CPVC Problems — Plastic Pipe Experts (2024)

FAQs

What is the most likely cause of CPVC failure? ›

Among the many causes of CPVC failures, and the ensuing water damage claims, are raw material flaws, manufacturing defects, inadequate warnings, improper shipping and handling practices, system design issues, poor installation practices, incorrect maintenance, and chemical attack.

Controlling Risk: Do Your Research Before Choosing Pipe Material. FlowGuard CPVC has never been the subject of a class action lawsuit.

We find the CPVC becomes brittle at the eight to ten year old mark and is more prone to failure on the hot side. It recently came to our attention that most Home Builders have switched from CPVC to Pex due to the high failure rate. Considering the CPVC is cheaper and easier to use in new construction than Pex.

CPVC pipe also has some disadvantages. Some cons of installing CVPC pipe include: CPVC is not resistant to many water-insoluble hydrocarbon-based water products, which can be found in cosmetic and household cleaning products. CPVC can't withstand extremely high temperatures like copper pipe can.

There are many resources that state CPVC can be expected to last 50-75 years, and I'm sure somewhere, and in some installations it will, however we see a lot of brittleCPVC that is difficult to repair that is only 10 years old.

Excess solvent applied inside the fitting will tend to stay inside the fitting or the pipe. The excess solvent inside the joint can pool and soften the pipe or fitting. Unless allowed to harden over an extended curing time, the softened area can blow out like a balloon and rupture when pressure is applied.

CPVC can fail ONLY 10% into life expectancy

However, some plumbers installing CPVC pipes and fittings used in continuous hot chlorinated water service report that the pipes and fittings degrade and become brittle after only a few years of use, read here for more.

CPVC pipes can become brittle over time, especially if they are exposed to UV light or if they are installed in areas with high levels of chlorine. Brittle pipes can crack or break, leading to further leaks and water damage. CPVC plumbing is not resistant to certain chemicals.

Have you ever crushed or shattered old CPVC tubing while doing service work? Well, you're not alone, and General Pipe Cleaners has a fix for that. It's a fact that CPVC gets brittle as it ages, and because of that most people assume that it's no longer effective.

As a result, multiple international studies, such as the Kiwa Water Assessment, tested the safety of several materials, including green pipe (PPR) and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC). The result? CPVC is the one of the safest non-metallic materials for your water supply.

What happens if you use regular PVC cement on CPVC? ›

Type of Cement & Primer

PVC glue isn't aggressive enough to adhere to CPVC, so you can never use PVC glue with CPVC pipe. You can, however, use CPVC glue or cement with PVC fittings because it's aggressive enough for CPVC but not too much that it breaks down PVC.

PVC is only intended for cold water and has a maximum service temperature of 140° F for pressure applications. Not only can CPVC handle higher temperatures than PVC, but its increased temperature resistance enables it to perform better within PVC's working range.

Failures occur when the combination of stresses exceeds the strength of the original material that has already been reduced by quality issues or chemical stresses. The reverse is also true: high-quality processed CPVC may be able to withstand some mechanical stress and contact with chemically incompatible materials.

Some plumbers prefer PEX in new home construction over CPVC because of its flexibility, resistance to failure by freezing, and resistance to chemical attack when in contact with other products containing chemicals.

CPVC has a wider range of applications, and it's well suited for both commercial and industrial applications. Since it is more durable and has such a wide range of applications, CPVC is more expensive than PVC. However, it is still cost-effective compared other materials, like copper or iron.

What causes CPVC fire sprinkler pipe failure? Many of these failures are caused by defective installation practices. Defective installation leads to excessive cement trapped inside of the piping system. At Plastic Expert Group, we have performed extensive ASTM chemical compatibility tests on CPVC solvent cements.

Recommendations to ensure a successful repair:

Apply a thin & even layer of solvent cement on the Outer Diameter of the pipe & Inner Diameter of the fitting. Check for continuous bead formation of solvent cement on the joint. If the bead is not continuous, the joint may again leak after some time.