Polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as PVC, is one of the pipes most people prefer to use for underground water lines. It is a thermoplastic material that ranks among the top three highest manufactured polymerized materials. It is preferred due to its strength, ability to withstand corrosion and rust and a pocket-friendly budget. It is a common pipe choice for a lot of home projects. PVC is cheap and resistant to deterioration and rusting. PVC can operate under extreme water pressure, thus very useful for your main underground water delivery line. The other advantage is being light which makes it easy to install, and having a smooth inner coating that does not trap sediments. Therefore, with PVC pipes, there will be no need for you to look for professional plumbers to unblock your water system. The maintenance cost for these pipes is therefore also low. However, PVC pipes also have a setback; they are not flexible. Therefore, they require many plumbing fittings such as elbows, couplings, and adapters. If there are no regulations in your area prohibiting PVCs, then it is a preferable choice as the benefit outweighs the setbacks.
PVC pipes are the preferred media for transporting water and electricity in a variety of sectors. Their high resistance to heat and corrosion are the main contributors to their extensive utilization.
Owing to its smooth surface, there is a low level of friction between PVC and flowing liquids when compared to concrete and metal. This makes it a preferred material for pipes that are conduits for water supply.
It is lightweight and easy to transport over large distances to be laid as pipelines. This means that less fuel is used to transport them, making them eco-friendly.
It is cost-effective since a relatively simple process is used for its mass production.
It is easy to mold into different shapes, making it a versatile material with a wide range of applications.
It is strong and durable and resistant to large amounts of stress. This makes it a suitable material for underground pipes and pipes through which pressurized fluids need to pass.
An advantageous chemical property of PVC is its inertness or resistance to chemical reactions with other substances. This makes it safe for the transportation of drinking water and water that is used for household purposes.
PVC can last a hundred years when installed underground. This makes it low-maintenance and a favored material for vast pipeline networks, whose maintenance and overhaul costs would be extremely high with legacy materials like steel, iron and cement.
PVC pipes are easy to install, dismantle and maintain. Its failure or break rate is extremely low when compared to that of legacy materials.
The low amount of carbon in PVC is the reason for less harmful emissions during its production. They are easy to recycle and reuse for other purposes, either from the salvage and re-purposing of construction waste or recycling of industrial waste. Eight thousand tons of PVC is recycled every year in Europe, through the VinylPlus program.
