Switched from PVC to copper for drain pipes after a flood last March

I used to use PVC for all my drain lines because it's cheap and easy to cut. Then a pipe cracked under the slab in my house in Dallas and water damage cost me $4,200 to fix. Has anyone else had PVC fail on them or am I just unlucky?

3 comments

3 Comments

grantw413d ago

Did your soil shift too when yours cracked? I had the same problem with PVC in Austin last year, my whole front yard drain line split right open after a dry spell.

nancy_king293d ago

Had the exact same thing happen to me in my last house. PVC under the slab is a ticking time bomb, especially if you have any shifting soil. I'd add that you should also check your water heater's pressure relief valve and make sure it's draining properly - high pressure can cause those slab pipes to fail faster.

jake7473d ago

Yeah, I read something about that pressure valve thing recently. Someone was saying if it's not draining right the pressure builds up and finds the weakest spot in the pipes, which is usually underground. Makes sense, never thought about it that way.