Ask Me Help Desk - ABS vs PVC piping

Nb this sight has advised me not to use capital letters.

Due to re-shingling I have had to take down my solar panels for heating the swimming pool along with all of the 1 1/2" dia. Piping, which is pvc.
As it is over 20 years old and has been subject to ultraviolet rays I intend to replace it all.
Abs piping is more readily available in my area than pvc and probably cheaper. Also, with abs being already black (rather than white pvc, it is more inclined to absorb the suns heat.
My question is 'which is the better product for my application'?
I don't want to have to renew the piping again because I used the wrong piping.

Any advice will be much appreciated

Ronald macd

ABS is foam core pipe. PVC is solid core pipe.

ABS is not designed to hold pressure and will eventually split when put under regular residential house pressure. ABS is used for drains and plumbing vents.

PVC pipes are rated for up to 480 psi and are designed to transfer potable water. Today, you can purchase PVC pipe that is specifically designed to be exposed to sun and that lowers process of deterioration caused by exposure to sun rays.

Ronald
Capitalization, proper punctuation and good sentence structure is welcome here. When advise not to use capitalization, I'm sure the individual meant that using all caps is considered shouting and it makes things hard to read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by solarmac

nb this sight has advised me not to use capital letters.

due to re-shingling i have had to take down my solar panels for heating the swimming pool along with all of the 1 1/2" dia. piping, which is pvc.
as it is over 20 years old and has been subject to ultraviolet rays i intend to replace it all.
abs piping is more readily available in my area than pvc and probably cheaper. also, with abs being already black (rather than white pvc, it is more inclined to absorb the suns heat.
my question is 'which is the better product for my application'?
i don't want to have to renew the piping again because i used the wrong piping.

any advice will be much appreciated
ronald macd

Hey ronald,
Why not use Black 1 1/2" Schedule 40 Flex PVC, (see image)? That way you'd have the best of both worlds. Black to absorb the heat and PVC to withstand the pressure. Check it out at; Black Pipe Pvc - Compare Prices, Reviews and Buy at NexTag - Price - Review
Good luck, Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by solarmac

nb this sight has advised me not to use capital letters.

due to re-shingling i have had to take down my solar panels for heating the swimming pool along with all of the 1 1/2" dia. piping, which is pvc.
as it is over 20 years old and has been subject to ultraviolet rays i intend to replace it all.
abs piping is more readily available in my area than pvc and probably cheaper. also, with abs being already black (rather than white pvc, it is more inclined to absorb the suns heat.
my question is 'which is the better product for my application'?
i don't want to have to renew the piping again because i used the wrong piping.

any advice will be much appreciated

ronald macd

Both materials are subject to deterioration over time from UV.

If you are in a particularly sunny climate, then I would go with non foam core PVC piping, cellular core piping like ABS and foam core PVC do not stand up very well to extreme weather conditions -- Excessive sunlight causes UV deterioration and extreme cold conditions can lead to delamination when moisture in the foam core freezes and expands.

Few municipalities enforce it, but a number of the adopted codes in use today require vent terminations to be primed and painted.