Plumbing Material

[gpatom]

I have used CPVC for both my hot and cold water system and have a question. Has anyone used CPVC and has anyone had problems with the fittings holding? I just tested mine and had a fitting come apart using the city water pressure which is probably around a 100 psi. I feel that I need a pressure regulator when I use city hook ups. Am I correct in my thinking? Or do I need to change my plumbing and does anyone know of anything better?

[Jerry32]

I have used Cpvc in houses and never had a fitting seperate. the glue may not have set or did you use cleaner before the glue ? Jerry

[FloridaCliff]

Gpatom,

I used CPVC and havn't experienced a problem yet, though I have been warned by the Pex Police.

Did you use the primer and correct cpvc glue, no offense, just asking!

I would put in a pressure regulator no matter what I was using.

My CPVC is as supported and run like in a Navy ship from underneath and up to the fixtures.

The jury is out weather I am a Fool or a Genius on the install.  I ran it instead of Pex as its really not used where I live.

I could change ALL of mine out in a day because of the layout and access.  Hope I don't have too! 

Cliff

[gpatom]

As to the glue I used it was Christy's Red Hot Blue Glue for PVC. I did not use a primer. I had let it set for at least 48 hrs. I also have a reverse osmosis and a high pressure sure-flow pump to run the r.o. system properly. I think I would be safe to set a pressure regulator at 50 to 55 psi, what do you fellas think? I have re glued the one that popped off and going to test it with the water in the tank and the pump. Hope it holds.....

[belfert]

I built a trade show display on the cheap with PVC pipe about 8 years ago.  I did not hold the joints for any length of time after gluing them.  Someone told me I should have held each joint for around 15 seconds it was glued.  When it came time to destroy the display most of the joints just about fell apart.

The moral of the story is that PVC pipe joints that are to be under pressure need to be held for 15 seconds or more after gluing.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hummm...

No Primer!   Sounds like you are asking for trouble!

How far into it are you??

Good Luck
Nick-

[Dreamscape]

I have used pvc in many applications and have never had one come apart. Always use primer, I have never held one either for 15 seconds. I even used pvc when I built my awning, blown around quite a bit yesterday and today, still together.
HTH,

Happy Trails,

Paul

Dreamscape

[luvrbus]

gpatom, you should use only the glue and primer made for cpvc and make sure its for the schedule of pipe you are using multi purpose glue just doesn't work

[belfert]

I recall now that part of my problem was I didn't use any primer when I did my trade show booth.  I wasn't running any water so it was not required by code.  I skipped the primer as it makes a mess.  I don't know how the professional plumbers manage to glue PVC with both primer and glue without getting primer all over everything.

[Dreamscape]

Who cares, it's hidden anyway. If it gets on you clothes, oh well. Always use primer and the proper glue, that is what it is desgined for.

Paul

[niles500]

Yes, you MUST use a cleaner/primer and CPVC cement, give the fitting at least a 1/4 turn after cement application/fitting connection, and you MUST also hold pressure on the joint for 15 seconds MINIMUM (maybe longer in cold weather) as CPVC 'welds' at a higher pressure and therefore tends to push the joint apart -HTH

[gpatom]

Hey fellas a GREAT BIG THANKS to all. Today I am redoing the plumbing using cpvc and cpvc and primer. So I want to Thank all of you for your replies it was real helpful and appreciated, and probably will save me from a could have been headache down the road. I guess I should have known better in the first place but the glue I had used said I didn't have to use a primer. Oh well, never to old to learn something new. I have used pvc in the yard with sprinkler system without primer and it held, so I figured this would also. Thanks again.....

   Tom

[DavidInWilmNC]

I've used CPVC (primer and solvent) for years.  One such place is in one of my bathrooms before compression (tool-free) PEX was common around here.  I've had NO problems with it whatsoever.  This is on city water which seems to have a higher pressure than well water.  As to the regulator / reducer... I also used CPVC in my bus as a quick, easy, cheap way to get a basic water system installed.  Like Cliff, I can redo it in no time, but I'd rather not.  I used a couple 'transition' fittings, which have brass threads on one end and a solvent-weld fitting on the other end.  Without the pressure reducer / regulator, the fittings dripped occasionally where the metal and CPVC meet.  With the reducer, I haven't had a drop leak.  I'd also use flexible pipe (metal or plastic) between things like pumps and pipe and water heaters and pipe.  I did and I feel better about there being a bit of 'give' in the flex for any movement in the heavier objects or if I need to replace them. 

David

[NewbeeMC9]

I'm slowly replacing my CPVC with pex as it is becoming brittle and shatterring.  Make sure your pipe is easy to change out whatever you use.  i started out replacing cPVC for quick and cheap fix but started chasing too many

i like the pex push fittings. 


cost is relative, no more plumbing than we have the total cost is not bad depending how you look at it.

i.e.
   -  $5 a fitting !! holy crap!!  looks bad

   -  other hand, same fittings; 
        -  $100 bucks for plumbing fittings for the whole bus!!  not so bad! 

and there seperable and reusable compared to cut and toss, not so bad.

i like the pex flexibility too, cpvc dont like the bounce, comes in red and blue colors too.

cold winter where you live?  forget cpvc and use pex, not worth the risk.

cpvc doesent break when and where it's convienent for you either.  I think the MCI floor slopes so water will run out the door.  since I had CPVC.  it helped.

I'm hinting towards pex.  if you don't want to redo now, the push fittings will fit cpvc and copper also so you can finish with pex and keep your options open.  they even come with inserts for the clear hose,, (polybutyl?? is that right??)

did i say pex??

[Len Silva]

My '94 Vogue motor home (I know, I know) is done in soldered copper tube just like a house.  I never would have considered it myself but it has held up very well.  In case you don't know, the Vogue was an exceptionally well built unit in it's day.

I'm not advocating it and don't think I will use it in a conversion but it is doing fine after 14 years.

FWIW

Len