PVC piping is the most common type of pipe used in residential and commercial construction. When a section has been compromised, it’s not easy to fix on your own. Here are three helpful tips for finding, fixing, and preventing such problems.
Why Does PVC Pipe Break?
PVC is a strong material, but like others, it can break in certain circumstances. The breaking point of PVC pipe is quite high. Most PVC pipes have a pressure rating of 300 psi, which means they can withstand up to that much water pressure without bursting. In addition, PVC pipe has a tensile strength, or the ability to be pulled apart without breaking, of around 4,000 psi. This means that changes in the structure of a building or home during an earthquake or other natural event will be less likely to damage the PVC pipes.
Why PVC Pipe Is The Best Option
PVC piping is a popular material in plumbing. It has many benefits such as being lightweight, durable, and easy to install. However, it also has its drawbacks like the fact that it can be easily damaged by water.
When it comes to pipes, PVC is unquestionably the best. It’s a plumber’s best buddy as well as a homeowner’s best friend. It may also be used to make everything a do-it-yourselfer can think of (from wine racks to swingsets, check out some of the most creative and innovative uses for PVC piping on the internet).
What makes PVC—or polyvinyl chloride, as it’s often known—so unique? It’s lightweight, crush-resistant, inexpensive, and comes in a variety of lengths. It’s rust-resistant and sturdy under pressure. Plus, unlike copper tubing, PVC tubing resists corrosion and is very long-lasting, requiring just a cut and some adhesive to replace.
How To Use PVC Pipe For Plumbing
But, before you start your next job using PVC pipe, here are five things to keep in mind, along with some helpful hints.
1. Make a Straight Cut
When cutting PVC pipe, use a fine-tooth saw with a blade that is 3-4 inches long (any longer and it will buckle). While amateurs may grab for a hacksaw, the hacksaw’s tiny blade is prone to wandering, resulting in awkward cuts that may not fit as tightly into the fitting.
Purchase a manual miter box and saw if you expect to conduct a lot of work with PVC pipe in the future. It’s less expensive and more accurate than a power miter saw; the box keeps the pipe in place for square or angled cuts, and the saw blade is short and fine-toothed with additional support to prevent buckling.
2. Remove the Burr in the Pipe
You’re likely to find some raised edges or flakes of plastic (also known as burrs) left behind after cutting the PVC pipe. These have to go; if they’re left within the pipe, they’ll gather dirt and limit water flow; if they’re left outside the pipe, they’ll make it difficult to make a tight connection. Hand removal, carving off with a utility knife, or sanding away with sandpaper are all common options.
3. Use the Primer.
Spreading cement primer on the inner and outside of the pipe and fitting is a vital step that some DIYers may overlook to save time. First, it softens the top layer of plastic, allowing the “melting process” described in step six to proceed more smoothly. Second, it cleans the ends to ensure that the solvent adheres well and that the fit is free of debris.
4. Make a Statement
Because PVC cement dries quickly, there’s little time to make adjustments once you’ve spread it on and connected your pipes. Join the pipes together while they are still dry and create alignment lines so you can readily identify the place of connection when you put the solvent on and connect the two ends for fittings that need perfect orientation.
When installing plumbing, make sure the text on the pipe faces outward so that the pipe type and size may be readily identified afterward. If and when you decide to sell the house, this will make future home inspections much simpler.
5. Glue the Two Together
PVC cement works by melting the top plastic layer on pipes and fittings and fusing them together to produce an air- and water-tight seal. As previously said, after you’ve placed the cement, you must work quickly. Push the pipe into the fitting until it reaches the hub’s bottom. Twist back and forth to uniformly distribute the solvent, and if you’ve created markings, make sure they’re aligned. Then, to establish a firm binding, hold the parts together for 30-60 seconds. Using a moist towel, wipe away any excess cement.
Vapors from primers and solvents may cause light-headedness and throat discomfort in a matter of seconds, or they might harm your eyes. Make sure you have enough ventilation or use a valved respirator mask to prevent any bad consequences.
Getting in Touch with A PVC Expert
Remember, everyone makes mistakes…that’s what makes PVC pipe so awesome! Simply cut away the error and rebuild using a PVC double-ended socket or a transition coupling if you realize you’ve measured improperly or made an inappropriate connection. If you’d rather have a professional do the job (or if spring is approaching and you’re thinking about relining old PVC pipes), a local plumber can probably help you.
PVC piping is a popular plumbing option that is used in many homes and businesses. One of the most common issues with PVC pipes is the connection between the two ends. If one end of the pipe has been joined, it can be fixed by adding a rubber coupling to both ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you connect PVC pipes together?
A: If you are using PVC to make a pipe system, there is only one way to do it. You will need to use your hands or some other tool in order for the pieces of PVC that make up each joint of your piping system be connected together.
What do you use to keep PVC pipes together?
A: PVC is used to make a type of pipe that is widely used in industry. Its made out of polyvinyl chloride which then goes through an extrusion process, where it gets stretched and rolled into the desired shape before being mixed with other chemicals like epoxy resin and barium sulfate.
How do you connect misaligned PVC pipe?
A: The pipe should be connected by inserting a piece of PVC material into the two holes at either end and then pushing it together.
Remember, plumbing problems may not be related solely to PVC pipes. For more, check out How to Detect a Silent Toilet Leak.
Related Tags
- how to connect pvc pipes of different sizes
- how to connect pvc pipe to elbow
- how to connect pvc pipe without threads
- joining pvc pipes and fittings
- how to screw pvc pipes together