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Hello Friends,
I’m assessing some Kitec pipe here in my shop and am concerned about the reduction in flow rate that the fittings might cause. The 1/2-inch Tee, for instance, only has an inner diameter of just over 5/16-inch over its 2 3/8-inch length. Won’t this cause a serious reduction in flow rates? Does anyone have experience with Kitec-plumbed homes?
Thanks for your help,
Steve
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Steve , I was hoping that someone had used it for plumbing would respond. I used Kitec fittings for my radiant heat . I don't think you will notice the flow drop as the faucets are set to flow less than 2.5 gal/min. Also if you look at most washer type amd gate type shut off valves they are smaller than the dia. of the pipe .
*Steve: I haven't plumbed with Kitec but from the dimensions you give, I can calculate the pressure drop. I use 3 gpm as a typical flow rate for ONE fixture, give the pressure drop per foot of pipe, per fitting and for a typical pipe run. Note that I've assume a little roughness on the inside of the pipe to represent used plastic pipe. Not as bad as used steel pipe but more pressure drop than the manufacturer probably claims for their brand new pipe.½" pipe at 3 gpm would have a pressure drop of 0.126 psi per foot of lengthA ½" ID tight (not sweep) 90 would have a pressure drop of 0.158 psiA 5/16" ID tight (not sweep) 90 would have a pressure drop of 1.09 psiSo for a typical 40 foot run with four 90's, Kitec would have a pressure drop of 9.4 psi, whereas standard ½" copper would drop 5.7 psi. That's a fair difference and the difference would be more extreme if you had two fixtures on the same ½" run. But just like copper, I'd run ¾" to multiple fixtures and drop to ½" only for individual fixtures. -David
*Dave What program are you running?tedd
*Tedd: I just did a Goggle search and found http://www.processassociates.com/process/fluid/dp_1.htmUsing the friction factor charts and/or calculating the Reynold's Number is a pain. Usually I use tables from pipe vendors, but none of them went that small. -David
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Hello Friends,
I'm assessing some Kitec pipe here in my shop and am concerned about the reduction in flow rate that the fittings might cause. The 1/2-inch Tee, for instance, only has an inner diameter of just over 5/16-inch over its 2 3/8-inch length. Won't this cause a serious reduction in flow rates? Does anyone have experience with Kitec-plumbed homes?
Thanks for your help,
Steve