Clear PVC pipe is an interesting material. It has all the practical properties of regular 40 PVC pipe. It’s tough, can withstand high pressure, has a long lifespan, and is inexpensive. Well, it’s cheap compared to copper or stainless steel pipes. For a 5-foot length, the price of clear PVC is approximately four times the price of Schedule 40 PVC of the same diameter. This is because clear PVC is more difficult to produce than white or grey PVC. If clear PVC pipes and tubes are so much more expensive, why would anyone buy them?

The clue is in the name; clear PVC lets you watch fluid flow through the pipe. Visual monitoring is helpful in many situations. In food production and processing, it is critical to see the components of a product or final product move through the manufacturing process. The same goes for many other processes, some of which I’ll explain below!

1. Food processing
This is an industry where close visual monitoring is key! The product must be closely watched at every stage of production to avoid contamination or other errors. Clear PVC pipes or pipes can be used to transport liquids, allowing supervisors to keep a close eye on these liquids. Imagine trying to cook while wearing a blindfold. That’s what food production looks like without visual monitoring: simply not possible. Health requirements also require close monitoring of food throughout the production process.

2. Swimming pools and spas
Visual monitoring is helpful whenever chemicals are mixed into the water. Clear PVC pipes are especially useful in larger pool backwash systems. When you backwash your pool, you back the water through a pump system to remove dirt and debris from the filter. After the water has flowed through the filter, clear PVC tubing can be used to reveal all the goo and debris being pushed out of the system. This also lets you know when the filter is clean.

3. Aquarium
One of the most common uses for clear PVC pipe is in professional aquariums. Home cleaning is critical when raising rare or exotic fish. As water passes through the filter, you want to see the difference from in to out. Clear PVC pipes can be used on both sides of the filter; one pipe shows the entry of dirty water and the other shows the exit of clean water. If the water leaving the filter isn’t as clear as it should be, it’s time to clean the filter.

4. Laboratory
Science labs are filled with chemicals and gases not found anywhere else. When creating complex chemical mixtures in the lab, you want to see every step of the process. Therefore, clear PVC pipe or tubing should be used. While some more aggressive chemicals can break down PVC in liquid form, it is good at transporting gases.

5. Medical
The medical uses of clear PVC are almost limitless. From pharmaceutical manufacturing to patient care, clear PVC piping and tubing abounds. PVC is ideal for medical use because it is durable and easy to clean. In environments where everything must be spotless and sterile, clear PVC is a useful material.

These are just a few of the endless applications for clear PVC pipes. If you’re considering buying some, you might be concerned about the price. Remember: only certain parts of the pipe require clear PVC. You can make most of your piping system out of white PVC and place clear PVC piping in key locations where visual monitoring is most important!