Month: October 2015

While most people think of PVC pipe as plumbing material, and it certainly is used in that capacity, there is an increasing demand for PVC pipe furniture. This is stylish, easy to make, and it allows for unlimited configurations thanks to all the different PVC pipe fittings to make any joint or angle possible.

The unique thing about PVC furniture is it is a great do-it-yourself project that requires nothing in the way of special tools. All you will need is a saw, some PVC glue, and a little bit of imagination. There are even free patterns online that identify just how to make different chairs, tables, benches and more elaborate items and provide you with the specific fittings you need to have.

Connecting Corners

For connecting multiple pieces of PVC pipe or to make specific joints and corners, some of the most practical options are the three to six way fittings. These allow three or more lengths of PVC pipe to be joined at a corner in a neat corner or central component depending on the design.

For example, the three way PVC pipe fittings will made the top edge of a table or the seat on a chair as they provide the option to bring the two top pipes together to form the right angle, with the third part of the 3-way connecting the leg to make the full corner with support.

Adding Details

While the various types of connectors for corners, or elbows which offer a variety of gradual corner options for arms or other types of bends and shape, and important pipe fittings in furniture making, there are also details to add as well.

Caps are important as they can act as either the top of a fixture or furniture item, as well as to protect the flooring and the PVC pipe making up the legs. These caps some in a variety of different options from flat to domed and from threaded to slip on types of designs.

For attaching the cloth to the frame, there are specialized fittings known as snap clamps. These are ideal for all types of uses, particularly if the fabric, covering or tarp needs to be removed for storage.

By choosing the right PVC pipe fittings for the job, you can make your own PVC furniture for your home, yard or just for fun. Be sure to ask for the hi gloss furniture grade pipe if you want something that is strong and great looking.

If you have some furniture you have make from PVC, or anything else of interest, send us a picture, we would be really interested in what you have.

With over 40 years in the business of PVC pipe and PVC fittings, we have heard a lot of different questions that tend to be asked by many of our customers. There is a significant amount of misunderstanding and misinformation online about different aspects of working with PVC pipe and fittings, and often simply providing the right information will allow the customers to know just what they want for their project.

To help clarify many of the issues with PVC pipe and fittings, let’s take a closer look at the most common questions and the answers that are helpful in getting the record straight.

What is Sch 40 and Sch 80 PVC?

Schedule 40 and schedule 80 PVC are the most common types of rigid PVC pipe. They can now be found in different colors, but sch 40 tends to be white, and sch 80 is typically gray. The schedule 80 pipe is thicker in the diameter of the wall of the pipe that sch 40 and is more commonly used when pressure is a factor in the pipe.

The outside diameter is the same for the pipe, the inside diameter will vary based on the thickness of the wall. When choosing PVC fittings to work with either flex PVC or standard PVC you will need to know the specific types and size of the pipe to choose the right fitting.

Can PVC pipe be used for chemicals?

Since there are so many different types of PVC pipe it is important to realize that this is not a simple yes or no answer. Instead, it will be important to check a PVC chemical resistance chart to determine if it is a good option or not.

While PVC fittings and pipe are generally safe for use, they can be damaged by some chemicals. Remember if the PVC pipe isn’t considered acceptable for specific types of chemicals, then the fittings shouldn’t be used either. Also, check for concentration limitations on the rating as well, although this doesn’t apply to all chemicals and mostly just the acids.

What is the best option for gluing PVC pipes and fittings?

There are a lot of different options out there in the plumbing section of any local hardware store for gluing PVC fittings to PVC pipe of any kind, both rigid and flexible.

The lowest cost, easiest and most dependable option is using traditional primer and PVC pipe cement, which is readily available in any hardware store and even department stores. The other option is to use Gorilla Glue, which is very popular when the pipe is used with aquariums or for irritation since it is organic and non-toxic.

Be sure to look around on the website, including the FAQ page, for more information on PVC pipe, flexible pipe and everything you need to know about our fittings.

As do-it-yourself home repair person, or even a professional installer, having a good understanding of the different types of PVC check valves on the market can help you in selecting the right part of the job.

There are many applications that use check valves, which can also go by a variety of different names including a non-return valve, a one-way valve, or a clack valve. As the names implies, the purpose of any check valve is to allow a liquid, or less commonly a gas, to flow through the system but only go in one direction.

How a Check Valve Works

There are several different types of check valves available, including air diaphragms, ball check valves, swing check valves and compression swing or diaphragm spring check valves. At FlexPVC, you will find both PVC valves as well as anti-corrosion stainless steel or Hastelloy options.

In essence all PVC check valves, or any check valves, operate using the same operating principles. Since they are simple valves that operate based on flow pressure they don’t require any calibration or specialized installation. This also makes them a low-cost option for any type of system where fluid or gas flow will only be needed in one direction.

All check valves have to be installed with the direction of flow in mind. As the liquid or gas moves through the system, the pressure forces the valve, or the ball, or the diaphragm to open, allowing the liquid to flow in the desired direction. Should the system fail past the check valve and the liquid or gas try to reverse direction the increasing pressure on the downside of the valve simply causes the valve, ball or diaphragm to reverse position, effectively sealing the valve and preventing backflow.

What to Consider

Depending on the use, and the size of the pipe in the system, there may be more than one option in PVC check valves for any given requirement. There are some valves that come in a variety of colors to match with the corresponding PVC pipe. This is important in areas where the system is visible and aesthetics are important.

There are also clear PVC check valves that can also be found in white or gray, but the clear provides the ability to see the valve and ensure that it is allowing the flow of liquid or gas through the system, which can be very important in identifying system failures or verifying system components are in top working order.

If you are doing some home repairs or upgrades to your residential irrigation system, or perhaps putting in a swimming pool or a hot tub, you may find that using flexible pipe can help to make your job a lot less complicated.

What are you plumbing?

All types of pipe are designed for specific use parameters. This is true if it is the flexible PVC pipe or if it is rigid pipe. The good news is that with the new types of PVC pipes temperature, at least in home use, this won’t be a problem.

There are different colors and sizes of flexible pipe, and there are only some pipes that can be used for potable or drinking water. It is important to carefully consider this when purchasing your pipe to avoid getting it home and finding out you have the wrong materials.

If you are going to use the pipe to provide water to an aquarium or for any type of watering of animals or plants, it is important to rinse it out first. This will remove any chemical residue that may be present in the pipe from either manufacturing or storage.

Rough Terrain

To be able to avoid a lot of fittings and connectors, the ability to bend offered with flexible hose or pipe is amazing. You can easily position the pipe as need and while you can’t make a right angle you can create the same directional change with a bend that will eliminate the need for a right angle fixture. This helps to reduce the risk of possible leaks and also to help to maintain high water pressure even when the run is long.

Another thing to consider is the flexible pipe is going to fit into the trench you dig, and you don’t have to worry about keeping in completely even or level. This means you can avoid having to move huge rocks or digging deep if you have an elevated part of the lawn or a low spot you have to accommodate for along the path.

While any PVC flexible pipe should be protected from direct sunlight to avoid any damage, this is simple to accomplish by simply covering it with dirt or taping any exposed areas to avoid any degradation from UV rays.

At FlexPVC with over 40 years of experience in working with all types of PVC pipe, fittings, and systems that experience translates into support and advice for those taking on these projects. Surprisingly, with just a bit of planning and a little bit of reading you can easily choose the materials you need to get the job done right the first time.