Piping your house after the final construction is over is probably one of the most important steps of constructing houses. PVC pipes are the first choice of piping material for most homeowners. All PVC pipes have their unique characteristics and properties. The type of PVC pipe you would want to use depends on the type of project you are in. For instance- if you live in an area with a lot of pressure, you should use UPVC pipes or PVC-Hi pipes.
PVC pipes account for more than 66 percent of all new piping systems in the United States. Their flexibility and strength make them an ideal choice for most projects. Additionally, their low costs and high tensile strength makes them a pocket-friendly option.
Let us cast a glance at some of the important uses of PVC pipes-
● Plumbing projects- this is the most widely known application of PVC pipes. They are more cost-efficient and durable as compared to ceramic or copper pipes.
● Waste transportation- they provide an efficient network of drainage for most waste management projects.
PVC pipes main applications-
● Water transportation
● Irrigation
● Sewers
● Water service lines
● Drain-waste-vent
● Conduit
● Industrial drainage
PVC pipes come in a variety of colors. These colors indicate the application they are suitable for. A few examples are as follows-
● For coldwater piping, the color is white, dark grey and blue.
● For drain-waste-vent, the color is white
● For low-pressure areas and applications, the color is white
● For industrial applications, the color is dark gray.
● For sewer applications, the color is green.
Let us look at the advantages of using PVC as piping material for our homes-
1. PVC water pipes do not affect the quality of water being transported– one of the most significant advantages of using PVC pipes is that it doesn’t hamper the quality of water. PVC is free of chemicals, such as lead, that are most commonly found in metal pipes. This way, it does not react with water. PVC has a smooth interior wall made of non-biodegradable material that also prevents any deposition from taking place.
2. Long-lasting service– PVC is corrosion-resistant, meaning it does not degrade in quality. This does not require homeowners to use a corrosion-protection method or device and save up on additional costs. Most metal pipes require an additional layer of coating and sleeving to maintain their internal quality. In comparison, PVC is immune to long-term internal and external damage. PVC pipes are also resistant to high-pressure drilling during trenchless construction.
3. Strength and durability- PVC pipes are capable of handling near about 30mm of ground cover. Most PVC pipes have a stiffness rating of 145,000 N/m/m. Moreover, PVC pipes are flexible and can handle ground movements without suffering any breakages. PVC pipes are not prone to sagging over time, unlike pipes made of plastic. PVC has been used as a trusted source of drainage and transportation since the 1950s. According to researchers, PVC pipes have a long-standing service life of about more than 100 years.
4. Leakage protection– PVC pipes are widely used for water distribution projects and channels. The main reason for this is that they offer leak-proof protection.
5. Maintenance costs– PVC pipes do not require high maintenance costs. Most of the PVC maintenance material and equipment is available in local shops. Moreover, PVC pipes are compatible with iron pipes, thus allowing for easy installation and renovation. As compared to HDPE pipes, PVC pipes have four times more resistance to thermal expansion and contraction.
6. Anti-crack features– PVC pipes have the ability to bend when pressure is applied to them. This makes them less prone to cracks and breaks.
7. Eco-friendly – PVC pipes are sustainable solutions to all drainage based issues. They have the lowest carbon footprint amongst all other types of pipes. As per research, PVC is derived from 57 percent salt, which is available abundantly.
Apart from the above-mentioned features, PVC water pipes also have a superior strength to weight ratio, making them the most economical pipes in the market at present.
