How To Properly Glue PVC Plumbing Pipes

Residential plumbing projects often involve the need to join together two or more pieces of PVC pipe. While it is possible for a relative amateur to successfully carry out this task, there are a number of potential pitfalls to be aware of. If you would like to increase your DIY plumbing skills, read on. This article will outline four useful tips for long lasting and leak proof results.

Ensure your cuts are perfectly even.

Home plumbing tasks rarely conform to the dimensions of pre-cut lengths of PVC. In other words, it is common for a plumbing project to begin by cutting down PVC to the correct size. This must be done as carefully as possible. The key is to ensure that the cut ends are as even as possible--otherwise the risk of developing a leak will be much higher. Using a compound miter saw is the best way to ensure consistent results.

Deburr the cut edge.

Regardless of the type of saw you utilize in order to cut PVC, any time you have to trim a pipe down to size it is important to follow up by smoothing out the cut edge. That's because evenly the most expert cutting job will leave behind burrs--in other words, little bumps and curls of plastic. These burrs can create problems when it comes to the joint cement bonding process. Use a sharp knife to shave off any large burrs, then a piece of sandpaper to smooth away smaller ones.

Use colored primer.

The PVC bonding process involves two separate substances: pipe cement and primer. Many people try to cut costs by skipping the primer. Unfortunately, this is one way to ensure that your end results will both short lived and leak prone. That is to say, don't be tempted into skipping the primer, which helps to soften the surface of the PVC, thus allowing the cement to form a tighter bond.

Primer comes in two varieties: clear and colored. You will find colored primer a much more convenient option. It will allow you to easily see which pieces of pipe have already been primed. With clear primer, on the other hand, is can be easy to lose track of which pieces have been primed and which haven't.

Push and twist when joining.

Once you have applied both primer and cement to both the pipe and its fitting, you are ready to join them. Do not simply push them together. Rather, push the pipe into the fitting while twisting it 90 degrees or so. This will act to spread the cement, ensuring that the entire circumference of the pipe has received an even amount.

For more information, reach out to a plumbing contractor such as AAA Home Services.