PVC pipes are considered the top choice for plumbers everywhere. Plumbers might disagree on which football team is better than another, but most will agree that PVC is a superior material for pipe replacement in homes.
If your home is due for some pipe repairs or you are worried about roots invading your pipes, then you know how stressful it can be to figure out which pipe materials are beneficial to your home in the long term. At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air, we’ve replaced thousands of pipes with PVC plastic and have had homeowners follow up years later to tell us how their new PVC pipes haven’t had any issues.
Does your home have any pending pipe repairs? We know how effective and affordable PVC pipes are, but most homeowners aren’t aware of this. Take the time to learn about the many advantages and few disadvantages of PVC pipes so you can save money and ensure your home is free from any future piping issues.
PVC Piping Advantages
When you think of pipes for plumbing, chances are PVC pipes are the first thing that comes to mind. The white pipe is made of a synthetic plastic called polyvinyl chloride or PVC. Plumbing companies in Los Angeles are fully aware of the many advantages associated with PVC pipes, such as the following.
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Resistant to Corrosion: Most older homes use galvanized steel, clay, or cast iron pipes for plumbing. These materials are highly prone to corrosion. Corroded pipes can easily crack or break, leading to major leaks in your home’s plumbing and drain system. None of these issues are associated with PVC pipes.
- Easy to Install: Plumbers everywhere enjoy working with PVC pipes thanks to their ease of installation. Unlike steel pipes, PVC pipes are easier to cut to install. PVC pipe installation takes less time than steel pipes, giving you less time without working plumbing pipes.
- Smooth Surface: If you ever touch a PVC pipe, you will notice its smoothness. PVC plastic pipe’s smooth surface provides less friction, producing efficient water flow for your home. Less friction in PVC pipes is also why they are used indoors because it allows for silent water flow.
- Lightweight: Steel pipes are heavy and require more workforce and machinery to carry. PVC plastic pipes are lightweight, which makes them easier to transport and move from one job site to another. Heavier equipment requires more labor, and more labor usually equals higher costs.
- Durable and Strong: PVC pipes are versatile because they can be used for indoor and underground plumbing. According to our technicians, indoor PVC pipes can last around 55 to 80 years, and underground PVC pipes can last 100 years before being replaced.
- Resistant to Low Impact: Underground pipes must be sturdy for water transportation support. PVC plastic pipes for plumbing can handle water pressure without weakening. If it weren’t impact resistant, these pipes would have had a high chance of cracking or breaking. Thanks to PVC’s density, these pipes can withstand high impact. These plastic pipes are resilient enough to withstand small impacts without sustaining any damage.
- Affordable: Homeowners and professional plumbing companies select PVC pipes because of their low cost. PVC pipes are an inexpensive material. Pipe replacement jobs for sewage line repair should cost significantly less PVC than steel pipes, given you don’t run into any major issues along the way. Pipe material is just one of the many things involved with pipe replacement cost, which you can read more about here.
- Easy to Mold: Manufacturers can mold PVC plastic into any shape to fit every home. Because of its easy molding capabilities, PVC plastic is used to make pipes and pipe connections like valves, bends, elbows, and clips.
- Eco-Friendly: Everyone does their part to be more earth-conscious. PVC plastic production produces fewer carbon emissions than galvanized steel and iron pipes. With PVC plastic, you will feel more eco-friendly thanks to fewer carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere.
When it comes to piping materials, PVC plastic has numerous advantages. PVC pipes are available in different diameter sizes and levels of thickness. This design helps plumbers have the suitable pipe that best fits your home.
Most PVC pipes are differentiated from another with various colors. PVC pipes are white but can have the following color marking on them.
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White: drains, waste, ventilation, and cold water supply
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Blue: cold water
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Dark Gray: cold water
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Green: sewer service
PVC pipes are never black to help differentiate them from ABS plastic, another alternative pipe material.
PVC Piping Disadvantages
PVC plastic was designed to be a superior pipe for homes but has a few minor flaws. Here’s a further look into each PVC pipe issue.
- Weak to High Heat: While it may not stand up to heat as well as steel, PVC pipes can still withstand temperatures up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. PVC pipes are vulnerable to fire since it causes the plastic to warp or melt.
- Could Freeze: PVC pipes may freeze during freezing temperatures. A frozen PVC pipe doesn’t always break, but any wet material inside can freeze and cause a buildup. To better deal with freezing weather, some PVC pipes come with insulation. Frozen pipes are more likely to burst whether they’re made of copper or plastic.
History of PVC Pipe
PVC has been around for over 150 years but only became widespread in the last 70 years. According to research, the discovery of PVC plastic happened on two separate occasions.
In 1838, French physicist Henri Victor Regnault first synthesized PVC plastic. Almost 40 years later, in 1872, German chemist Eugen Baumann was able to materialize PVC plastic again. Both scientists were not successful in replicating PVC plastic production. The first patent for PVC plastic wasn’t filed until 1913 by German inventor Friedrich Heinrich August Klatte.
By the mid-1900s, PVC plastic was used worldwide for furniture, flooring, medical tubing, electrical insulation, and more. In the 1980s, scientists made further improvements to PVC plastic as it was beginning to be used more for plumbing in new homes.
Choosing PVC Pipes for My Home
PVC pipes are constantly installed in newly constructed homes all over Los Angeles. PVC piping is very common, but not many people are aware of its pros and cons.
PVC doesn’t have superpowers, but it does have valuable advantages as pipes for your home. Every home deserves to be kept in pristine condition, and that includes plumbing and drain pipes. When your pipes aren’t working, you become stressed since you can’t use the restroom or any fixtures in your home.
At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air, we’ve seen the relief on people’s faces when they learn about the effectiveness of PVC pipes. In our experience, we’ve seen how fantastic PVC pipes are when it comes to saving money for homeowners.
If you want to learn more about PVC pipes for your home, contact us online or call us at (310) 853- 8690. For a side-by-side comparison of different plastic pipe materials, check out PVC vs. ABS plastic to see which plastic pipe suits your home the best.
