What type of fitting is commonly used to change the direction of a pipe?

An elbow fitting is commonly used in plumbing to change the direction of a pipe. These fittings are designed with a curved shape that allows water and other fluids to flow smoothly from one pipe to another at various angles, typically at 45 or 90 degrees. This ability to alter the direction is essential in plumbing systems, where space constraints and the layout of the piping often require adjustments in orientation. Elbow fittings create a seamless transition that minimizes flow resistance and turbulence, ensuring the efficient movement of fluids throughout the piping system.

Other types of fittings serve different purposes; for example, straight fittings connect two pipes in a linear fashion, couplings join two segments of the same diameter pipe, and reducers enable the connection of pipes of different diameters by smoothly changing their size. Each fitting type plays a distinct role, but for changing direction specifically, the elbow fitting is the preferred choice.