Exact Answer: 15 to 30 Minutes
CPVC stands for Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride. It is a thermoplastic pipe that is used for water transportation, distribution, and fire suppression. These kinds of pipes are environmentally friendly, as well as stay intact for a long time. Moreover, these pipes, as compared to others, are easy to get installed and be handled, and are very cost-effective, too.
CVPC pipes are suitable for cold and hot water both and are resistant to many chemicals. Further, CVPC consists of such materials which do not burn without an external fuel supply. The availability of these pipes is in two dimensions, namely, “Schedule 40” and “Schedule 80.” The duration suggested to wait after gluing the pipes is about 15 to 30 minutes.
How Long To Wait After Gluing CPVC?
Usually, solvent cement is used to glue together the CPVC pipes as it acts as a glue between them and reduces any risks of leakage or failure of sticking the pipes. Generally, a thin coat is applied between the rims of the pipe and a slightly thicker coat is put on over the pipes to seal the grip.
The cure time for the CPVC pipes depends upon a lot of factors like the temperature or humidity of the region in which it is applied, the size of the pipes, how tight is the fitting required for the pipes, etc. The time for the pipes to cure could range from as little as 15 minutes to even 8 hours.
After applying the CPVC Glue, or CPVC Solvent Cement, the pipes must be held together for about 30 seconds for the glue or the cement between them to harden and bond the pipes together. It takes the pipes about 30 minutes to stick together. However, the time it takes to stick should not be mistaken with the time it takes for them to cure.
It takes about 1 hour for the pipes above 60 degrees Fahrenheit and near to 6 hours for the hot water pipes, which are below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Hence, there should not be any water activity through the pipes until they have been cured fully. Otherwise, it might harm the bond or joint between them if the water reaches the cement before it has fully cured.
| Temperature Of Pipes | Time Taken To Cure |
| Above 60 Degree Fahrenheit | 1 Hour |
| Below 60 Degree Fahrenheit | 6 Hours |
Why Does It Take 15 To 30 Minutes To Wait After Gluing CPVC?
The CPVC pipes take 30 minutes to dry, but the drying time and the curing time are different. The pipes need to fully cure before the water can run through from them. If the water touches the CPVC cement and the CPVC glue before it has fully cured, there is a risk of damaged joins between the pipes and even leakages.
The curing time for the CPVC pipes depends upon a lot of factors, such as the temperature and humidity of the region it is put in, the size of the pipes, and the application they are used for, etc.
The size of the pipe affects the curing time in a way that the regular pipes cure faster as the cement used to join them together is less as compared to the heavily bodied pipes which take a longer duration to cure because of the amount of cement it incorporates to be joined.
The temperature and humidity also affect the time the pipes might take to cure, as the drier environment would have the cement drying off faster and securing the bond, whereas humid environments would have the pipes take longer to cure. Further, highly humid environments prevent the CPVC cement solvent to evaporate, and hence it takes them longer to cure.
Moreover, even the pressure of the water which would be running through the pipes also has a difference in the curing time as it affects the tightness with which the pipes are needed to be joined. For example, fire sprinklers need more water pressure and hence, they can take up to 10 days to cure.
Conclusion
CPVC stands for Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride, which is a thermoplastic pipe used for transporting or distributing water, and fire suppression. The CPVC Solvent Cement is used to glue or bond the pipes together as it prevents the risk of leakages. It takes the cement about 30 minutes to dry but the curing time differs from 15 minutes to 8 hours. The curing time of the pipes depends on a lot of factors including the size of the pipe, the application it would be used for, the water pressure or the tightness required in joining the pipes, as well as the temperature and humidity of the region it is placed in.
References
- https://www.ppfahome.org/page/CPVC#:~:text=Chlorinated%20Poly%20(Vinyl%20Chloride)%20(,industry%2C%20and%20fire%20suppression%20systems.
- https://www.hunker.com/12000340/how-long-must-i-wait-after-gluing-cpvc-pipe-before-turning-the-water-back-on
- https://www.corzan.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-cpvc-solvent-cement-cure-times