There always has been an argument in the world of plumbing and remodeling whether to use copper or Polyvinyl Chloride (PVP) in houses. Both copper and PVP have their places in homes. However, different homes prefer certain materials. Therefore, before making the decision to go with PVC VS copper, it is better to learn the differences between the materials. In this article, we will help you to understand the differences and traits of PVC VS Copper.
Copper
Copper is used as a ductile, malleable metal, and it’s widely accepted amongst all major building codes. It has been used as a key material for over 70 years. It is a very durable material. That’s why it’s used for plumbing and construction works. However, there are many problems with copper pipes when used at home.
- Corrosion problem: Copper is a metal. So, like many metals, it also suffers from corrosion. In time the corrosion will eat away the copper, which will result in leaks, frustration, and finally, pipe replacement.
- Water Quality Drops: AS copper ages, the inside of the pipes copper begins to break and dissolve into the water. It will cause not only a bitter and metallic taste from the water, but it will also lead to illness.
- Vulnerable to Busts: Copper pipes are more vulnerable to freezing and busts. This might result in an emergency plumbing situation which nobody likes.
- Leak and temperature failures: Copper isn’t flexible. So the joints of copper pipes are prone to leaking. Copper pipes also fail at high temperatures. It has been observed that copper pipes fail when the water temperatures reach 180 degrees and above.
Polyvinyl Chloride(PVC)
PVC is made out of plastic. It is lightweight and strong. A single pipe can last for 50 years after the 1960s; PVC pipes were regarded as the preferred choice for indoor pipes for homes. It has been a top choice for DIY repairs and professional plumbers alike.
Lately, Clog Kings helped a client to replace copper pipes with PVC pipes. It provided a lasting repair, and it won’t need to be touched again. Putting PVC pipes to replace copper pipes for the Kitchen sinks and other essential applications is very common in Dallas. PVC pipes are preferred because of the benefits that include:
- Long Service Life: With the recent technological advancements, it has been observed that PVC pipes last for 70 years or more. The failure rate of PVC pipes is very low. In fact, the failure rate is so low that the times it actually fails, it is observed to be caused by installation problems. It is also very resistant to Ultraviolet (UV) rays.
- Chemical resistance: PVC pipe is resistant to many types of chemicals. It is resistant to alcohols, fats, oils, aromatic-free petrol, inorganic acids, alkalis, and salts. Therefore, PVC has a long lifetime.
- Doesn’t dissolve easily: Unlike copper pipes, PVC pipes don’t dissolve easily. It takes about 100 years for a PVC pipe to decompose. So, a well-designed and installed PVC pipe doesn’t need to be fixed or replaced for many years. It will lessen the emergency plumbing moments.
- Lower installation costs: PVC pipes are cheaper than copper. It is also easier to install a PVC pipe in houses. Its flexibility allows having fewer joints, which results in fewer leaks.
As we can see, for indoor plumbing in your house, PVC pipe is a better choice than copper for the above-mentioned reasons. Its durability, flexibility, longevity, and lower installation costs make it a much better choice than copper for indoor plumbing.
If you want to install PVC pipes in an emergency situation due to defective copper pipes, you can always contact us at Clog Kings. We will sort out your pipe\’s flow and get it back to normal.
