How to Work With Threaded PVC Pipe Fittings

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is a versatile and popular pipe among contractors for drainage. The PVC pipe is lightweight, easy to cut and durable. The sections of pipe are connected with fittings, which can either be a threaded fitting that screws together, or a slip (non-threaded) fitting that simply slides over the end of the pipe. Having a tight seal between the fittings is critical to preventing leaks.

Things You'll Need

• Cloth cotton rag
• 1 roll Teflon pipe tape
• 1 male PVC threaded pipe fitting (size pending project need)
• 1 female PVC threaded pipe fitting (size pending project need)
• Adjustable wrench

Instructions

1. Wipe the inside of the female and the outside of the male threads on each fitting to ensure they are dry and clean of any dirt or debris.

2. Wrap the threads of the male fitting with the Teflon tape. Start at the end and wrap the threads in a clockwise direction up the fitting until all the threads are covered. The tape will help provide a tight seal.

3. Thread the end of the male fitting into the threaded end of the female fitting with your fingers. Gently tighten them together to make sure the fittings are not cross-threaded. If the threads are crossed, then unscrew and try again.

4. Tighten the fittings with the wrench, once they are threaded and screwed together.

5. Repeat the first four steps to connect any additional threaded fittings in your project.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid overtightening the PVC fittings and stripping the threads out. This could result in a leak at the connection.

References

• This Old House: How to Work With PVC Pipes

Resources

• Lasco Fittings: The "Do's and Don'ts" of Assembling Threaded Plastic Fittings
• Irrigation Tutorials: Understanding Fittings