American VS Canadian Plumbing

[sherky]

I sell faucets and it comes with 1/2"...
is that the standard size for pipes in USA?

In canada we have standard plumbing pipes that tare 3/8"

Can you please let me know?
thanks
Sherky

Sherky Ng
Sales
Johnson and Phillips Canada LTD

[LazyPup]

In the USA the standard for residential potable water supply is to run a 3/4inch main from the street or well source to the point at the water heater where the system divides into Hot and Cold Water systems.

The specific reason for running a 3/4 inch line to the hot/cold split is that volume in a pipe is determined by cross sectional area rather than diameter. When cross sectional area is computed a 3/4in pipe hase twice the volume of a 1/2 inch pipe. Since both the hot and cold water systems are run in 1/2in pipe, the 3/4 main insures an even volume and pressure to both hot and cold systems.


From that point on downstream both the hot and cold water are run in 1/2inch until it reaches the individual stop valve at each fixture. From the stop valve to the faucett assembly we customarily run a 3/8 flex line although in some instances where they have high water pressure it is preferrable to run 1/4 from the stop valve to the faucett to insure a reduction in pressure.

There is a variation of this method when PEX tubing is run. Rather than run the typical main lines with service drops, on a PEX tubing system the main is properly fed to a manifold and a separate line is run to each faucett or fixture. In that case they downsize the line to meet the needs of the individual fixture.

[sherky]

To LazyPup
All our faucets have 1/2" female flexlines so what can we do about it?
is there an easy fix? or an inexpensive way to fix it without going to a specialty store.

could we simply use a reducer to convert it to the 3/4"...and can it just be bought at HomeDepot?

Sherky




Sherky Ng
Sales
Johnson and Phillips Canada LTD

[LazyPup]

In the USA the supply line in the wall is typically a 1/2" line, which is then reduced at the stop valve.

Stop valves are described by the input size from the wall, then the discharge size, thus a stop valve designed to thread onto a 1/2" supply line and serve a 3/8 supply tube would be listed as a
1/2 FIP x 3/8 compression valve.

Supply valves are made with:
3/8", 1/2" & 3/4" FIP (female Iron Pipe thread inputs.)
1/2" sweat inputs (solder to copper)
1/2MIP & 1/2 sweat input (has both 1/2 male thread and 1/2 female solder fitting)
5/8" compression inputs (Will fit directly over 1/2 copper line with a mechanical compression fitting. Do not require soldering)

Stop valve are available with 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" compression outputs


Typically the line from the stop valve to the faucett is 3/8 tubing although it is sometimes 1/4" tubing. To make the conversion from 3/8" to 1/4" we have to use a stop valve with a 1/4" discharge port. We also change the friction washer and cone washer from 3/8" to 1/4". The compression nut on the faucett will accept either one.

Out of convenience, in recent years most people have gotten away from using the flexible tubing and cone washer method and prefer to use the ready made supply lines but either one will work equally well, although i personally believe the cone washer and flexible tubing method is much cheaper and offers a longer service life. (In my jurisdiction the cone washer and flexible tubing method is required in commercial work)

You state that in Canada faucetts typically have a 1/2" flexible line. My question is, are you attempting to use a USA faucett in Canada, or convert a Canadian faucett to work in the USA?

Are the Canadian faucett 1/2" flex lines permanently attached to the faucett or are they threaded on the base of the faucett in the same manner as in the USA?
What material is the 1/2" flex made of?

[sherky]

Thanks a lot.
You've been a great help!

Sherky



Sherky Ng
Sales
Johnson and Phillips Canada LTD

[sherky]

To answer your questions:
You state that in Canada faucetts typically have a 1/2" flexible line. My question is, are you attempting to use a USA faucett in Canada, or convert a Canadian faucett to work in the USA?
Actually the faucets I have are actually from europe.
but I wanted to import faucets that would be compliant with American/Canadian standards

Are the Canadian faucett 1/2" flex lines permanently attached to the faucett or are they threaded on the base of the faucett in the same manner as in the USA?
They actually come with the faucet.
What material is the 1/2" flex made of?
The flexline I believe is a polymer wrapped with metal braid.

Sherky

Sherky Ng
Sales
Johnson and Phillips Canada LTD

[LazyPup]

Importing faucetts from Europe will be another problem entirely because we use SAE (Society of Amrican Engineers) fractional fittings while in Europe they use Metric Fittings. Both the size and thread tapers are different.

However, if the faucetts are supplied with a factory assembled flex line that is made of PEX tubing, which began in Europe and has become a standard there it could be easily retrofitted to US or Canadian Specs by cutting the tip off the tubing and replacing the fitting with the Appropriate BARB x NPT fitting.

[HayZee518]

Lazy I just looked under my kitchen sink and lav faucet in the bathroom, the stubs that come out of the faucets are 1/2" npt - you state they're 3/4 - I know 1/2 inch from 3/4!!

[LazyPup]

Hayze,,TY for catching that error...i had the text right but had the wrong size on the illustration...you will note that i have edited the illustration with the correct size now.