Question about pvc

[Phil1]

Getting ready to change some of the plumbing... a couple of questions.

1. I'm thinking of adding a union to facilitate future repairs. Are the unions for schedule 40 pvc pipe standardized? I know the unions on my heater and SWG are specialized items, so if I need to replace one of those pipes I have to buy the matching union parts. But what about just a regular pipe union? Can I buy one now from, say, Home Depot and later be able to buy a mating union even if Home Depot changes suppliers?

2. I see on youtube videos people repairing pool plumbing are using either Oatey Pool-Tite or Weld-On Pool Heavy solvent glues for pvc... neither of which seem to be available at Home Depot or Lowes. Is there something special about these "pool" glues, or would something for normal plumbing work just as well?

 

[Phil1]

Home Depot carries the Oatey "Rain-R-Shine", which is a medium cement, thanks. I guess no one knows the answer to the union question?

 

[Charlie_R]

Most that I've used have been standardized. but then I've always bought from essentially the same suppliers.

 

[Phil1]

Thanks for the reply. Strange that the two replies about pool-specialized pvc cement disappeared...

 

[gtemkin]

They are not standardized. Home Depot changed their supplier a couple of years ago and the old halves and the new halves will not mate. Different coupling thread diameters.

 

[Phil1]

Bummer... not being standardized makes them pretty much useless for many purposes (like mine!). I guess I could buy a spare now, and keep it until I need to redo the pipes again to replace the heater and/or pump. I'd probably lose it or forget what it's for, by that time. Thanks for the helpful info!

 

[garrybunk]

I've found out that the unions from Home Depot also do not mate to the unions from Lowes. I also prefer the unions from Lowes over the ones from Home Depot.

-Garry