What's The Best Way To Remove Glued PVC Fittings?

There are likely to be PVC pipes all around your house, from guttering along the roofline to drains in kitchens and bathrooms. Most of the time PVC goes unnoticed, but if there's a problem, you'll want to remove glued PVC fittings and repair or replace them as quickly as possible. So what's the best way to do that?

The bad news is that one of the common mistakes people make when gluing PVC pipe is assuming it can be undone later. If the joint was glued properly, that's unlikely. It's all about the adhesive. Unlike glues that stick two surfaces together (wood glue, superglue, epoxy, etc.), PVC glue doesn't coat the surfaces; it makes the two PVC parts melt together. Then, when those parts harden, they become a single, permanently bonded piece. It's a lot like a weld. That's great for durability, but a nightmare if you want to take them apart.

So the absolute best way to remove glued PVC fittings is to cut them off with a hacksaw or an affordable tool like the Bates PVC Pipe Cutter and then make a new joint. If that seems a bit extreme, there are a couple of things you can try first. However, the chances of success are slim.

If you just glued the two parts and realize you made a mistake, then if you're real quick, you might be able to pull them apart again. Meanwhile, remember to properly store your PVC glue to prevent it from drying out. If the glue wasn't applied evenly to the pipes, it may be possible to undo two parts by gripping each one with a pipe wrench and turning them in opposite directions. Care is needed not to crush or fracture the PVC pipe or fittings. Finally, a heat gun could be tried, warming the joint in the hope that it will loosen. However, in addition to the risk of distorting the fittings, there's also the potential for producing toxic fumes.

The bottom line is that if you need to remove glued PVC fittings, you'll probably end up cutting that section out. Fortunately, the variety of fittings available means that replacing sections isn't particularly difficult or expensive. Just make sure your cuts are as straight as possible (which is usually easier with a pipe-cutting tool than with a hacksaw).

There are lots of handy ways to repurpose PVC pipes around the home and garden that have nothing to do with plumbing, and these are well worth exploring if you find yourself with offcuts. Just remember that PVC glue, also known as PVC cement, is more or less permanent. It's unlikely you will get glued pieces apart again without causing damage.