - More about PVC, copper, and PEX
Please support our channel and click subscribe Now!
If you want to learn more - please check out one of our free courses on www.tradeskillsu.com, our learning portal designed to support trades education. The course includes skills exercises, knowledge reviews, and other custom learning elements. Check it out and learn like the pros.
If you teach construction and need instructional resources for your construction training - please check out our website for more information on our free and premium resources. www.teachconstruction.org/
0:00 Black and galvanized iron pipe
4:30 Pipe threads
5:09 Fittings and valves for iron pipe
11:40 Thread sealing materials

[@koreyphan]

There are not many videos that describe iron pipes in such a clear manner. Thank you so much for this!

[@rollyourowntech2902]

This was tremendously helpful as I was making repairs to a water heater, and needed to know about the pipe union fitting.

[@ifixditpd6391]

Good job with explaining iron piping...clear, consise and easy to follow & understand. 👍🤝

[@ConstructionEd]

thanks

[@whiskeyblood7258]

Just found this channel. Great info and very informative. I hope you continue to publish these videos.

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks for the comment - We are making more instructional content and will also be updating some of our old videos. New updates can be found on our website - teachconstruction.org/

[@j.r.moparman2764]

Just found you . Very informative . Comfortable speech speed (not too fast ) you get extra high marks for not having kids, animals, or music in background. Your audience can then get the rich content w/o those distractions.

[@ConstructionEd]

Thank you J.R. You hit on exactly what we are trying to create. We don't make videos for entertainment - we focus on Informational and Educational. Most of what we do is provide Instructional Resources to schools - this channel supports that work. Thanks for the comments - It's a good thing we were not providing automotive mechanic content - I am guessing since I am a Chevy man and It looks like you are a Mopar man - we would disagree on a couple of items.

[@j.r.moparman2764]

A little automotive rivalry is always good & fun !

[@1982nsu]

Ditto. My thoughts exactly. Some channels on various DIY subjects often are filled with distracting pseudo drama, comedy and or music.

[@angelrengifo6041]

Excelente video, muchas gracias, saludos desde Venezuela.

[@ConstructionEd]

Gracias

[@matthieurichard9922]

Thank you I’m currently taking this course in my plumbing apprenticeship program and this helps a lot. Blessings to you

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jesusbarajas6719]

😊0

[@kennedynkhomankonde9182]

You really made me to know the best work

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad to hear it

[@richellereynolds881]

You are awesome! so happy i found you today😎

[@ConstructionEd]

Yay! Thank you!

[@arcvidelos8008]

Thank you for this. Glad the gas water heater has a union fitting.

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad to help

[@nel1803]

Awesome Video. Thank You

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks. We appreciate the comments.

[@martinderome1142]

Wow. Thanks for the clarification about pipe vs tubing related to diameter. BTW your pronunciation is very good making your english easy to understand for non english speaking. Merci!

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks for the comment - we try to make sure that we are a clear as possible. Our content is initially created for our school teacher customers.

[@PBS-nm1uu]

nice, will be looking forward to more of your videos.

[@ConstructionEd]

great - more are coming soon

[@TheSteverad]

Excellent video!!!

[@ConstructionEd]

Thank you very much!

[@Tex200950]

Good explanation !!!

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad you liked it!

[@andranika6203]

Thanks good explanation 👍

[@ConstructionEd]

You are welcome

[@ostadkaar4763]

so useful so thanks

[@ConstructionEd]

thank you and welcome

[@fixman.persian]

so useful thanks

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@captnkurt83]

Thank you.

[@ConstructionEd]

You're welcome!

[@jacktheredd7735]

good video. guy has a pretty nice looking shop, and the bandaid makes it authentic. pipefitters with clean smooth hands are untested

[@ConstructionEd]

Right on, but the bandaid wasn’t from the pipe, but was from a tool

[@DataWaveTaGo]

Well done!

[@ConstructionEd]

thanks

[@BhappyVideos]

Thanks..❤

[@andranika6203]

Thanks

[@ConstructionEd]

Your welcome - thank you for visiting our channel

[@1982nsu]

New subscriber here. I just found your channel. 👍👍

[@ConstructionEd]

Welcome

[@joshcowart2446]

Several things to correct. You could take this videos advice and get by fine. This is more nitpicking than anything. Galvanized is perfectly legal for gas. So is brass for that matter. Coastal areas use it because it holds up better in the sea air than black iron. This is why you put a drip leg before each appliance to catch particles. Also, bushings are illegal to for gas but not for water. I always thought this was odd because water runs at much higher pressures than gas. Though I guess water isn’t as dangerous if it leaks. The last thing is just a nit pick. He said that pex and copper were measured by OD whereas steel pipe is ID. This is incorrect. All plumbing pipes are measured by ID. HVAC labels their copper by OD. In plumbing you have two two designations for OD, IPS (iron pipe size) and CTS(copper tubing size). All pipes will fit in one of these. Steel pipe, brass pipe, pvc, and cast iron are all considered IPS. Copper, pex, and cpvc are all CTS. Though the size is nominal on some. Copper tubing is actually 1/2” ID. Pex however has the same OD but a thicker wall so it’s slightly smaller on the inside.

[@ConstructionEd]

Thank for the additional information.

[@johnjohn-ne8fw]

Very helpful. The only thing I can do to show appreciation is hit the like button and subscribe. I hope others will follow.👍

[@ConstructionEd]

thanks for the subscription

[@Exodia1986Necross]

I’m studying this at the moment in College , and I have an exam in this the coming Thursday 😁

[@ConstructionEd]

I hope the video helped

[@JAWZMUZIK1]

Wow!!!

[@ConstructionEd]

thanks for the comment, glad you liked the lesson

[@rahul26march]

Sir , first your way of speaking is best, people all around world can listen and understand you, giving time in between your words. Sir in our village home in mountain our gi water pipe broke. What should be the distance between two 1/2inch gi pipes, so that we can join them by union.

[@ConstructionEd]

Thank you for your nice words. Where is your village? Your question is hard to answer easily in a comment - maybe we will make a video about how to do what you ask. Here is an attempt at explaining. To determine the proper gap between two pipes in preparation for a union - you can assemble the union and measure the over all length. Then measure the amount of pipe that threads into each union end, and subtract that amount from the overall length of the union assembly.

[@mebernal14]

Awesome video talking about fittings. I have an old home with the galvanized color pipes for natural gas. Can this be an issue?

[@ConstructionEd]

Opinions differ on this - but I have read that it can be an issue over time. It has to do with the chemical makeup of the gas that could break down galvanized pipe. I am no expert, but if I had the choice I would not use the galvanized - but I am sure there are many on KZbin that would argue.

[@ctaylor7089]

In plumbing, copper pipe is measured by inside diameter. In hvac, it is measured by outside diameter. That's why hvac techs call 3/4" copper 7/8".

[@ConstructionEd]

Great and thanks for the addition

[@johnmcentee2762]

If I can make one observation , copper tubing is measured on the ID unless you are working with ACR tubing which is measured on the OD. Otherwise your videos are done nicely. Don't know if your a plumber or pipefitter by trade.

[@ConstructionEd]

we are not plumbers - we primarily create instructional resources for teachers to use - one reason we are only covering the basics. These videos are only a small portion of what we provide to customers - so we figured why not share some of our library with the KZbin learner.

[@algolove185]

What is your opinion about connecting galvanized to pex using brass pex adapter ? I am concerned about dissimilar metal connection and corrosion. If you don't suggest such transition - what is the other way to connect old galv pipe to new pex pipe?

[@ConstructionEd]

Sorry for not responding - I missed this one. Is the old galvanized pipe is just water, you can use PVC to avoid the corrosion issue.

[@ctaylor7089]

Brass to galvanized is exactly how that transition is supposed to be made. If it were copper, your concerns about dissimilar metals would be correct. Pvc is not approved for water transmission within a structure.

[@darrylc5734]

i'm replacing a valve that has no unions with a valve using a union on both ends. i noticed when taking the union apart there's a shoulder that fits within the inside of other side of the union to seal the fitting. when removing the valve by unscrewing the two unions you have to create at least an 1/8 of an inch from each union in order to pull the valve out. how do you create that clearance to remove the valve? hope this make since.

[@johnslaughter5475]

Very interesting. In regards to gas, I've seen that the gas company uses yellow tubing (different sizes), similar to PEX. Can that be used in a house to run the gas lines? When we had our furnace converted from propane to natural gas, the gas company ran the yellow tubing to our meter. The guy who connected the meter to our furnace used black iron pipe. It seems it would've been simpler to use the yellow tubing.

[@ConstructionEd]

The yellow tubing is often used for underground runs

[@johnslaughter5475]

@@ConstructionEd So it's not to be used in running gas into a home?

[@charlesviner1565]

👍

[@ConstructionEd]

thanks

[@vigercool4414]

I wish to know does a union has a particular direction to mount if the fluid would flows from the right to the left?

[@ConstructionEd]

Not to my knowledge.

[@boby115]

@@ConstructionEd, From what I understand ground joint unions are considered non-directional but there have been Studies and old time pipefitters that say there is less restriction if you install the union with the receiving section like a funnel (nut & collar on the supply side . Male thread section on receiving end).

[@lar4305]

question, can pipe sealer be used on the sealing part of a gas pipe union. the matting ends ?

[@ConstructionEd]

as long as you use thread sealant that is rated for the use - gas or water

[@TTURocketDoc]

"Contrary to popular belief, natural gas does not adversely react with the zinc coating on galvanized pipe" -International Code Council, G2414.4.2 (403.4.2) Steel

[@ConstructionEd]

thank you for the reference,

[@kucookucoo1]

in the demo brass values were connected to iron pipes, will that work in real life? corrosion?

[@MrPatdeeee]

You did a good job; except telling us how to align a "union". And I have found this on all video's I have seen. So does it mean it can be left to right or right to left. Or doesn't it matter. Especially working with Natural Gas unions. Which I am doing now. I NEED to add a union; on a pipe carrying natural gas; that I want to go to my new Generator. So do you put it this way or the other way? Or doesn't matter. Please respond.

[@ConstructionEd]

While I am not telling you how you should plumb your gas line for liability reasons, I have been told that unions can be installed in either direction - some folks try to consider the flow direction of the fluid in the pipe and install accordingly. Sorry I can not be more specific.

[@babugandhibose6663]

Firefighting pipeline installation videos please sir 🙏

[@ConstructionEd]

When you say firefighting pipeline - as you asking about fire sprinkler piping?

[@lexlex627]

8:30 union fittings

[@ConstructionEd]

OK thanks

[@MrPhimanh]

What ball valve can install on galvanized pipe ?

[@MrPhimanh]

Can you tell me how to put a ball valve on galvanized pipe without threads ?

[@workingshlub8861]

you can use black iron on CLOSED loop boiler systems....

[@ConstructionEd]

Not sure why you would want to - much more cost than is required.

[@albertl6963]

Can a galvanized cap be used to cap off a gas line with black pipe?

[@workingshlub8861]

just buy a black iron cap..

[@ConstructionEd]

I have to agree with that

[@ortiztuc1]

What's the difference in the black pipe, iron vs. steel? As long as it's black pipe, and either made out of iron or steel be used for natural gas?

[@ConstructionEd]

When running gas pipe you should always use pipe that is specifically stated as used for gas.

[@ortiztuc1]

@@ConstructionEd Thanks 🙏🏼

[@aamirshahzad8060]

What about brass pipes?

[@ConstructionEd]

Brass would follow the same process as Iron or Black Pipe.

[@sleektoneofficial]

Does gas really react badly with galvanized steel?

[@ConstructionEd]

I am told that it does - but it takes time

[@victorbaker4585]

I didn't hear you say that the all the fittings for the black Iron pipe are black Iron, for a clear understanding.

[@ConstructionEd]

It is best to keep all pipe and fittings the same material

[@victorbaker4585]

@@ConstructionEd I ran into another problem trying to learn from sites. I hear there is a gray pipe apparently used for natural gas they stopped using or making in the 1960's. They didn't make clear on that part. Now I wonder because I'm looking at old pipe that has gray fittings that is kind of hard to tell the difference if its true gas line fittings or galvanized. Thank you for your time.

[@user-cf8jb6iv3i]

Hi sir,am paul,am kenyans.am your student,how can i reach you.

[@iamsteve100]

No teflon tape for gas, only water

[@yanchinggao]

gas dope only ,sprinkler use both

[@ConstructionEd]

Thank you for the helpful addition

[@ctaylor7089]

Yellow tape is for gas

[@jacktheredd7735]

onlly OGs call it pipe dope

[@ConstructionEd]

yeah, we have been around for a while

[@DIYHUB87]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIWnhqaglrJ-irc this is how to detach used plumbing materials

[@ConstructionEd]

thanks

[@snakemouth69]

The made in china stamp on all those fittings is a damn shame. To those adrift on their yachts who are to blame for this: we see you and you’re house of cards is coming down.

[@ConstructionEd]

Not sure where to get fittings made in the USA nowadays. I am sure we could not afford them if they were.

[@damont6720]

Why no one talks about gas valves😢

[@ConstructionEd]

Not sure. But they are installed the same way

[@travisbreeden4561]

No

[@ConstructionEd]

yes

[@ctaylor7089]

Man, I have so many things to say about this video so I will sum it up with this. You shouldn't teach anyone about plumbing, especially gas piping.

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks C Taylor, we all look forward to your video correcting what is wrong. I appreciate the constructive feedback.

[@erikgamboa8299]

Great video!!

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad you enjoyed it