How To Protect PVC Pipe From Sunlight (Quickly & Easily!)

The sun is a powerful force of nature. It can cause a lot of damage if we fail to take precautions against it. Even elements of your home such as PVC pipes are not immune from the sun’s powerful ultraviolet rays.

Leave the PVC pipes exposed to the sun and they will weaken significantly. It’s your job as the homeowner to keep them better protected.

You can effectively protect PVC pipes from sunlight by coating them with PVC primer and water-based latex paint. Clean the surface of the PVC pipe thoroughly before applying the primer. Once the primer has dried, apply an even layer of light-colored paint to create a protective barrier over the PVC pipe.

The PVC pipes in your septic system need to be protected properly from outside forces such as the sun. Find out how to do exactly that by continuing with this article.

Some of the molecules in the PVC change after they are exposed to ultraviolet rays long enough. They start to feature a different structure while also taking on a different look. That change in structure is what causes the PVC’s appearance to change. Notably, the discoloration doesn’t happen right away.

The transformation begins with the PVC losing some of its luster. Its appearance starts to look dull and faded. The loss of the shine becomes even more pronounced as the PVC appears chalky in appearance.

Discoloration sets in after those earlier symptoms have popped up. The discoloration will also progress in stages. At first, it will look like the pipes have a yellowish hue before they turn brown and then black in color.

Arguably the more significant side effect of leaving PVC exposed to the sun too long is the loss of impact strength. For those who may be unaware, impact strength refers to a material’s capability to endure a blow. Basically, a material with a good amount of impact strength can better withstand external forces.

Impact strength matters a great deal because of how PVC pipes are used. Since they sometimes have to support weight, you need the PVC pipes to be nice and sturdy.

It’s difficult for the PVC pipes to provide that stability if they lack the requisite impact strength. What that means is that your septic system is at greater risk of sustaining damage if the pipes aren’t adequately protected.

Special pieces of hardware are required if you want to strengthen PVC pipes. If your goal is to protect them from UV rays though, you will need some chemicals.

You have to start with some paint. Choose water-based paint for this job. Water-based paint is preferred here because the oil and solvent-based variants will have a harder time sticking to the PVC surface.

Make sure you pick up latex paint as well. Latex paint offers a good amount of resistance to cracking and fading. That’s exactly what you need covering the PVC pipes. As for the color of the paint, stick to the lighter variants. Dark colors absorb more ultraviolet rays and you want to avoid that.

Once you’ve chosen the paint, pick up some PVC primer and some naphtha-based fluid too. Also remember to get some gloves, rags, and paintbrushes.

If you don’t want to paint the PVC pipes, you can try other ways of protecting them. The easiest way to keep the pipes protected involves purchasing a tarp.

You can place a tarp over the exposed pipes and secure it in place to ensure it always provides protection. Don’t use a black tarp though because that will concentrate too much heat on the pipes.

A burlap covering can also work in a pinch. Cut up some burlap sacks and use them to provide temporary cover for the PVC surfaces. Other opaque coverings can work as well. Install those opaque coverings over the pipes to keep the harmful UV rays at bay.

Related Questions

Can Other Factors Amplify the Effect of Sunlight on the PVC Pipes?

We’ve already established that sunlight can be bad for PVC pipes. It is also worth noting that the effects of the UV rays can be amplified by other factors. Factors that are going to play a role include how long the PVC pipe is exposed and the weather conditions. The characteristics of the pipe itself matter greatly.The specific compounds used to make the PVC pipe can affect how well it holds up to exposure. The size of the pipe is also something you have to keep in mind.

What Size PVC Pipes Hold Up Better to Sunlight?

If you’re worried about how the PVC pipes will withstand sunlight exposure, you may want to purchase schedule 80 pipes. Schedule 80 pipes have thicker walls. That means they won’t lose much impact strength even after being exposed to the sun.You should know though that schedule 80 pipes have narrower openings. If you think those narrower openings may clog your septic system, you may want to use schedule 40 pipes instead.