Okay to use flexible, non-metallic electrical conduit for plumbing?

[shermanator]

This might be obvious one way or the other (I ask a lot of obvious questions)... I'm setting up a basement sump and I'm using flexible, non-metallic conduit for the electrical. This conduit a) is cheap and b) fits schedule 40 fittings fine.

Is it okay to use it for plumbing? Mainly I was going to use it in a water change station? But I also might want to use it to plumb reactors, etc.

I cannot tell what material it is made from (it seems quite similar to Flex PVC which I know is OK, but Flex PVC is more expensive).

The specific product I have is Southwire Liquid-Tight conduit: http://www.lowes.com/pd_240411-295-...entURL=?Ntt=southwire+liquid-tight&facetInfo=

Thanks!

 

[SGT_York]

It is not rated for potable contact and does contain chemicals you would not want to leach, same goes for the rigid conduit pipe.

However many people have used it in the past with success. My advice is to just stick with the flex PVC or vinyle tubing.

 

[shermanator]

It is not rated for potable contact and does contain chemicals you would not want to leach, same goes for the rigid conduit pipe.

However many people have used it in the past with success. My advice is to just stick with the flex PVC or vinyle tubing.

Sounds good, thanks for the information - I won't use it for plumbing.

 

[uncleof6]

Flexible Non-Metallic Electrical Conduit is pvc, e.g. flex pvc, just comes in colors other than white, and black. FNMEC contains BPA and Phthalates, both in quantities far less than required to cause a problem in humans, but then so does Flex PVC and pvc hard pipe/conduit....the FNMEC is not listed for potable water, and neither is Flex PVC or hard pipe/conduit in most jurisdictions. (the codes are always in flux.) There is not enough of these "terrible compounds" in any of it to cause a problem for you or your critters...it is mis-informaton. It is widespread mis-information, so is not necessarily the messengers fault. But guess what is listed for potable water: Copper.... Personally though, I would use Flex PVC before the conduit, and use hard pipe before both...just a preference.

 

[Gorgok]

That item is only 1/2" (OD, schedule 80 they claim so ID is small). And the largest one in conduit flavor i saw was 3/4". Both are pretty useless sizes i would say.

 

[shermanator]

That item is only 1/2" (OD, schedule 80 they claim so ID is small). And the largest one in conduit flavor i saw was 3/4". Both are pretty useless sizes i would say.

I am going to use 1/2" for plumbing water storage and water change plumbing only.

Hopefully it doesn't end up being too small for even that, but I figured 1/2" was adequate for mixing ASW and delivering ASW to QT and DT.

 

[shermanator]

Flexible Non-Metallic Electrical Conduit is pvc, e.g. flex pvc, just comes in colors other than white, and black.

Thanks. Good to know.

Most of my plumbing that I have planned is hard pipe (all of my plumbing from DT to basement sump will be hard pipe), but I think flex will be easier for some of my water change and mix plans. If not easier, definitely cheaper for what I'm planning.