How to Penetrate an Outside Wall With PVC Pipe

A 45-degree elbow PVC pipe fitting

There are many reasons you would want to penetrate an outside wall with a PVC pipe. PVC pipes are either used as drains or vents in typical construction. Some applications where PVC pipes might penetrate an outside wall include intake and exhaust venting on your high efficiency furnace and a condensate drain for an air conditioning unit. Whatever the application might be, you will need to make a hole in the wall before you can stick the PVC pipe through.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Hole saw
• 1/4-inch drill bit
• Drill
• Exterior caulk
• Caulk gun

Instructions

1. Locate where you want to penetrate the outside wall. Look on both sides of the wall to make sure there are no objects in the way. Mark the center of the penetration with a small X.

2. Measure the outside diameter of the PVC pipe. Select a hole saw that is 1/4-inch larger than the PVC pipe. This will allow you enough play to slide the pipe through the hole but also allow you to properly seal the penetration.

3. Drill a 1/4-inch hole through the outside wall on the X mark from inside the building.

4. Go outside and drill the appropriate size hole through the wall with your hole saw. Drilling from the outside in will make sure your siding is cut cleanly.

5. Slide your PVC pipe through the hole and connect it to whichever appliance you are hooking up. Follow the installation manual to ensure it is properly installed and terminated outside.

6. Caulk the penetration with an exterior caulk that matches your siding and trim colors.

Tips & Warnings

• Install the PVC pipe on a sunny day so that your caulk has proper time to cure. Follow the instructions on the caulk tube to see how long it needs to cure before rain can hit it.