How to Separate PVC Pipe With a Heat Gun

Adhesive is used to glue two pieces of PVC pipe together.

PVC pipe is often used for plumbing water lines and sewer lines in your home. When two pipes are joined together to make a longer pipe, they are glued together with an adhesive. If you ever need to separate these pipes to complete maintenance, you must heat the adhesive with a heat gun. This is the only logical way of separating the pipes without cutting them in half.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Heat gun
• Second person (optional)

Instructions

1. Turn off the water supply to the pipe, and run a faucet to drain the pipe of fluid. If the PVC pipe is not used for a water supply, make sure you do not run water down the drain while working on the pipe.

2. Loosen any fasteners that keep the pipes secured to the wall, stud, joist or floor. Use a screwdriver to loosen the brackets. This allows you to pull the PVC pipe away from its mounting surface, and it allows you to slide the pipes apart.

3. Place the heat gun approximately six inches away from the PVC pipe, and set it to a medium heat setting.

4. Rotate the heat gun around the complete surface or circumference of the glue joint. This prevents heating just one portion of the pipe, which could cause that part of the pipe to melt or warp.

5. Pull the pipes apart as you heat the glued surface with the heat gun. As the glue softens, you will be able to separate the pipes. If necessary, ask a second person to help with this task.