Interstate Metal is a leader in manufacturing copper tubes. With over three decades of experience, we have state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to create high-quality products that meet your project needs. We manufacture copper tubes with excellent electrical and thermal conductivity as well as corrosion resistance when exposed to weather, soil, and water.
If your project requires copper tubes, knowledge about these products will help you choose the best option. Continue reading to learn more as we take a deeper look at the various uses, sizes, and types of copper tubes.
What Are Copper Tubes Used For?
Copper tubes are important in the plumbing and HVAC industries. Both retrofitted and new industrial, commercial, and residential installations require copper tubes as paths for refrigerants to flow between components. Copper tubing is available in hard-drawn and soft tempers and a range of wall thicknesses and diameters. Standard fittings are designed to fit most system applications, and joints are reliable and cost-effective to produce. Sizing, fittings, and installation layout must be precisely specified for the system to run efficiently.
Another key function of copper tubing is to protect the refrigerant from environmental exposure and, therefore, from absorbing heat from the atmosphere. The copper tube should be insulated between the compressor and the evaporator on the low-pressure side of the system. This is why insulation material wrapping is often seen around copper tubing. Wrapping also prevents condensation on the tubes.
Sizes of Copper Tubes
Copper tube sizes vary depending on the type of copper temper. The two basic copper tube types are hard-drawn and soft.
Hard-Drawn Copper
Hard-drawn copper tubes are stiff, rigid, and not easily bent. The commonly available lengths of hard-drawn copper are 10 feet or 20 feet. There are three standard weights with their own wall thickness: Type K, Type L, and Type M.
Type K has the thickest walls, Type M has the thinnest walls, and Type L falls between them. Type L outer diameters often range from 3/8 inch to 25/8 inch. Thicker types are best for applications that require higher pressures.
Soft Copper
This type is flexible and available in 25-feet or 50-feet rolls. The outer diameter typically ranges from 1/8 inch to 1 3/8 inch. These tubings have ACR markings that indicate air-conditioning and refrigeration use. In the production process of soft copper tubes, they are cleaned and dehydrated to remove moisture. Then the tubes are filled with nitrogen gas before being sealed.
Types of Copper Tubes
These are the four main types of copper tubes we offer at Interstate Metal:
- Copper Plumbing Tubes
- Copper ACR Clean and Cap Tubes
- Copper Refrigeration Pan Cake Coil Tubes
- ACR Series Level Wounded Copper (LWC) Tube Coils
Copper Plumbing Tubes
Our copper plumbing tubes are made from C122 alloys and come in Type L and Type K. Their nominal outside diameter (OD) ranges from 3/8 to 8 inches.
Copper ACR Clean and Cap Tubes
These hard-drawn ACR copper clean and cap tubes are either ACR L or ACR K. Their ODs range from ⅞ to 4⅛ inches. The 20-feet long tubes are alloy type C122.
Copper Refrigeration Pancake Coil Tubes
Copper refrigeration coil tubes are soft temper, and their alloy type is C122. Outside diameters range from 5/16 to 1 ⅜ inches, and they are available in 50 feet and 100 feet lengths.
ACR Series Level Wounded Copper (LWC) Tube Coils
ACR Series Level Wounded Copper (LWC) tube coils are smooth and rifle. They are manufactured from alloy C122 and have outside diameter sizes ranging from 3/16 to 7/8 inches. They are also available in two temper types: O50 and O60.
Your Partner for Copper Tubes
Interstate Metal is the place to go when you need copper tubes. We are leaders in manufacturing and distributing tubes from copper and other materials, including aluminum and brass. We can provide your preferred shapes and sizes for any tubes to suit your project needs.
With our vast warehouse and state-of-the-art mill, we can fulfill custom and standard orders for immediate shipping or pickup. Our team is standing by to provide any technical assistance you may need. Contact Interstate Metal for more information about copper tubes, or request a quote from us today.