How to Test a PVC Water Pressure Gauge
Polyvinyl chloride, is one of the most commonly used polymer materials for plumbing and construction. PVC piping is frequently used for small plumbing repairs due to its availability, durability and cheap cost. You can purchase PVC piping in almost any shape, length and diameter from most hardware or home-repair stores. Once you have installed PVC piping, you'll need to use PVC cement to lock together the joints in the piping. After the cement has set, it is important to perform a pressure test to ensure that the piping will not leak or break down. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Disconnect any piping that will be tested from your water main.
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Flush the piping completely by running water through the piping for a minute or two. This will ensure that no debris or air pockets remain inside the piping.
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3
Close up all but one of the openings in the length of pipe using PVC test plugs. Test plugs can be purchased at any hardware store; they are used to diagnose leak and pressure problems in PVC piping. The test plugs work by blocking the open ends of PVP piping with a reservoir that retains water.
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Fill the piping section with water. Depending on the length and diameter of your piping, different amounts of water are required to fill the section. You can determine these amounts by using the values found on Northern Pipe's "Testing PVC Pressure" Web page (see Resources).
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Check the readings on the test plugs once the entire length of piping has been filled with water. These readings will help you determine if a leak is occurring anywhere along the section of PVC. If a leak is found, the test plug nearest to the leak will have a reading that differs from the other test plugs. If a leak is found, you'll need to replace the length of piping connected to the test plug.
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Tips & Warnings
Note that the testing method used above will only work for sections of piping 100 feet in length or smaller. If you are testing a larger length of piping, you'll need to perform the pressure test multiple times in increments of less than 100 feet.
While it is possible to use air-based pressure tests instead of water, these tests can be extremely dangerous, and can lead to explosions. It is best to save air-based pressure testing for professionals due to the risk involved.
