The Truth About PVC Water Lines

Contact Us ADVANCE LEAK DETECTION Locating & Leak Detection The Truth about PVC Lines Useful Links Leak Test



The long standing myth on the Western Slope of Colorado is that PVC pipe has a life expectancy of 10 years or less.  The main reason for spreading this myth is that if a  home owner can be convinced that their line has reached it's usful life, then they can be sold an entire new water line. The Truth of the matter is that PVC has a life span of over 100 years.  To learn more about the Truth, follow this link http://www.uni-bell.org/faq.html.

If you followed the link, you can see why a contractor might be reluctant to tell the customer about a leak detection service.  It may be in the customers best interest to spend the money to find an underground leak and have it fixed, but it may not be in the financial interest of a contractor. 

That is not to say that there are not times when it is appropriate to replace an aging line.  If the line is steel and in some cases even copper,  the line is a canidate for replacement.  But, If someone is telling you your PVC line needs to be replaced,  have them provide you with the scientific study that supports their 10 year myth.  I can promise you it does not exist.

OK, so you ask why would my PVC line leak?  Here are some reasons: 

1) Incorrectly installed line. PVC was not made to bend so bending the line to follow a poorly dug trench can put stress on the glue joints.

2) A joint may not have been properly glued.

3)  The PVC is joined to a metal line and the different rates at which metal and PVC expand and contract over many years may cause a stress crack in the threads. 

4)  In areas where temperatures are very cold at night and warm during the day, shifting ground may cause a poorly glued joint to pop.  

5)  A tree was planted over or near the line.  The roots of large trees will go where they will and can eventually crush or crack a PVC line.

So, before you drop 10, 20 or $30,000 to have a new waterline put in,  our recommendation is that you spend a little time researching the problem.  A leak dectection service may not be in order for the day, but in most cases a leak dectection service will save you thousands of dollars.