While cement or concrete manhole openings have long been the standard in utility work, PVC manholes are becoming increasingly common, for a variety of reasons. Concrete manholes do have larger openings, which makes pumping much easier and faster to accomplish, but there are many other ways in which PVC has the edge.
Here’s a quick look at some of the big advantages provided by PVC manholes that you should know when working with a septic pumping service in Prior Lake, MN:
- Flexibility: In concrete and brick manholes, even small amounts of vibration or movement in the soil could result in a crack or break forming in the body of the manhole, or in the rigid join in the pipe connections. PVC manholes, however, are much more flexible, which means they’re better able to withstand these movements and vibrations to avoid any fractures occurring.
- Installation: PVC manholes are significantly easier to install than concrete manholes. It is not necessary for installation teams to bring in heavy machinery to install them, like it is for concrete manholes. This also reduces the number of workers needed to get the job done, in turn reducing the total cost of doing the job. Compare this to concrete manholes, which need heavy machinery to get the job done to complete the larger digs.
- Tightness: Brick and concrete can occasionally be impacted by water infiltrations through the soil. Plastic, however, provides a guarantee that there will be no leaks, as the material lacks the porosity of concrete and brick. This is another place where the flexibility of plastic is a benefit as well—because the manhole is not going to be as likely to suffer breakages or cracks, you’re not going to have to worry about leaks coming through.
- Maintenance: In an ideal world, you’ll have a manhole that will require as little maintenance as possible. Concrete’s rough texture can work against it in this regard, as it becomes necessary to periodically clean these manholes because liquids and solids can get trapped in the pores and grooves of the materials. Plastic manholes, however, have a flat internal surface that does not have any roughness, corners or pores, meaning you won’t have to worry about this being an issue. They instead have slopes toward the outlets, allowing for a better liquid flow and directional control.
- Resistance: Concrete and brick manholes simply do not have the ability to resist corrosion of the walls. Plastic manholes have the advantage of being resistant to salts, acids and other materials frequently found in wastewater that can be harmful to the environment. Because they will not corrode as a result of exposure to these materials, you don’t have to worry about those harsh chemicals and materials seeping into the soil and the environment at large.
For more information about the differences between concrete and PVC manholes and why more people are opting for PVC, a septic pumping service in Prior Lake, MN can help. Reach out to Mike’s Septic & McKinley Sewer Services today!