What does chlorine do in PVC pipe?

Author: Foster Zboncak  |  Last update: Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Unfortunately, chlorine is a powerful chemical that can eat away at pipes from the inside out. However, because of how PVC and CPVC are designed and its chemical composition, it is resilient against the damaging effects of chlorine - at least in the short term.

Why is chlorine used in PVC?

Homopolymer PVC grades typically contain 56% chlorine by weight. CPVC contains about 67% chlorine by weight. CPVC materials offer a higher temperature service range. The increase in chlorine content increases the heat deflection temperature at 264 psi from 155°F (68°C) to 218°F (103°C).

What does chlorine do to pipes?

The more chlorine in the water the more corrosion. This has a corrosive effect on the inside of the pipes and slowly erodes the piping over time. Eventually, chlorine eats all the way through the pipes and creates pinhole leaks, which if left unchecked, can cause a myriad of problems within the home.

What does chlorine do to plastic?

Once the antioxidants are used up, chlorine or naturally occurring free radicals proceed directly to the polymer chain, breaking the molecule into smaller and smaller pieces until it loses strength and fails.

What does bleach do to PVC pipe?

4 – Bleach can damage pipes.

Bleach reacts with metal and is very corrosive, with rust or oxidation caused by the trading of electrons between the metal and bleach molecules. Copper pipes can also be damaged making them more prone to plumbing leaks. With PVC pipes, bleach dissolves the sealant used around the pipes.

What Pipes Are Compatible With Chlorine?

Does chlorine damage PVC pipe?

In addition to holding up well in the short term, PVC and CPVC have the best long-term resistance to chlorine. Chlorine is rarely if ever, the cause for failure or breakdown with these types of pipes, and other causes are likely to cause issues before chlorine does.

Is it better to put vinegar or bleach in an AC drain line?

All right, so in summary, don't use bleach; use vinegar. That helps with any mildew growth—keeps you running clean. It's not going to actually clean your A/C drain, but it can prevent some backups.

Does chlorine bleach damage plastic?

Bleach is a powerful chemical that can degrade certain types of plastics, particularly those that are not designed to withstand harsh chemicals. When exposed to bleach, these plastics may become brittle, crack, or even release harmful chemicals into the food or beverages consumed by them.

What is the best pipe for chlorine?

As recommended by the Chlorine Institute's pamphlet 6 “Piping Systems for Dry Chlorine”, all pressurized piping should be seamless carbon steel, grade B, Schedule 80, type S, ASTM A- 106.

Will bleach make plastic white again?

Soak plastic in bleach for 1-2 hours to remove stubborn yellow stains. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of bleach per 1 cup (240 ml) of water. Cover the plastic in the bleach solution and let it sit for 1-2 hours.

What does chloride do to pipes?

High chloride level: Can cause plumbing corrosion problems – the wearing away of pipes, pumps, hot water heaters, and fixtures. High chloride may also mean possible pollution of well water from sewage sources.

Can diluted bleach go down the drain?

If you find you need to get rid of bleach, disposing of it properly is important. To dispose of bleach safely, it should be diluted with water and poured down the drain with the faucet running. Alternatively, follow local waste management guidelines for hazardous materials.

How do you remove chlorine from pipe water?

Does boiling remove chlorine from water? Yes, boiling water for 15 minutes will remove all of the chlorine form tap water. Alternatively, leave a jug of water uncovered at room temperature for at least 24 hours and the chlorine will evaporate without boiling.

Does chlorine damage plumbing?

For example high levels of calcium in water leads to a calcification build-up in pipes and fittings and chlorine introduced into the water supply has been known to accelerate the corrosive action of both metal and plastic plumbing fixtures.

What is the difference between chlorinated PVC and PVC pipe?

The Chemistry of PVC vs CPVC

Both materials are man-made thermoplastics composed of Hydrogen, Carbon, and Chlorine. The base material for both is PVC (polyvinyl chloride), but CPVC is taken through a chlorination process that makes it more rigid and also more tolerant of higher temperatures.

What makes PVC water resistant?

In terms of structure, PVC has a structure that creates a waterproof barrier layer. Thanks to that, they stand out with an excellent structure that prevents water or liquid from seeping through.

What is the use of chlorine in PVC?

PVC can be usefully modified by chlorination, which increases its chlorine content to or above 67%. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, (CPVC), as it is called, is produced by chlorination of aqueous solution of suspension PVC particles followed by exposure to UV light which initiates the free-radical chlorination.

Can chlorine clean pipes?

There are various ways of disinfecting pipelines, but the most common is to use chlorine. The two forms of chlorine suitable for disinfecting pipelines are calcium hypochlorite and sodium hypochlorite. These are described in Fact Sheets 2.19 and 2.20.

Does chlorine break down PEX pipe?

Chlorine degradation of PEX occurs when the chlorine in drinking water, which is added to keep it clean and safe for human consumption, attacks the PEX piping, breaking down molecular bonds, resulting in micro-cracks that gradually expand to the point of a pipe failure.

Does Clorox hurt PVC pipes?

Bleach is a common cleaner found in most homes, but is it safe to use in homes with PVC piping? In short, yes. You can safely use bleach to clean and disinfect your PVC pipes, as long as you dilute it first and avoid mixing it with other chemicals.

How to clean the outside of PVC pipe?

Rub Acetone on the Pipe

Rapidly work the surface of the PVC pipe in a circular motion with the acetone/steel wool. Concentrate on lettering and bar codes, as the acetone will evaporate quickly.

Does chlorine damage plastic pipes?

Chlorine causes continuous effects on Polybutylene pipes. After the pipes have flaked for some time, they become fragile, shatterable, and liable to breaking easily, although seemingly hard.

Will vinegar damage PVC pipe?

Effects on Metal and PVC Pipes

While harmless for most metal and PVC pipes, prolonged exposure to the acidic nature of vinegar might corrode certain metals, like copper. PVC pipes, on the other hand, can withstand these substances without damage.

Why is AC not blowing cold air?

First, check your filters and coils for dirt and debris that may be impeding airflow. Once you've cleaned the filters and coils, run the air conditioner with just the fan so that the ice accumulation can melt off. If the AC still doesn't blow cold air, it could be that refrigerant levels are too low.

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