PVC is the abbreviation for polyvinyl chloride. It is a synthetic (artificial) plastic that has exceptional stability and stress tolerance capacity. Similarly, these material has been approved to be used as drain pipes. This is the reason it is mostly present outside irrigation systems. The only reason for not using it as an indoor water supply system is it does not have much capacity of tolerating high temperatures.
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How To Fit PVC
The method of fitting PVC together makes it easier than older stuff used in the fitting of these pipes. They can be cut off easily with a regular saw, and a variety of other handy tees, unions, and other fittings are accessible for the assemblage of a system.
4 Major Ways To Repair
PVC pipes and other joint fittings are generally connected with the help of a glue that is PVC solvent. These connections are rapid and long-lasting. This is because plastic parts are chemically fused with solvent cement altogether. In case of a leak in the pipe or a joint, or another issue, you will not be able to segregate the damaged joint or replace the leaked parts.
The only solution is to cut the damaged part and install new couplings to the replacement parts. The other option could be re-plumbing the whole section of the pipe that is piping it entirely. But if you got a leak in a PVC drainage system pipe, you can opt for a permeant repair, though it often can be fixed temporarily. The reason behind this is that the drainpipes are not, as such, pressurized. So, these make temporary fixes relatively beneficial.
Similar repairing techniques will also be useful for ABS pipes that also fall in the same unpressurized category. The only difference is that the PVC pipes are typically cream or white-colored, whereas ABS drain pipes are black. However, CPVC-based plastic pipes are pressurized and made up of plastic water supply pipes.
That is why these are not perfect for utilizing the same repairing methods for making a temporary fix. These are also cream or white-colored, irrespective of the thing that they got typically small diameter that is ½ or ¾ inch in diameter. The biggest advantage of these pipes is that the leaks can be easily found as the pressure lets the water squirt out from those leaks, making it highly noticeable.
Silicone and Rubber Repair Tape
This is a hard, heavy-duty tape. It does not stick to the portion you are fixing; instead, it sticks to itself. It is flexible and a bit gummy so it can easily be stretched and glued to itself. This ensures that the compression of tape wraps is increased.
The first step is to wrap the tape around the leaky portions of PC pipes or joints very tightly. The next step is to extend the wraps well, covering the whole repair area. The benefit of using the repair tape is that it can be wrapped around the leaky part in a spiral way at a significant distance when there is a lengthwise split in a pipe. Also, it is a bit difficult to apply to hard-to-reach spaces.
Renovate Epoxies
These are manufactured to bond to PVC and other plastics that are usually present in liquid (syringe) and putty dosage forms in the market. Both can repair PVC pipe and joint leaks.
First of all, dry the specific area and then apply the epoxy as per the directions delivered by the manufacturer. Most of the types set in approximately 25 minutes but may take almost an hour or extra time to reach the maximum strength. Liquid epoxy, because of its thinner consistency, is best suitable for tight spaces; for example, the drain pipes having gaps in studs or the other framing stuff.
Fiber Glass Wrap-Up
Fiberglass cloth is coated with water-activated resin. In order to use it, first, you must properly dip the cloth in water and then wrap it around the leaky joints or PVC pipe. Then, let the resin settle and get hard for 10 or 15 minutes. To get excellent results, follow the directions carefully as provided by the manufacturer. It is better to extend it approximately to 2 inches from every site of the leaked portion.
Hose Clamps and Rubber
If you encounter a leak in a pipe or joint, the best applicable thing is down and dirty repair that is temporary, and a heavy piece of rubber or a couple of hose clamps are best suited for this purpose. You don’t need to visit the store for supplies. If the leak is isolated to one area and not cracked down the length of a piece or joint of pipe, then you can place a rubber piece around it.
The hose clamps should be all opened so you can isolate them wrap them around the pipe. Once, the rubber is wrapped around the leaky portions, then tighten the hose clamp at both edges of the rubber. This will aid in compressing the piece of rubber at the leaky site. This helps in stopping or minimizing the leak at max. In that period, you will find the time to get a permanent repair.
The best functioning area of this pipe is on a smooth space, where the rubber is strongly bonded with the surface of the pipe. Moreover, it has poor working on contours or on ends where pipes have fittings. The fittings and pipes are bonded with glue or by a solvent cement that practically melts the topmost layer of plastic on each pipe and fitting. In this way, these merge well and form air-tight joints.
Conclusion
There are few major ways to fix leaky PVC joints or parts in the drain line or elsewhere. Here above, some of the methods are listed that will aid in repairing the leaky areas of PVC pipes. The drain lines leaks are mostly not visible, till you notice a discoloration in the roof or get some other hints. Hopefully, you will find these fixing methods to be quite beneficial.