Stainless steel fittings can be more of an investment than fittings made from other material, such as plastic, but they offer great benefits too.
If you have older galvanised fittings, steel or other, you will want to keep an eye on these over time, especially on the pump section of your units. Older galvanised pipes and fittings tend to form a rust that builds up on the inside.
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Corrosive environments
Corrosion in galvanised fittings can reduce the flow of water, sometimes drastically. Resulting problems could include low delivery flow and even cavitation, which will drastically shorten the life of the pump and its component parts. Also, corrosion build up can cause automatic controllers on your pumps to have faults and stop working.
One of the best ways to avoid corrosion is to use stainless steel, which is mixed with other metals like nickel and chrome.
Wet or marine environments
Issues with galvanised pipes are accentuated
- if the fittings are in a wet environment or
- where you expect a lot of water, salt, or acidic conditions or
- where your parts will be exposed to the weather.
For projects where this is a concern, we strongly advise the use of stainless steel fittings.
Great for extreme temperatures
Another advantage of stainless steel is that some grades of the material can endure extreme temperatures, whether boiling hot or bitterly cold.
Thin pipes
Also, when you choose stainless steel, your pipes can be made thinner, reducing material costs and making installation easier.
Easy to maintain
Stainless steel is really easy to maintain over its life. It will last longer than other materials, it looks great, and it is easy to deal to when it comes to maintenance and upkeep.
Are stainless steel fittings that much more expensive?
Having said all of the above, for some customers the issue with stainless steel is price. Often plastic/PVC is the go-to option when cost is a consideration, but stainless steel is still quite affordable for the extra durability you get and can be a superior option in many cases.
We challenge you to compare the prices of the two fittings. You'll find elbows, tees, and some of the other most-used fittings are only a gold coin or more in stainless.