If you're a homeowner with a DIY knack, it's common to run into situations where you're tempted to use products for reasons outside their intended purpose. For instance, let's say you need a piece of electrical conduit and you have an old PVC pipe lying around. Can you use it as an electrical conduit?
While PVC pipe and traditional electrical conduit look and feel similar, you should never use plumbing PVC for electrical conduit. Plumbing PVC is designed to work within plumbing systems for drains, sewers, and vents, whereas electrical conduit PVC is designed for electrical use. You shouldn't use them interchangeably in any capacity.
If you're considering using plumbing PVC for electrical conduit but want to know if it's safe, you've come to the right place. This article will explore the similarities and differences between the two types of PVC pipe and explain why they aren't interchangeable. We'll also examine the potential consequences of using plumbing PVC for electrical conduits.
What is Plumbing PVC Pipe?
Plumbing PVC pipe is made of polyvinyl chloride, is white, and is specifically designed for use in plumbing systems. PVC plumbing is waterproof and intended to be used indoors or underground, as it is susceptible to UV-radiation damage from the sun.
The inside of PVC plumbing pipes is designed to accommodate air and water, but not electrical wires. Certain types of plumbing PVC pipes also have an exposed weld flash that could potentially strip electrical wires.
What is Electrical Conduit Pipe?
As with plumbing PVC, electrical conduit pipe is also made of polyvinyl chloride, which is a combination of vinyl and plastic products. However, one of the first things you'll notice about electrical conduit is that it's gray instead of white. Pipe makers do this so you can tell the two pipes apart since plumbing and electrical PVC shouldn't get used interchangeably. Electrical conduits are designed for electrical use, and plumbing PVC isn't a suitable substitute.
Critical Differences Between Plumbing PVC and Electrical Conduit
Now that you know what each type of pipe consists of and their intended uses, let's look at the key differences between plumbing PVC and electrical conduit.
The Color
As we said before, the most obvious difference between electrical conduit and plumbing PVC is their color. Plumbing PVC is white and usually has red or black lettering to indicate it's made for plumbing purposes. Electrical conduit, however, is gray with black lettering to indicate it's made for electrical purposes. These pipes have different colors so that you can tell them apart and so building inspectors can differentiate between them with a glance.
Wall Thickness
The second difference between plumbing and electrical PVC is that plumbing pipes have slightly thicker walls than electrical conduits. Plumbing PVC needs to be thicker to prevent water leaks, whereas electrical conduit only needs to guard against the sun, light moisture, and dirt.
Pressure Resistance
In addition to being thicker, plumbing PVC is also designed to handle more stress and pressure than an electrical conduit. All plumbing PVC pipes undergo a special pressure-testing process to ensure they can handle water. On the other hand, an electrical conduit doesn't undergo this type of pressure testing because it isn't intended for high-pressure situations.
Waterproofing and UV Radiation
While both PVC plumbing and electrical conduits are waterproof to a certain extent, electrical conduits are more prone to leaks than plumbing PVC. However, although electrical conduit is more prone to leaks, it's also more UV resistant. If plumbing PVC is exposed to the sun for too long, it can harden and get brittle, making it more prone to leaks or busting.
Where plumbing PVC is tested for waterproofing and pressure resistance, electrical conduit is tested and treated to withstand UV radiation.
Different Fittings and Design
Another thing you'll notice about plumbing and electrical PVC is that they have different fittings. Plumbing pipes have short, tight elbows, 45s, and couplings designed to transport water and air.
Electrical conduit fittings are much longer and more gradual in their design, so electrical wires can easily pass through them. Electrical conduit fittings and pipes are also designed so that there aren't any ridges where they connect. Plumbing pipes and fittings, however, have small ridges where they connect and are prone to snagging electrical wires as you're pushing them through the pipe.
Finally, electrical conduit PVC pipes have built-in couplers without ridges, so you can quickly and smoothly connect one pipe to another. Plumbing PVC, however, always requires couplers with ridges to connect one pipe to another.
Sizing Restrictions
Finally, while plumbing and electrical PVC use the same sizing system, the interior of plumbing pipes is smaller than those of electrical conduit. As such, it's easier for electrical wires to fit and move inside conduit PVC than it can inside plumbing PVC.
Potential Consequences and Reasons to Avoid Using Plumbing PVC for Electrical Conduits
As you can see, although plumbing and electrical PVC look and feel similar, they are intended for different uses and shouldn't get used interchangeably. Using plumbing PVC for electrical conduit could result in brittle, broken pipes if the pipe is exposed to the sun. Once the pipe gets too brittle, it will no longer protect electrical wires from rodents, birds, or the weather.
Additionally, white plumbing PVC can be flammable if corrosive materials or an electrical spark makes contact with it. This could lead to an electrical fire if the flames get out of hand. Plumbing PVC also releases toxic odors and fumes if it starts burning. For these reasons, it's a code violation when you try to use plumbing PVC for electrical conduit.
What Type of Pipe Should I Use For Electrical Conduit?
Because of the differences between plumbing PVC and electrical PVC conduit, you should never use plumbing PVC for electrical conduit purposes. Instead, you should opt for Schedule 80 PVC conduit.
Schedule 80 PVC conduit is specifically designed for electrical purposes and is excellent for indoor, outdoor, and underground use. You can easily pass wires through Schedule 80 conduit, it's more fire-resistant than plumbing PVC, and it doesn't release toxic fumes when it burns.