Common Questions About PVC Pipe And PVC Fittings

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.

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