What is the service life of plastic sewer pipes

The production volumes of plastic pipes are growing every year. This is due to their low cost and ease of use. Various types of plastic are suitable for both internal sewerage and external wiring. It remains to find out which types of plastic are more profitable to use for internal work, which for external, and also what affects the service life of synthetic materials.

Scope of plastic sewer pipes

At the end of the last century, the main materials for the arrangement of water supply and sewerage were metal and cast iron. They had their advantages, but there were many disadvantages. For example, metal has corroded due to exposure to chemicals that somehow end up in the sewer. If the drinking water contained iron ions, the process proceeded faster. Cast iron structures are more practical in terms of rust formation, but the material is very heavy and, in addition, has an uneven inner surface, which quickly led to the adhesion of dirt and the need to clear blockages.

New technologies and materials are quite capable of replacing metal. Plastic is several times lighter, but in terms of strength and durability it is not inferior to metal fittings. The pace of production and the emergence of new types of plastics indicate that now rarely any builder uses steel or cast iron to equip a private sewage system.

Plastic products are the general name for all synthetic pipes. They are distinguished by material and manufacturing technology:

• polypropylene;
• PVC;
• polyethylene;
• cross-linked polyethylene;
• metal-plastic.

Depending on the characteristics of the material, it is used in different areas - for supplying drinking water, draining household waste water, pumping out aggressive liquids.

For convenience, pipes are made colored - orange, blue, gray. This allows you to choose them correctly: orange is used for external sewage, and gray for internal.

In addition to color, an important indicator is the pressure that the pipe can withstand daily. If the water pressure often changes in an apartment building, it is not recommended to make sewage with glue. You need to use pipes with a socket at the ends.

In addition to water supply and sewerage, pipes of a smaller diameter are used in the floor heating system, for the internal distribution of heat carriers in a house or apartment.

Manufacturing material and technical characteristics

Before buying plastic pipes for arranging sewerage or water supply, you need to pay attention to the technical characteristics of the material and weigh the pros and cons.

Polypropylene pipes

Polypropylene is produced in the form of granules, from which pipes of different diameters are cast during heat treatment. PP does not chemically interact with acids and alkalis, does not emit harmful substances, therefore it can be used in the cold and hot water supply system. The material becomes soft at 145 degrees, so it can withstand hot drains up to 95 degrees without deformation.

Physical and mechanical indicators:

• resistant to mechanical shock;
• low temperatures have no effect if ethylene is added to the molecules;
• resistant to wear;
• aluminum-reinforced polypropylene deforms less when heated;
• sensitive to oxygen and ultraviolet light - stabilizers are added to the composition to reduce performance.

Depending on the filling, you can create a material with new properties:

• Glass-filled. Fiberglass increases flexural resilience and increases the strength of the finished product.
• Mineral-filled. The introduction of calcium carbonate increases the thermal insulation properties of PP.
• Elasticized. The addition of elastomers increases the frost resistance of the pipes and their elasticity during bending.
• Flame retardant. Produce by mixing granules with antiprene. In the event of a fire, the material extinguishes on its own.

Plastic pipes made of polypropylene are much cheaper and more practical than metal ones. They have a smooth inner surface, which eliminates the adhesion of dirt and clogging of the sewer. Mineral sediments - calcium, iron - are not able to clog the lumen and change the diameter of the pipes, because the material does not electrify and does not attract salt molecules. It is recommended to install filters for drinking water if there are dissolved minerals in it, as they can damage household appliances - dishwashers and washing machines, a boiler, a boiler or heating batteries.

Polypropylene is the second material after PVC in the ranking of production volumes.

PVC pipes for sewage

PVC-U is a material that successfully replaces steel structures, which are much more difficult and more expensive to maintain. It is used in the food and chemical industries, since PVC can withstand aggressive stress from acids - nitric, hydrochloric, sulfuric, and does not emit harmful substances into the transported liquid.

Characteristics:

• low coefficient of expansion when heated;
• the material begins to soften at 80 degrees;
• melts at 180 degrees;
• in warm weather resistant to shock.

The disadvantage of PVC - with decreasing temperature, fragility increases.

PVC pipes are smooth inside, which excludes sewer blockages at the correct angle of inclination. Mineral deposits do not adhere to the material, therefore, the diameter remains the same throughout the entire service life.

Polyethylene pipes

High density polyethylene is used for the manufacture of pipes. The service life of the material is about 50 years. This is much longer than pipes made of concrete, metal or cast iron work.

Advantages of polyethylene pipes for sewerage:

• do not deteriorate in contact with water or corrosive liquids;
• environmentally friendly;
• welding does not require additional consumables, as for steel;
• the laying process lasts less due to the relatively light weight of the products;
• elastic - withstand pressure and temperature, while not cracking or deforming;
• ice that forms inside the pipe does not damage it;
• suitable for laying in areas where there is a high load on the ground and where earthquakes are frequent.

Used polyethylene pipes can be recycled and reused.

XLPE

Not inferior in strength to solids. It is obtained by adding peroxides, silane, nitrogen.

Advantages of XLPE over conventional polyethylene:

1. thermal insulation properties are 30% higher;
2. resistant to ultraviolet radiation and atmospheric phenomena, therefore it can be used for arranging an open water supply system;
3. high mechanical tensile strength and material flexibility;
4. at frosts below 50 degrees, it is shock-resistant.

The material burns at a temperature of 400 degrees, while decomposing into water and carbon dioxide. Melts at 200 degrees. It is used in seismically hazardous areas because pipe connections are not broken by ground movement.

Types of pipes and connections

Depending on the load on the soil, the climatic conditions of the region, the type of water supply or sewerage system, as well as the amount of wastewater, pipes are selected according to material and diameter.

In the northern regions, it is necessary to give preference to more frost-resistant materials. In places where there is a risk of soil shear, pipes are chosen that are firmly butt-connected to each other using heat sealing.

For domestic sewage, various types of fittings are provided for plastic pipes to simplify the transition from a wider diameter to a smaller one and vice versa. Before buying, you need to check the sewer installation plan and select the right fittings.

In a straight line, pipes are connected end-to-end or with the help of sockets. The second option is safer. Connection by means of a coupling or a flange is possible.

Dimensions and diameters

The diameter of plastic sewer pipes for a private house or apartment is chosen 110 or 50 mm. For household appliances, showers, bathtubs and sinks, 50 mm is suitable. For a toilet bowl - 110 mm. Large-diameter pipes are used for laying industrial sewerage: 200 - 300 mm.

Regardless of the type of pipes, their dimensions remain standard so that products from different materials can be used in the same system.

Pressure pipes differ from non-pressure pipes in wall thickness. In a non-pressurized system, where the liquid flows due to the slope, the thickness can be about 3 - 5 mm. If a pumping pump is used that generates pressure, the wall thickness must be selected based on the expected pressure.

Table of sizes of PVC sewer pipes for a private house.

Dimensions are given for free-flow sewerage systems.

Installation features

To avoid blockages along the route of wastewater, pipe laying begins from the main riser in the direction of the well. Pipes should initially be taken larger than the calculated diameter - this is for safety net - in case of installing new plumbing or building a bath with a swimming pool.

There are two connection options:

• Detachable when couplings or flanges are used. The tightness is ensured by rubber gaskets. The method is convenient in that, if necessary, the water supply or sewage system can be disassembled by simply removing the couplings.
• One-piece - in the socket, by welding or glue. The glue is selected depending on the materials. For polymers, this is epoxy.

Not all methods are available for beginners, so it is better to turn to professional workers, or choose the easiest way to connect.

Advantages and disadvantages

The easiest way is to connect the pipes into a socket. It is important to put a rubber ring for tightness, and the bell itself should be directed towards the direction from which the water flows. This reduces the risk of blockages. To make the pipes fit easily, use a lubricant or ordinary detergent.

Welding is a complex method. Connecting pipes will not be easy without skills. For free-flow sewage, the welded seams are reliable enough.

The use of epoxy glue allows the pipe parts to be joined at the molecular level. Before starting work, the joints are degreased. You need to act quickly, as the resin dries quickly in air.

Fittings are installed on O-rings to avoid leakage at joints.

Operation and maintenance

If the pipes are installed correctly, repair or replacement will not be needed soon. Problems arise if the rules were violated during installation:

1. Poor weld. The liquid is leaking. It is necessary to open access to the connection, cut off the water and carry out repairs - weld again or use the coupling.
2. Plastic cracked from frost or impact. We'll have to change the entire part of the pipe.Here, the detachable method of connection is just useful, in which the flange or coupling is removed, part of the pipe is removed and replaced with a new one.
3. If the plastic pipes in the kitchen or bathroom become clogged, liquids are used to dissolve waste and adhered cold fat. In the event of a strong blockage, call a foreman with a pneumatic installation or a cable for cleaning.

On average, an audit of the sewage system is carried out every 3 to 4 years.

Prices for plastic pipes for sewage depend on what material they are made of, as well as on the diameter and length of the products. The cost of products of domestic manufacturers is cheaper than foreign counterparts, therefore, before buying, they clarify how the quality differs. Perhaps, you can reasonably save on the arrangement of a home sewage system.