What Are PVC Pipes and What Are They Used For?
PVC is one of the most commonly-used plumbing materials
Highlights
PVC is one of the world’s most utilized plumbing materials.
PVC pipes are highly durable and corrosion-resistant.
Water conveyance is the most common use for PVC pipes.
Your plumbing consists of a large network of pipes, and chances are good that at least some of them are made of PVC. This widely-used polymer sees heavy use in both commercial and residential applications. But what are PVC pipes, and how are they used in home plumbing? Our guide breaks it all down.
What Are PVC Pipes?
Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC as it’s better known, is a man-made hydrocarbon polymer that serves as one of the most utilized plumbing materials in the world. While PVC has uses in furniture, flooring, medical tubing, and other areas, its most widespread use is in pipe manufacturing.
PVC as a base material is rigid and brittle, making it unsuitable for a lot of pipework. So most US manufacturers will combine it with different additives to make it more durable. The nature of these additives produces several different types of PVC pipe.
The most commonly used type of PVC in pipework is plasticized PVC. Plasticization is the process of adding bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates to base PVC to soften the material enough to make it more flexible. It’s easier to snake a flexible PVC pipe through a channel than a pipe made from unplasticized PVC, or uPVC.
The Benefits of PVC Pipes
There are many reasons why PVC is widely regarded as one of the most useful construction materials. The most significant is its durability, especially plasticized PVC. PVC pipes can withstand high pressure, temperature fluctuations, and numerous chemical applications.
Another major benefit of using PVC pipes is how budget-friendly they are. Choosing PVC can lower your pipe replacement cost significantly. PVC pipes cost roughly $0.50 to $3 per linear foot. Compare that to copper pipes at $2 to $12 per linear foot and you can see the budget-friendliness of PVC.
PVC Pipe Sizes
Though you can find PVC pipes in various diameters, the two primary sizes are schedule 40 and schedule 80. The difference between the two lies in their pressure ratings, with schedule 80 pipes able to withstand more pressure than schedule 40 thanks to their thicker walls.
Schedule 40 PVC pipes commonly see use in residential drain systems, as the wastewater in domestic lines isn’t under any significant pressure. However, industrial, municipal, and chemical applications require schedule 80 PVC pipes because they require liquids and other materials to travel under high pressure.
What Are The Uses of PVC Pipes?
PVC pipes are popular because of how durable and sturdy the material is. Those qualities lead to multiple residential, industrial, and municipal applications.
Water Transit
The most significant and widespread use of PVC pipes concerns water transit through plumbing systems. The manufacture of PVC pipes for water transit is strictly regulated, owing to how widely used they are.
Due to regulations, manufacturers will increase the chlorine content of base PVC when using it to create pipes for potable water. These chlorinated PVC pipes (PVC-C) boast a more significant resistance to higher temperatures and corrosion. PVC-C’s inherent resistance to oxidative degradation means it can last longer without transferring rust or chemicals into drinking water.
Waste Management
PVC pipes play a vital role in handling and controlling waste materials. Sinks, toilets, and manufacturing equipment all use PVC pipes in their vents and drain systems. Sewers and other municipal wastewater removal systems rely on PVC pipes because of their flexibility, corrosion resistance, and resistance to microbiological film growth.
Chemical Handling and Delivery
Along with being able to stand up to abrasion and corrosion, PVC pipes can handle many chemicals that metals cannot, such as hydrochloric acid. In addition, the chlorine content of PVC pipes gives them increased resistance to chemical degradation and fire spread in the event of a flammable material accident. Due to the high pressure of most chemical transfer systems, schedule 80 is the diameter of PVC pipe for chemical handling and delivery.
Building Infrastructure
PVC pipes can transfer more than just liquids. One of the most significant uses of PVC pipes in building infrastructure is in HVAC and exhaust work. PVC duct or PVC-C duct is commonly used in air conditioning and heating systems thanks to its increased insulation and durability. In addition, the demand for lower-cost building materials has caused a rise in the use of PVC for HVAC and other ventilation systems.
If you want to install or replace pipes in your plumbing, it’s hard to go wrong with PVC pipes. They can handle virtually any task that involves moving water, last for up to 50 years, and get along well with any budget. For your next plumbing project, get in touch with a local plumbing repair specialist to ensure a smooth installation of your PVC pipes.