Press-connect fittings
Fittings joined with a press tool instead of a torch: how the systems compare, what tooling they need, and how to verify acceptance under applicable local codes.
Research in progress
Plumbing product guide
Know what you are buying before it goes in the wall.
Independent plumbing product research for contractors, property managers and homeowners across the United States: what a product is, how it compares, and what to check before you buy or install it. This is a guide, not a store.
How this guide works
Research, comparison and referral. Nothing is sold here.
Brathwaite Business LLC does not stock, sell or ship plumbing products. This page exists to help contractors, property managers and homeowners compare products and point to where they can be bought from retailers and distributors.
The guide is independent of manufacturers and distributors. No company listed here has paid for placement, and none is endorsed unless this page says that a formal partnership exists.
Product categories
What the guide will cover.
Plumbing rules differ by state, city and building. A product that is accepted in one place can be restricted in another, so nothing is listed as approved for your area until it has been checked and sourced. Every category below is still under research.
PEX
Flexible tubing for water supply: the main types, the connection methods, and where local codes allow or limit it.
Research in progress
HDPE
High-density polyethylene pipe: where it is used, how it is joined, and what to confirm before specifying it.
Research in progress
Leak-detection systems
Sensors, monitors and automatic shutoffs: what they detect, how they are installed, and how they differ.
Research in progress
Inspection cameras
Drain and pipe inspection cameras: what to compare in cable length, image quality and durability.
Research in progress
Faucets & fixtures
Kitchen and bath faucets, supply lines, and the markings to look for on the product and its box.
Research in progress
Valves & shutoffs
Angle stops, ball valves and shutoff valves, and what to confirm before replacing them.
Research in progress
Drains & traps
Traps, strainers and drain parts, with what to check before replacing them.
Research in progress
Tools & supplies
Hand tools, tape, sealants and testing supplies for routine work and maintenance.
Research in progress
New York City section
NYC code verification: check before you buy, and again before you install.
New York City has its own plumbing rules, and they are enforced on the job, not on a website. Products in the NYC section will be listed only after they have been checked against the NYC Plumbing Code and sourced here.
Outside New York City the same habit applies: check your state and local code, and ask your inspector or licensed plumber.
-
Ask the licensed plumber who will do the work. Most plumbing work in New York City must be done by a licensed plumber. Ask them which products they will accept before you purchase anything.
-
Confirm against the current NYC rules. Check the NYC Plumbing Code on the NYC Department of Buildings codes page. Codes are amended, so do not rely on an old answer, and confirm which code edition applies to your project.
-
Read the product itself. Look for markings, listings and approvals on the product and its packaging, and keep the receipt and packaging until the work is inspected or signed off.
-
Check your building. Co-ops, condominiums and landlords can have their own rules about who may work on plumbing and what may be installed.
Disclosure & privacy
What you should know about this page.
Affiliate disclosure. This page does not currently contain affiliate links. If that changes, each affiliate link will be clearly marked, and Brathwaite Business LLC may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no added cost to you. Commissions will not decide which products are listed or how they are ranked.
Not professional advice. This guide is general information. It is not plumbing, legal or engineering advice, and it does not replace the judgment of a licensed plumber or the requirements of your local authority.
Privacy. This page has no accounts, forms or tracking tools of its own. It loads fonts from Google Fonts, so Google receives a standard web request when the page loads, and the site’s host keeps ordinary server logs. If outside links are added later, the sites they lead to will have their own privacy practices.
Contact
Corrections, questions, or a product you would like researched:
bernard@brathwaitebusiness.com