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what is a sweep in plumbing

by Faye Schiller Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

A sweep plumbing bend is a large elbow pipe fitting.

What is a sweep elbow?

A sweep elbow is simply an elbow made out of a bent piece of pipe. There are short radius and long radius versions. To put this into context versus weld elbows, a short radius sweep elbow has a centerline of 3D (3 x the diameter of the elbow) whereas that is considered a long radius on a weld elbow.

Can a long sweep ell be used to hide a pipe?

A long sweep ell will not allow the pipe to remain hidden in the bay, as the joists are nominal 4 x 6's. If I use a long sweep 90, I will have to lower the ceiling in the existing room and the former closet to hide the pipe.

Is there an exception to the sweep rule?

An "exception" to the sweep rules is the closet bend. Enter the part number 329 in the search box: http://www.charlottepipe.com/Documents/DimensionalCatalogs/Plastic_Pipe_Fittings_DC-DWV%28609%29.pdf I looked at the part (4 x 3 Ell) but I don't understand what you're telling me.

Can you use a sweep elbow on a vertical pipe?

You can’t use it to connect two horizontal pipes or a vertical pipe to a horizontal drain. Different situations call for a tee, wye or a long or short sweep elbow. Plus, you can’t use 90-degree vent elbow to change direction in a drain line (unless you really like cleaning out clogs).

What is a sweep elbow?

A sweep elbow is simply an elbow made out of a bent piece of pipe. There are short radius and long radius versions. To put this into context versus weld elbows, a short radius sweep elbow has a centerline of 3D (3 x the diameter of the elbow) whereas that is considered a long radius on a weld elbow.

What is a long sweep 90 used for?

Long sweep 90, this fitting can be Used anywhere in drain and vent system 1/16 bend– 22 1/2 degree bend. This fitting is used to offset drain and vent pipe. Can be used in any position.

What is a sweep 90 elbow?

90° Polished Weld Sweep Elbow to connect separate tubes around a wide range of in-line obstacles.

What is a short sweep fitting?

The short sweep fitting is not to be confused with a quarter bend fitting, which has a short ninety-degree radial bend. The short sweep radius approximates the radius of two one-eighth bends put together. There is a lot of physics going on in a drainage system, especially with regard to changes in direction.

Can a toilet drain have a 90?

A toilet drain can have bends. It's recommended to avoid having a 90-degree bend as this will lead to blockages and unwanted damage. Instead, it's best to restrict the bend to 45-degrees and then place a straight pipe before adding another 45-degree bend.

Why do drains have elbows?

To prevent sewer gasses from entering your living space. The pipe bend known as the trap ensures that there is a water seal separating the sewage system from the inside of your home. Like the rest of the wastewater system, it relies on gravity to keep the water within the bend.

What is the difference between a sweep and a bend?

Sweeps are gradual bends and usually described as anything less than 45deg of bend. And returns are just that, 180deg of bend; making a return to the direction from which it came. These pipe/tube fittings are generally described in one of two different ways; short radius or long radius bends.

When should I use a long sweep elbow?

Long sweep elbow is used for a plumbing that has pipe coming from one direction that turns 90 degrees to go to another direction. Long sweep tee is used in connecting two pipes that are coming from two different directions.

What is a long sweep bend?

Sewer gasketed long sweep bend's purpose is to allow for deflection to an existing or new sewer or drainage line without compromising the flow rate.

Can you put a 90 in a sink drain?

It's fine to have a larger-radius (sweep) 90-degree bend at the base of a vertical drainage stack where the wastewater starts to travel horizontally. It's also a good idea to have a sweep 90-degree fitting where a drain pipe pops out of a wall for a kitchen, vanity or laundry sink.

What does a sanitary tee look like?

A sanitary tee is shaped like the letter 'T', while a Wye is similar to 'Y'. Sanitary tee is used for horizontal to vertical transition, and Wye is used for combining 2 lines into one horizontal line to maintain a flow without causing clogging.

Why is it called a street ell?

Water pipes installed under ground have a female end on one end and a male end on the other. When they go around a corner, they need an elbow, and it looks like the fitting in your hand, just bigger. That's why that is called a street fitting. It is probably a corruption of the word straight.

What is a Weld Elbow?

A weld elbow is a bit of a misnomer in that it’s actually a fitting rather than an elbow - a weld elbow is either cast or forged. Because they’re a type of fitting, they are normally described as short radius although technically there are long radius classifications among weld elbows as well.

Benefits of Weld Elbows

Great for conveying non-abrasive material such as flour, fluid, steam, or air

Applications of Weld Elbows

Weld elbows are typically used in process piping to convey steam, water or chemicals. They can also be used to convey dry bulk materials where there is not an expected abrasion problem.

What is a Sweep Elbow?

A sweep elbow is simply an elbow made out of a bent piece of pipe. There are short radius and long radius versions. To put this into context versus weld elbows, a short radius sweep elbow has a centerline of 3D (3 x the diameter of the elbow) whereas that is considered a long radius on a weld elbow.

The 5 main Differences Between Weld Elbows and Sweep Elbows

Now we’ve covered what weld elbows and sweep elbows are, you can probably see the differences. These differences don’t mean that one is better than the other, more that they are used for different applications and in different industries.

You can fix most household plumbing repairs and even update plumbing fixtures with just a few special tools and a little elbow grease. The work isn't physically challenging. But you do have to know the differences between the many types of pipes, fittings, glue and solder because that's one big area where DIYers often mess up. In addition to not using the right parts, DIYers also make these other common mistakes. Here's how to avoid the top 10 most common plumbing mistakes and get the job done right

You can fix most household plumbing repairs and even update plumbing fixtures with just a few special tools and a little elbow grease. The work isn't physically challenging. But you do have to know the differences between the many types of pipes, fittings, glue and solder because that's one big area where DIYers often mess up.

Overtightening Connections

Overtightening supply tubes, pipe and fittings and toilet bolts is the #1 DIYer mistake. If you crank too hard on a galvanized or black pipe, coupling, tee or elbow, you risk cracking the fitting. The crack may not happen right away, but the excessive force can break the fitting weeks later, causing a flood.

Wrapping Thread Tape Backward or Using the Wrong Tape

PTFE thread tape (commonly called Teflon tape) must wrap clockwise around the threads for it to work properly. But, many DIYers wrap it backward so the tape actually unwinds from the threads as they tighten the fitting. That defeats the whole purpose of using thread tape since it can’t seal if it isn’t embedded in the threads.

Using Drain Cleaners as a First Choice

The easiest way to remove kitchen and bath sink clogs is to use a snake or a barbed drain cleaning tool. Or, simply remove the P-trap and pour out the clog. But too many DIYers reach for the liquid drain cleaner first and they pour in way more than the recommended amount.

Tackling a Plumbing Job Without Spare Parts

DIYers often make the mistake of buying just a cartridge or washer for a faucet repair. But if the washer or cartridge are worn, chances are other faucet parts are worn as well. If you don’t replace the stem seal and gasket and O-rings when replacing the washer or cartridge, you’ll probably wind up with a leaky faucet.

Not Turning Off the Water

Many DIYers think they can leave the water on and quickly swap in a new valve. Yeah, that rarely turns out well. If you can’t attach the new valve or faucet, you’ll have full water pressure flooding the room and dripping down to the lower floors.

Using Too Much Muscle On a Stuck Shut Off Valve

Sink and toilet shut off valves tend to seize when not operated for long periods of time. If you can’t turn the knob by hand, don’t think you can solve the problem by applying more muscle. You’ll not only break off the knob, but you can also break off the valve stem at the same time.

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