How to Use Threaded PVC - An infographic by the team at Commercial Industrial Supply.
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How to Use Threaded PVC - An infographic by the team at Commercial Industrial Supply.
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How to Install Threaded PVC Fittings
There are two main ways to join plastic pipe and fittings like PVC and CPVC – cement socket welding and threaded end connections. Threaded connections sometimes get a bad rap for being leaky and weaker than standard socket connections.
While threaded ends do decrease pressure ratings significantly, many mishaps occur due to improper installation. It may seem simple, but there are a few tricks that will keep your threaded PVC and CPVC joints as strong as possible.
How threaded fittings work:
There are two parts to a threaded joint – the male end and the female end. The male end (sometimes denoted as MPT) is threaded on the outside and has a tapered design. That means the threads get progressively larger as they go.
On the female end (sometimes denoted as FPT), threads are on the inside and they get progressively smaller. This tapered design helps create a seal, but it can also cause splitting if a joint is over-tightened.
How to make strong threaded connection:
Before you try to fit your ends together wipe down the threads and apply a PVC thread sealant. This should be a sealant that is specifically designed for use with plastics like PVC. Other materials can damage the plastic and corrupt your seal. Once your sealant is applied insert the male threaded end into the female fitting.
Hand-tighten the connection until the fitting won’t turn any further. At this point you can use a wrench to make one to two more turns. Do not tighten any further than this! Over-tightening is the main cause of threaded connection leaks.
Another cause of leaks is using parts with different schedules. A pipe or fitting’s schedule is an indicator of pipe thickness. The two most common schedules are 40 and 80. You should never combine schedule 40 fittings with schedule 80, even if they are the same pipe size. Because the thicknesses are different, the threads will not match up correctly, resulting in breakage and leaks.