What type of fitting is commonly used to change the direction of pipe flow by 90 degrees?

An elbow fitting is specifically designed to change the direction of pipe flow by 90 degrees, making it one of the most common fittings used in plumbing systems. These fittings come in various angles, such as 90 degrees and 45 degrees, allowing for effective routing of pipes in different configurations while maintaining flow efficiency.

In plumbing, the ability to redirect flow is crucial, especially in tight spaces or complex layouts, and elbow fittings serve this purpose efficiently. Their curvature is engineered to minimize turbulence and pressure loss as fluid passes through, which is vital for maintaining the overall performance of the plumbing system. While other fittings serve different functions—unions connect two pipes for ease of disassembly, couplings join two sections of pipe in a straight run, and reducers change pipe diameters—none fulfill the specific role of turning the direction of flow by 90 degrees quite like elbow fittings.