PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipes are used for manufacturing sewage plumbing, water mains, and irrigation. The reasons why it’s a popular choice are it has long-lasting properties and is easy to install, strong, cost-efficient, and sustainable.
They are connected using couplings and solvent cement that melts, bonding the materials together.
Luckily, for most PVC damages, you can repair the existing pipe and control any leaking without buying a new pipe. However, if it is heavily damaged, it may need to be replaced entirely.
If you’ve ever had a pipe leak, you may wonder how you plug a PVC pipe. To plug a PVC pipe, cover all the holes in the pipe, brush the PVC primer over the leak, brush PVC glue over the primer, and let it dry for 30 mins. You may have to repeat the process if you still have any leaks, but the primer and glue should be strong enough to hold minor leaks.
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Step-by-Step Guide: How to Plug PVC Pipe
Turn off the main water supply and the shut-off valve. You don’t want to accidentally have water running through while you’re working on plugging the pipe. If the PVC is part of the sewer system cleanout cap or drainage system, don’t run water into the drains during the repair.
1. Mark the leak with a marker
Locate the leak in the PVC piping and mark it with a marker so that you can find it later.
2. Turn off the water supply to the PVC pipe
Turn off the main water supply and the shut-off valve. You don’t want to accidentally have water running through while you’re working on plugging the pipe. If the PVC is part of the sewer system cleanout cap or drainage system, don’t run water into the drains during the repair.
3. Cover all holes in the pipe
This includes any drains and access holes. You can use drain pipe stoppers, PVC stoppers pipe plug, or rubber plugs to press into any open holes in the pipe. You should be able to create suction inside the pipe. Make sure to leave one access hole – aim for the end cap – unplugged for the next step.
4. Cover the open hole with the end of a wet-dry vacuum hose
Place this over the one access end cap hole you left open in the PVC pipe and turn the vacuum on. It will create a tight seal inside the pipe.
5. Use PVC primer
Dip a brush into the PVC primer and place a coat of primer over the leak in the pipe. The suction coming from the vacuum will pull the primer into the crack, removing dirt and fluid in the crack. You can’t leave it for too long because you need to coat it over with PVC glue before the primer dries.
6. Use PVC glue
Next, dip a brush into the PVC glue and coat over the primer on the leak. Again, the vacuum will suck the glue into the crack. You can turn off the vacuum when you see the glue suck into the crack.
7. Allow it to dry
Allow the primer and PVC glue to dry over the crack causing the leak. After drying for approximately 30 minutes, you can now remove all the plugs.
8. Turn on main water supply
Turn back on the main water supply and check the valve.
9. Test it out
Run water through the water pipe and make sure there is no more leak. The glue should hold it together firmly. If not, you must repeat the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you plug in a broken PVC pipe?
You can plug a broken PVC pipe in several ways. You can use Teflon tape or adhesive to repair it, which depending on the adhesive you go for, can be simple or a little messy. Another easy way to plug a broken PVC pipe is to use a compression coupling. And lastly, you can plug a broken pipe using a slip fix and a slipcover the same size as the broken pipe, a screw for the flange, and a pipe wrench.
How do you seal the ends of PVC pipe?
Although there are a few ways, including pipe PVC joint compound and Teflon tape, the most recommended method to seal the ends of PVC pipe is to use a PVC primer and PVC cement. This adhesive duo is a simple and strong way to seal the ends.PVC primer acts as a cleaner and prepares the pipe by softening the surface. PVC solvent cement is the glue. It will break down and chemically bond the two PVC parts together, making them inseparable.
What do you use to connect PVC pipe?
To connect a PVC pipe, you have to use two coats of primer on both the plastic fitting and the pipe and use a good coat of cement to join the pieces together.
What is the best adhesive for PVC pipe?
Applying a PVC adhesive before encountering any problems will save you money and is quite simple to do. The best adhesive for PVC pipes is PVC primer and cement. It should be used together and is the strongest PVC adhesive on the market.The PVC primer and cement are easy to apply and will set in a few minutes, making it the best adhesive. Solvent cementing is what is recommended by professionals. But if you have a PVC with a threaded connection, you cannot use PVC cement on it since it chemically bonds PVC together, destroying the threads. For threaded connection PVC, you can use pipe dope which is a pipe thread sealant.
How do you join two pieces of PVC pipe?
You can join a PVC pipe with a metal pipe, a cast iron sewer line pipe, PVC plastic pipe or another PVC. You can also join a PVC pipe to a hose, and if that’s the case, you must use a hose clamp which you must get in the same diameter as your PVC pipe.
Before you join the two pieces together, deburr the inside of the pipe. You can do this by filing it off with sandpaper. Use the sandpaper to eliminate any outer burrs as well. Do this if you have a PVC threaded joint as well to ensure a tighter fitting when you’re ready to join the two pieces together. Make any markings on the pipe to be completely accurate.
Then, apply the primer and the PVC cement to the inside of the fitting and outside of the pipe. Keep in mind that you only have several seconds to get the alignment just right before the pieces are stuck together – it works fast! Check your PVC fitting to see if the pieces are joined.
