How To Strengthen PVC Pipe (Quickly & Easily!)

PVC pipe is a versatile and durable material that is commonly used in houses around the world. This material can withstand changing temperatures, and high PSI applications for both water and air uses. While PVC pipe is a strong material, it may sometimes need additional support to strengthen the pipe.

Supporting a long run of PVC pipe can help strengthen the pipe’s integrity. Adding brackets to support the pipe’s weight over a long distance can make your line stronger and prevent the amount of weight and torque pulling at connections and fittings. Supporting and strengthening the pipe can help prevent costly and damaging leaks.

Of course, purchasing a thicker and stronger PVC pipe can also help strengthen the pipe. Typically, schedule 40 pipe is used for residential applications, but schedule 80 may provide more strength for high PSI applications. If you need to strengthen the pipe internally, simple spray foam inserted inside the pipe can do a great job of making a standard schedule 40 PVC pipe stronger.

Many home applications require a PVC pipe throughout the house to handle the necessary plumbing. While some of these applications may be short, others, like a drain line, can run for several feet or the length of your home. Although PVC pipe is a strong material, extending the pipe over an extended length can make the pipe sag in the middle.

Not only can a sagging pipe lead to undue stress at the fittings and couplings throughout the pipe, but it can create a low point in the pipe, which can cause clogs and drainage issues.

Sometimes, you need to strengthen your pipe internally instead of adding brackets to simply support your PVC pipe assembly’s weight. One of the best ways to make the PVC pipe stronger internally is to add spray foam. To do this, you will want to fill the interior of the pipe with spray foam. It works best to drill small holes throughout your pipe spaced about 1 foot apart. Use the holes to direct the spray foam into the pipe.

Once the foam dries, this versatile substance can be shaped, sanded, and carved to suit your application. The spray foam is a durable material that can adhere to the PVC walls. Remember that adding spray foam to your PVC pipe will add weight to your pipe, requiring additional brackets for support. Never use your spray foam for your supply line to your home. Spray foam may contain acidic materials that can break down over time, impacting your water quality.

A coupler fitting is often used to join two pieces of pipe together. It can combine two pipes with the same width, or pipe couplers can be used to bring one size of PVC pipe to match a larger or smaller size. A coupler may have the ability to strengthen a long run of PVC pipe; however, adding a coupler may introduce additional issues and concerns with your PVC piping.

While a coupler may add strength to a long PVC pipe run, it will also introduce additional seams and fittings. Not only will this increase the amount of work you or a plumber will have to do, but it can introduce places for potential air or water leaks in the future.

Plus, adding couplers along a run of PVC pipe will increase the overall weight of your assembly. Added weight may prevent sagging in the middle of the pipe but will still require brackets spaced evenly along the run to support the PVC pipe’s entire weight.

Although schedule 40 PVC pipe is commonly used in homes, it is not the strongest PVC pipe available. Schedule 40 PVC pipe can handle the most common uses and pressure applications for a residential or commercial property. Jobs that may be subject to high pressure should use the strongest type of PVC pipe, which is schedule 80 pipe.

This type of pipe is the strongest and fits the most substantial fittings with the highest pressure rating. This pipe will allow you to run high-pressure water and air applications through your PVC pipe installation.

PVC pipe is widely used because it is solid and durable. One of the most commonly used PVC pipe sizes is a schedule 40 PVC pipe. This material has a diameter of 1.5 inches. This type of pipe can absorb 954 pounds of tensile strength.

The slightly larger and more durable schedule 80 PVC pipe can withstand up to 1,225 pounds of tensile strength. Measuring tensile strength is a way to determine the highest amount of weight a pipe can take before it fails and breaks.

PVC is widely used in commercial and residential applications because it is flexible yet strong, easy to work with, and very lightweight. However, PVC does have some limitations, and even working with schedule 80 pipe will have some strength and durability limits.

If you want to use a material that is stronger than PVC, consider using a metal alternative. Metal is most commonly used as a drain line for your house, opposed to a supply line.

The most commonly used metal pipe for plumbing is copper. This material is long-lasting, durable, and incredibly strong. Copper pipe can withstand over 1,000 PSI of pressure. Because it is so strong, you can install long runs of copper pipe without having to use additional supports. Plus, copper piping is less expensive than steel, and it is lead-free, making it a safe and sustainable metal pipe material to use.

Although PVC is a durable material, it does have some downsides. In particularly cold weather, the PVC can get brittle and break. This characteristic can cause leaks and damage to your plumbing system. If you live in a climate with continuously frozen ground through the winter, PVC pipe may not be a good choice for exterior or underground applications. Be sure to choose a more robust material, like metal, if you live in a cold climate with freezing temperatures. Metal will not crack when the temperature is below freezing.