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Sticky situation with pipe glue choices
Had a bit of a plumbing adventure this weekend...thought I'd tackle replacing some old PVC pipes under the kitchen sink myself. Seemed simple enough, right? Well, ran into a snag when I realized there's like a dozen different adhesives at the hardware store. I stood there staring at labels for way too long - PVC cement, multipurpose glue, primer combo stuff...you name it.
Ended up grabbing one labeled "all-purpose" thinking it'd cover my bases. Got home, applied it generously (maybe too generously, lol), and now I'm second-guessing myself. The pipes seem solid enough for now, but I'm wondering if I should've gone with something specifically labeled for PVC or plumbing use.
Has anyone else had this kinda confusion picking adhesives? Did your choice hold up over time or did you end up redoing the job later? Curious if I'm worrying over nothing or if I'm gonna regret this down the line...
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8 replies
- Honestly, I'd be a bit cautious with the "all-purpose" stuff on plumbing jobs.
- PVC cement and primer combo is usually the safest bet for pipes under pressure.
- Keep an eye on it...better safe than dealing with surprise leaks later.
“All-purpose” alone doesn’t confirm that an adhesive is suitable for PVC plumbing. For similar repairs, check the label for PVC compatibility and the intended use, such as drain piping or pressure-rated plumbing, rather than relying on the broad adhesive description. That distinction matters more than how solid the joint feels initially.
The pipe’s material marking matters too. Even PVC cement can be the wrong match if the pipe isn’t PVC, and a mismatch can leave a weak joint. Checking both labels before buying can save the cost of doing the repair twice.
I’d avoid redoing it only if the product instructions confirm it’s suitable for that pipe material and plumbing use. If the label doesn’t establish that, I’d lean toward replacing the joint with a matching product rather than relying on how firm it feels now.
If the product instructions confirm it’s suitable for the pipe and plumbing use, I’d follow the stated cure time before running water through the joint. Feeling firm isn’t a substitute for giving the product its specified time to set.
A cement-and-primer combo isn’t automatically the safest choice for pressure piping; the specific product has to be labeled for that use and matched to the pipe material. Under a sink, the pipe could be drain piping or a pressurized supply line, so I wouldn’t assume which applies here.
A supply line carries water to the faucet, so it’s pressurized; the drain carries used water away and normally isn’t under supply pressure. The post doesn’t establish which pipe was repaired, though, and the adhesive still needs to match the pipe material and its intended use.
That distinction also changes what a leak might look like: a supply-side leak can keep seeping under pressure, while a drain leak may only show when water is running through it. Either way, a dry moment or firm-feeling joint wouldn’t establish that the adhesive is suitable.
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