How Long Do Plastic Plumbing Pipes Last?

Considering installing plastic plumbing pipes? Here’s how long they’ll last you.

PVC is one of the most popular materials in the plumbing industry and is well-known for its durability.

While it’s estimated that PVC pipes will last about 100 years (!), various factors – such as what they’re exposed to and how they’re installed – will determine exactly how long they can survive.

Luckily though, there are things you can do to help prevent deterioration and prolong their lifespan.

The experts here at Total Pipes discuss some of them in this article.

Protect PVC  pipes from sun exposure

Sun exposure is one of the most harmful things for PVC pipes.

Above-ground pipes are particularly vulnerable, as the UV rays from the sun can break them down – causing their structure to become brittle and breakable, which isn’t ideal.

There are a couple of things you can do to protect PVC piping systems from the sun – even those that are installed outside and above ground.

The best thing to do is paint your pipes with light-coloured latex-based paint.

This provides a covering for exposed pipes, helping to keep them strong and durable, as well as hiding any discolouration from the sunlight.

Consider debris and weather damage

Of course, sunlight won’t be a problem for pipes that are buried underground, but this isn’t to say that they won’t run into their fair share of problems.

Debris, soil movement, and freezing temperatures can all have a massive impact on the integrity of your PVC pipes, but how exactly can you look after and monitor them when they’re buried deep under the ground?

Luckily, there are some things you can do before
installation to mitigate these kinds of issues.

Make sure that as much debris and rock as possible is removed from the soil where your PVC piping system will be buried.

Whether you do this yourself or hire a contractor to do it for you is your call, but just ensure the soil is as debris-free as possible – even if this means replacing any rocky soil with sand.

Also, be sure to bury your pipes at least two feet below the surface of the ground to prevent damage from freezing and thawing weather cycles.

Make sure they’re installed correctly

Like any other type of plumbing pipe, if your PVC pipes aren’t installed properly, this can result in your system failing.

One of the most common mistakes people make when installing their pipes is using too much or too little PVS cement to bond the pipes to their fittings.

Since PVC is a very porous material, too much cement can cause it to break down, and too little will cause weakened bonds that can leak and break easily.

Another mistake lots of people make when installing PVC plumbing pipes is not pushing the pipe all the way into the fitting – causing a gap which can lead to leaking water and a whole load of contaminants being able to enter the water flow.

To prevent any installation issues from cropping up, you should consider hiring a trustworthy, experienced plumber to take care of it for you.

This way, you can be confident that your pipes have been correctly installed and that you won’t be faced with any costly issues further down the line.

Purchase PVC plumbing pipes from Total Pipeline Systems

A high-quality PVC plumbing pipe makes all the difference, and we supply a range of different pipes and fittings here at Total Pipeline Systems.

If you have any questions about our PVC pipes or any of our other plumbing products, you’re more than welcome to get in touch with our team.

Give us a call today on 01254 382 000 or send your enquiry by email to sales@totalpipes.co.uk
and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

We’re always happy to help; we look forward to hearing from you soon!