Tips for Getting the Right Steel Pipe

Steel pipe is a critical components of many of the things that we use today, making it possible to transport fluids and other goods from public utilities and private companies to our homes and businesses. Getting the right pipe for the job is important—the wrong pipe size or the wrong material can have a detrimental impact. Wasatch Steel has a wide variety of pipe sizes and options so you can get the correct steel pipe for every project that you have.

Efficient Operation
Fluid transport is made possible by an intricate network of pipes, and the most efficient transport requires the right size steel pipe. Pipes come in a variety of diameters, with different wall thicknesses to suit several project types. If you have pipes that are too small, the high fluid velocity created can cause damage to suction lines through cavitation, it can result is too much heat, friction losses and turbulence in pressure lines, and it can cause the moving parts in your pipe system to wear out prematurely, damaging the seals and hoses, which results in higher maintenance costs. On the flip side, if you have pipes that are too large, your system costs will increase due to inefficient flow.

Choosing the Right Material
There are several different options that you have for pipe material. Generally you can choose from metal pipe, non-metal (plastic), or nonmetallic-lined metallic pipe. When your project requires a pipe that is durable and long-lasting, metal is often the correct option. Metal pipes are advantageous because they can withstand much higher pressure, and significant changes in external temperatures don’t impact the pipes. Finally, steel and other metals are sturdier than plastic, so when you lay pipe with metal it means you have the opportunity to put space hangers farther apart, so both your labor costs and your installation costs will go down.

Selecting the Perfect Steel
When you determine that steel is the best option for your project, the next step is to figure out what kind of steel you should use. Wasatch Steel has a huge selection of options for steel pipe, giving you a steel supermarket where you can shop and compare all the options. Here are some of the factors that can impact your choice:

• Corrosive environment, including humidity, chemicals, acidity in the surrounding area, and presence of water or salt water.
• Temperature, since high temperatures can accelerate corrosion and require a higher-grade steel, while low temperatures will require a tougher steel.
• Steel strength required, so you can choose more durable steel if necessary. 
• Whether welding is needed, so you can opt for a more weldable steel such as austenitic steels. Ferritic, duplex, martensitic, and PH grades are harder to weld.
• Non-magnetic properties, if any are preferred or required.
• Formability, if you need to be able to make detailed or intricate shapes.
• Surface finish, for applications that require aesthetic appeal.
• Availability of the material you need.
• Cost of the material you want to use, and your available budget.

Determining Size and Thickness
The final component of getting the right steel pipe from Wasatch Steel is figuring out the size and diameter you need, including the wall thickness. You can figure out the size you need based on projected flow velocities, measured in ft/sec or m/sec. The benefit of shopping for your pipe at the steel supermarket is the wide selection of high quality steel available at Wasatch Steel. You can find several different sizes, thicknesses, and any lengths to suit your needs.