3 Types Of Pipe Fabrication Services
Pipes are an integral part of your HVAC system. The pipes that are connected to your furnace or air conditioner are responsible for transporting gases and liquids within the HVAC system itself. Having the right pipes in place will maximize the efficiency and performance of your heating and cooling systems.
When you need specialized pipes, then custom fabrication services can offer a viable solution.
1. Sawing
The most basic type of pipe fabrication process in use today is sawing. Pipes come in standard lengths to help make it easier for manufacturers to produce the materials needed for HVAC installations and repairs.
Many homes are designed to accommodate these standard lengths, but your home might have unique measurements. Sawing allows an HVAC technician to adjust the length of PVC pipe to meet your home's specific needs.
2. Drilling
Another type of pipe fabrication service that might be used when your HVAC system needs to be repaired is drilling. HVAC pipes can be fitted together with special couplings. Many of the couplings that are available on the market feature a threaded design to help create a secure connection.
Drilling can be utilized to create threads on the end of a pipe that has been sawed or cut down to size. These threads allow couplings to screw onto the custom pipes within your HVAC system with ease.
3. Flame Cutting
When your HVAC system features pipes that are constructed from carbon steel or a metal alloy rather than PVC, sawing will not be an effective way to trim off excess length. For the trimming of metal alloy pipes, you will need to use a pipe fabrication process known as flame cutting.
Flame cutting combines heat and oxygen to cut through a section of pipe. The area where you want the pipe to be cut is heated with an oxyfuel flame. Once the temperature reaches the correct setting, a nozzle sprays pure oxygen onto the surface of the pipe. Iron oxides are formed as the oxygen hits the pipe. These oxides create the cut you need.
Additional machining is required after flame cutting to refine the cutting edge and prepare your fabricated pipe for installation.
Altering pipes is an important aspect of any HVAC installation or repair. Understanding the types of fabrication services available will allow you to better utilize these services to customize the pipes that serve your HVAC system in the future.