Out of the various piping materials, there are available to contractors, aluminum is the rising choice among the professionals. It is more and more common to see aluminum piping replace galvanized steel, copper, or even plastic. Aluminum pipe is less susceptible to corrosion and less resistant to airflow making them overall more energy efficient. Uneven surfaces and build-ups can cause obstructions with many other leading materials causing a great deal of resistance. Having a pipe with a smoother surface and a material resistant to corrosion makes your overall air system run much more efficient.

Efficiency and Cost with Aluminum Pipe Fittings

One major cost factor of pipe systems is the installation process. When installing materials such as steel, the pipes need to be threaded and joined for a proper fitting. This means that for the installation process special threading equipment and skilled workers are needed to perform the labor, further driving up costs. Threading steel is also a fairly dirty job. It requires cutting fluid and creates a great deal of debris, which all must be cleaned out before using your compressed air pipeline.

Aluminum Pipe Standing Up to Pressure

Aluminum pipe compressed air systems are not only more efficient, they are safer as well. It is against OSHA standards to use PVC piping for air systems. PVC becomes brittle with time and can actually explode when transporting high-pressured air. Aluminum pipes are lighter like a PVC option, yet they provide enough durability to stand up to a pressurized system.

Aluminum Pipe Avoiding System Leaks

One issue with steel and copper that most people run into is that the threading connections can leak over time. It’s estimated that 8-10% of the air is lost in a compressed air system through the connections if the threads are not airtight. This can cause the system to work harder to keep up with the lost air and lose its overall efficiency.