ABS or PVC for DWV Piping

[warthog]

We're in the process of building a DIY home and I am getting ready to do the plumbing, pretty simple system. I was told that PVC is the best material for DWV piping, specifically for drain lines inside the house. When I go to Home Depot or Lowes, they only carry PVC in up to 2" and ABS for 3 and 4 inch. Is PVC really better? Does it really matter. This home is in interior Alaska BTW. Thanks

[roger g]

A lot depends on where you are/ So far in Canada in the 3 Provinces I have worked in they onlu use ABS in all the drain and vent work. I see on a lot of posts that you Americans tend to use PVC. Use whatever makes the building inspector happy.



roger

[dhill]

Here, pvc is used and you can easily get 3 and 4 inch pipes. ABS is only used for manufactured housing (mobile homes) and that's only on the drain under the house. Generally, pvc is used to connect to the septic or the sewage.

[bkrahmer]

Before attempting to make a judgement call, first call your inspector and find out what your options are.

I did my whole house with ABS, and I like the stuff. It's easier to clean up with a knife, it's less brittle, and there's one step to gluing instead of two.

[warthog]

Thanks for the feedback. I will contact our plumbing inspector and ask the question. This forum has been a great source of info. Of course, I usually find out what I did wrong only after its already been done....LOL, I wired all my switches and outlets before doing drywall so I could test it all and use the lights for working at night...never occured to me that its easier to do drywall without the outlets in....oops.

[bkrahmer]

LOL! I probably would have done the same thing in my house, but I learned that lesson the hard way when I built my shed. (built the shed first). Ha. That is too funny.

[VALENT]

you can do pvc with one-step also, now

[Sweep]

I'm not a plumber but I seem to remember that one of the advantages of black ABS is that carbon black is added to make it resistant to sunlight and that PVC on windows is compounded to be resistant too but standard PVC plumbing pipe is not. Therefore, a good place to use ABS is for vent pipes that penetrate a roof. Be sure either material has not been stored exposed to the weather.

A more interesting comparison of these materials can be found at:

http://tomacorp.com/ballistics/ABSvsPVC.html

[Tom R]

I'm not a plumber either, - - but ABS is not even allowed anymore in my area, - - I believe mainly because of it's 'sag' factor.

[Sweep]

It's interesting that ABS is not approved for use in your area.

Not that I keep up with plumbing pipe, but I had not heard of ABS having any more of a problem with sag than any other plastic pipe and proper support mandated by code should avoid any such issues.

Since ABS has a much higher heat deflection temperature (temperature at which it will sag) than PVC, I would have thought PVC would be more susceptible to sag.

I would be interested to learn more about why ABS is not approved for use in your area. Don't make me call a plumber; they never return my calls.