Regular PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a common, strong but lightweight plastic used in construction. It is made softer and more flexible by the addition of plasticizers. If no plasticizers are added, it is known as uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride), rigid PVC, or vinyl siding in the U.S. PVC versus uPVC comparison chart PVCuPVC 2.95/512345 3.75/512345 Full Name Polyvinyl chloride Uses Pipes, cable insulation, clothes, toys Window frames, plumbing and draining Properties Flexible, but durable. safe for transporting drinking water; Contents: PVC vs uPVC Uses of PVC vs. uPVC Stacked blue PVC pipes As a flexible plastic, PVC is used to produce a wide variety of piping. Larger PVC pipes are often used in plumbing to distribute non-potable water. PVC piping can also be used to insulate electrical cables. uPVC is used as a replacement for wood in construction, such as in double glazed window frames and window sills and in what is known as vinyl siding in the U.S.

It is a versatile material that can be manufacturered in many colors or made to look like other materials (e.g., wood). uPVC is also used instead of cast iron for certain types of heavy-duty plumbing and draining. uPVC vs. PVC Pipes PVC is used as a replacement for copper and aluminum pipes and is used in waste lines, irrigation systems and pool circulation systems. It is easy to cut into smaller pieces and can be fastened with glue, making it a good alternative to metal. uPVC is used for the majority of plastic pipes in the world, as it is incredibly resistant to chemical erosion and has smoother inner walls that help to encourage water flow. It also functions well in a wide range of temperatures and operating pressures. It is incredibly strong, stiff and cost-effective, and so is often used for sewage lines and exterior drainage pipes. Even so, uPVC piping is much less common in the U.S., where PVC piping is preferred. Neither PVC nor uPVC is used to transmit drinking water.

cPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) is used instead.garage door repair houston yelp PVC is not used for window frames, although some manufacturers may use “PVC” to refer to their uPVC windows. garage door opener dyingInstead, uPVC is used for window frames, as it does not decompose and is weather-resistant.auto glass repair niagara falls uPVC will not change shape under normal weather conditions, but it can be reshaped at very high temperatures. exterior door handle 2002 toyota corollauPVC windows are more energy-efficient than those with wooden or metal frames. electric garage doors newcastle

Moreover, uPVC can also be used for door frames and conservatories.larson storm doors extra keys This video shows how a typical uPVC window is installed:double glazed door essex Small and slender PVC pipes are sometimes found in medical equipment. PVC is also used in leather-like or waterproof clothing materials, vinyl flooring, shoes, toys, car interiors and car cables, shower curtains, and numerous other plastic products. Because uPVC has fewer health concerns associated with it, it is found in medical and dental pieces. For example, uPVC is sometimes used for dental retainers. Because it is designed to be softer and more flexible than many other plastics, PVC is less durable than uPVC. However, both plastics are resistant to sunlight, oxidation, and a variety of chemicals. PVC piping's ability to withstand sunlight sometimes makes it more useful than ABS pipes.

It is very cheap to manufacture many PVC and uPVC products, which is why they are so ubiquitous in a wide variety of affordable products. PVC pipe can be bought by length or weight. The thicker the piping, the most expensive the pipe will be. Still, PVC pipe is very affordable, with many 10-foot lengths costing less than $10.00 a piece. PVC-coated wires can form HCl fumes in a fire, which can be a health hazard. Plasticizers may leach out of PVC into the environment. Phthalates are what allow PVC to be flexible. Some of the phthalates used in PVC have been restricted or banned over the years, and many others are being replaced with safer phthalates. Dibutyl, benzyl butyl, and DEHP are some of the more commonly banned or restricted phthalates. To date, there are no mainstream concerns regarding the use of uPVC, which does not use phthalates or BPA. Neither PVC nor uPVC are biodegradable. However, uPVC is recyclable and can be reshaped into new products or pipes at very high temperatures.

Cellulose Insulation Fiberglass Insulation Fiberglass Insulation Spray Foam Insulation If you read this far, you should follow us:. Diffen LLC, n.d. Web. What are the small square holes in window frames? Whatever are those small square holes doing on the exterior frame of your new vinyl replacement windows? Won't the little holes let cold air in, just when you thought replacing your wood or aluminum windows would get rid of drafts? These are your window's weep holes, and they are strategically placed to drain water out of your window while preventing airflow into your home. Find Window Experts Fast How soon do you want to begin this project? Within the next 6 months What's your zip code: Weep holes: a critical window design feature Water flows with gravity, downhill, which is the principle used to drain water away from a wood or aluminum window instead of into your home. That is why most wood windows have a sill that slopes away from the window.

During a rain storm water hits the outside of the glass, dropping to the sill and draining away from the window. Many vinyl replacement windows, however, are made on all four sides from the same extrusion, the technical name for the lineal vinyl piece that is cut into sections and welded together to form the frame. The reason you need weep holes is because the sill is the exact same-shaped extrusion as the jambs, which means that the window tracks that hold the sash when in the vertical position of the frame will collect and hold water when functioning as the sill in the bottom horizontal position of the frame. Weep holes allow this water to drain. Diagram of how weep holes work - credit Milgard No wind in the weep holes So, if there are holes to drain the water out, won't they also allow wind to come in? Vinyl window manufacturers have anticipated your concerns and have solved that problem in a variety of ways: Little doors or flaps are inserted to cover the weep holes.

They open outward when water is exiting the window and close to prevent wind pushing against them to get into the window. The extrusions are filled with a network of compartments designed primarily to give added strength to the frame, but these chambers also act as baffles against the incoming air, preventing it from entering the house. The exterior weep holes that drain the water out of the window are not aligned with the interior weep holes; thus, they block direct air flow into the window. Window maintenance and debris-free weep holes Most sliders have weep holes, as do most double hung replacement windows. Weep holes on sliders can be seen in the sill track. They are under both the sliding and operating sash, as well as the screen. Vinyl patio doors may have weep holes also; some are on both the top and bottom, but this is only so the door can be rotated during installation to reverse its operation. Care is necessary to assure access to weep holes is kept clear.