PVC outside drainage What to do?

[brihvac]

When I built my garage addition I had to run above ground drainage to the rear of my house because of the new driveway. I used that thin 4" triple wall white drainage pipe at Home Depot. Problem is that where they connect keeps popping out. The "glue" they sell is really not glue. I was going to replace it with 4" schedule 40 PVC with PVC cemented fittings. Issue is half of it will be out of the ground while the other half is buried in landscaping stone. Will the schedule 40 PVC being above ground exposed to the elements be an issue? I know it's going to yellow but will it last outside or become brittle and crack?

 

[Shiftless]

Yes, it will become brittle and ultimately crack in the event somebody or some animal steps on it. Paint will help prolong the life of that pipe.

 

[brihvac]

Hmm, paint will probably chip off because of the stone. I still might try it. I thought it would take many many years to make schedule 40 brittle

 

[Shiftless]

Hmm, paint will probably chip off because of the stone. I still might try it. I thought it would take many many years to make schedule 40 brittle

If the pipe is buried in landscape stone, sun won’t hit it and it will last. The part not covered will degrade. How fast it degrades depends on exposure. North side of house? Full sun all day? Shaded by trees? Lots of variables.
If you paint the pipe, the UV light won’t get to the plastic and it should last a very long time. You could paint it white so if it did chip, it wouldn’t be noticeable. I painted some old plastic patio side tables long ago and the paint didn’t chip. Proper surface prep and using a paint designed for plastic is important. I used Rustoleum sray paint that was labeled for plastic.

Even if you don’t paint exposed PVC, it will get brittle of course but it won’t just crack on its own. How many years do you plan to live in that house? Maybe it doesn’t matter...

 

[kbs2244]

If your present pipe is OK strength wise. a pan head screw at the joints will keep it together

 

[JRC3]

Hmm, I sure have seen a ton of PVC flue pipes and elbows as well as sanitary vents exposed to the elements on roofs and the sides of buildings and houses, not sure why being used for drainage on the ground would make any difference.

 

[Bretny]

Screwing the thin wall together should help. Why not let the water dump into a swale where it's above ground?

 

[spudley]

Cover the whole length with stone. Mounded stone looks better than white pipe.

 

[machsnell]

I have never noticed brittle pvc that has been exposed.

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[BB Sig]

HD 4" Electrical Conduit

If you are concerned about UV, go with the gray stuff for the above ground portion.

 

[rharman]

Would ABS be a better choice? I have no idea - just tossing it out there for comment.

 

[RossABQ]

You could always put it inside a 6" pvc pipe, to shield it from sun and crushing damage.

 

[redneckcharlie]

I’m at 6500/ft of elevation. My own personal home has exposed pvc for the pool plumbing. It’s not an issue. Our uv and temperature swings destroy building materials quickly depending on the type. Exposed pvc isn’t an issue.

 

[SRU1436]

Schedule 40 PVC is so damn durable. You won’t need to worry

 

[Shiftless]

Brittleness isn’t necessarily weakness. Exposed pvc pipe will be fine for years but as it gets older it will crack more easily.

Just try to cut a piece of older sunlight exposed schedule 40 or any other pvc pipe with one of these. It won’t cut but just shatter. (Because the plastic gets brittle) That’s my personal experience.