There are many different materials that are used in swimming pool construction. When it comes to the piping that is used for swimming pool installation, the type you choose can have a significant impact on the overall quality of the installation and the lifespan of the pool system. As much of the piping for a swimming pool is buried underground, even a small, slow leak in your pool’s pipes can cause major damage and be costly to repair.
That’s why it’s important to know what the different types of pipe are, and which work the best for swimming pool piping installations. In this post, we’ll cover your piping options, the options that are most popular, and what we think the best option is.
What are the Pipe Options for Swimming Pools?
You have several different materials to choose from for your swimming pool piping. While all of these will work (at least for a while), there are some options that are better than others.
- PVC - Rigid PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe is a standard for swimming pool piping, as well as many other plumbing jobs. The thickness of the wall of the pipe is known as the schedule, most commonly PVC pipe is made to schedule 40 or schedule 80. Some pool installers choose to use a schedule 80 PVC pipe, which is fine, but it might be a bit of overkill for the job.
- CPVC - CPVC, chlorinated PVC, pipe is typically used for plumbing jobs that need piping that is able to withstand higher water temperatures. It’s light gray in color and is more expensive than regular PVC pipe. However, many pool plumbers do use CPVC for the inlet and outlet ports of pool heaters to prevent pipes from melting or shrinking. It’s usually only used in that capacity because it would be cost prohibitive to plumb a whole swimming pool system with it.
- Copper - Copper piping is no longer recommended for use in pool installations, but it can still be found in older pools that were installed before PVC pipe began being used. While copper piping is often used in other home plumbing and does have some advantages (for example, it’s more earthquake and fire resistant than other options), it’s also more expensive, more difficult to use, and isn’t as well insulated as PVC pipe.
- Flexible PVC - Like rigid PVC, flexible PVC is made of polyvinyl chloride but it is made with plasticizers so that it is bendable. Because of flex PVC’s flexibility, it’s easier to install than rigid PVC pipe. It also has several benefits that you won’t see with rigid pipe. For example, it’s better able to handle freezing temperatures because it can stretch to accommodate the expansion caused by ice, and it’s better at withstanding ground movements. However, flex PVC pipe isn’t as durable as rigid pipe because it’s susceptible to subterranean termites and earwigs that can chew holes into it. It also isn’t as chemically resistant as rigid pipe, which means that high chlorine levels and harsh water can damage it.
- Black Poly - Black poly pipe, also called high-density polyethylene or HDPE pipe, is the immediate predecessor to PVC pipe for swimming pool systems. HDPE is still found in pools installed before PVC became so widely used, and some pool plumbers still use it. It’s a flexible black hose that offers the same benefits as flex PVC pipe, without being attractive to underground bugs and with greater chemical resistance.
Which Type of Swimming Pool Pipe is Most Common?
These days, you will still find some pools from before the 1970s that have copper pipes, some more recent pools that use black poly pipe, but by far most current swimming pool plumbing systems use either rigid PVC or flex PVC. Most pool installers prefer rigid PVC pipe (even though it can be more difficult to install) because the disadvantages of flex PVC outweigh its ease of install.
Our Winner
Overall, we think rigid PVC pipe is the best choice for swimming pool plumbing. It's much more durable than flexible PVC pipe, which actually isn’t rated for underground use. Flex PVC pipe’s hose-like structure is easy to crush or puncture, and insects can chew through it fairly easily. Even though making turns in the piping is harder with rigid pipe and it requires the use of fittings rather than just flexing like flex PVC, rigid PVC pipe is still our winner for pool plumbing systems. It’s strong, cost-effective, and has the longest lifespan of any of the other options. If your pool has heaters, be sure to incorporate CPVC into the layout around them to protect the integrity of the system.
Final Thoughts about Swimming Pool Piping
Installing a swimming pool is a huge investment for your home. Many homeowners who decide to add pools to their yards pay close attention to the design and the look of the pool, but don’t always consider the quality of what’s going on underground to keep their pool going. Still, it’s important to build your pool to last and to require as little maintenance and repair as possible. That’s why knowing about the different piping options for your pool’s plumbing is important. Hopefully, the above information will help you in building the swimming pool you want that will last for many years to come.
