Through the years you’ve read our PVF supply vlogs where we answer a lot of the questions our customers ask us. Some are simple questions about products such as the difference between ERW pipe and seamless steel pipe. Other questions are a bit more complex such as how environmental compliance in heavily regulated states such as California, affects the PVF industry.
We’ve decided to revisit some of these vlog topics and post a few blogs over the coming months that highlight frequently asked questions. We want our customers to be as informed as possible about the PVF products they purchase from us.
PVF Supply FAQs
So, with that being said, let’s dive right in with the most baseline question we’ve been asked. It may seem mundane to some, but when you think about it, it’s a really good question:
What Is PVF?
It sounds like a simple question on the surface. However, when you get down to brass tacks, PVF—which stands for pipes, valves, and fittings encompasses much more than that.
PVF and all that it encompasses is used in just about every industry—retail, oil and gas, construction, waterparks, and more. When all the components that makeup PVF are combined in systems, they allow for the movement of substances from point A to point B. Now, the substance being moved could be several things.
From potable water to the natural gas piped into most Houston homes, it doesn’t happen without the PVF industry. If the PVF industry suddenly disappeared, daily life would be pretty difficult after a few days without supplies.
Given that every industry uses some form of PVF, all of the components within this realm can be very different. They can differ in function, size, shape, and materials—they can come in plastic, metal, vinyl, HDPE, and more.
PVF is really a slang term that has been accepted in the industry but our inventory goes well beyond pipes, valves, and fittings. In fact, PVF supply also encompasses items such as:
Hoses
Made from various materials such as rubber, PVC, and stainless steel— hoses perform several tasks. They can be used for material flow such as in a chemical plant or oil refinery. However, they can also be used on machinery such as in the case of hydraulic hoses on large excavators.
Nuts & Bolts
Without nuts & bolts, the PVF supply industry would not exist as there’s no way to connect pipes and fittings without them. These invaluable components make pipe assemblies come together—literally.
Structural Steel
Critical in building pipe support structures and other structures that serve the needs of piping systems.
What Are Pipe Supports?
Pipes all over the country in multiple industrial sectors perform daily under extreme amounts of stress. The failure rate of pipes nationwide is quite startling, to say the least. A recent study from a major university reported that pipe failures were up almost 30% over six years alone.
However, this doesn’t have to be an ever-increasing statistic, and it shouldn’t be. There’s a way to mitigate pipe breaks and extend the lifespan of piping of any material—pipe supports.
Pipe supports are structures that perform a wide array of critical tasks and are often just referred to as supports. The term itself is broad and can encompass a wide array of devices. But there are four primary functions of support.
- Guide pipe along a specified path
- Anchor pipes for stability
- Shock absorption
- Load support
Tons of universal pipe supports fit many standard pipes and setups. However, no matter the industry you’re in there isn’t always a cut and dry, uniform solution for pipe supports. More than likely, you will need custom fabricated supports at some point to get the job done right. It could be due to the environment, a design mistake that requires a workaround, or any number of determinant factors.
Custom fabricated supports or standard universal fit, all pipe supports offer quite a few benefits that enhance productivity.
We carry just about every component related to pipe supports used in the industry including:
- Pipe Restraints
- Isolators
- Pipe Shoes
- Custom Fabricated Supports
What Is HDPE Pipe?
One of the most popular products in the PVF supply industry is HDPE pipe. It stands for high-density polyethylene and offers a very economical and durable solution for a wide variety of piping needs in all sectors.
It’s been proven highly effective for use in buried ground, above ground, surface laid, floating, slip lined, and subsurface marine applications. HDPE pipe is often used in the oil & gas, wastewater management, and agricultural industries among others.
It is more than capable of carrying wastewater, slurry, chemical substances, toxic waste, and even compressed gases. In short, it is highly adaptable to any industry, any application, and any fluid or gas medium without needing frequent repair. In fact, compared to all other piping used in some of these applications—it has the lowest repair rate.
Whether you are looking for flexibility, long lifespan, resistance to chemicals, or easy installation—HDPE pipe checks all the boxes and then some. You can find HDPE pipe used in industries and applications such as:
- Electrical & Communication Conduits
- Municipal Storm Drains
- Mining
- Oil & Gas
- Dredging Applications
- Glass Manufacturers
- Power Plants
- Paper Mills
As you can see, HDPE is quite popular no matter the industry and it’s for good reason. In fact, HDPE has quite a few advantages over steel, concrete, and iron piping in many applications. We have customers from many different industries including petroleum, municipalities, commercial farms, mineral mines, and more that frequently depend on us for their piping needs.
What Is A PVF Distributor?
“Why do I need a PVF distributor? Isn’t one parts dealer the same as the next? Why don’t I just get all my parts from a general supplier? If I buy a valve from the plumbing supply with my other stuff isn’t it the same?”
These are all statements we’ve heard from people since we entered this industry some years ago. The reason many people have this perception is they are looking at upfront price and convenience only.
However, while that might be the deciding factor for a home project or a sub-contractor on a small job it is not the case for big industrial applications. In fact, when it comes to your manufacturing facility, your luxury apartment complex, or your petrochemical plant—you need more.
Because, while a lot of PVF components for home and smaller projects can be bought off the shelf— with bigger projects you have specific needs. You need PVF components that are guaranteed to be compatible with the rest of your application. Additionally, there are specific ISO standards and code compliance factors that come into play.
Will you find PVF supplies at the big box stores and general supply houses? Sure, but you won’t get the institutional knowledge or the level of service. Just because everything is conveniently located in one place doesn’t make it convenient. What you end up with is a big warehouse that carries “everything” but knows nothing.
Who Are You Trusting With Your PVF Needs?
It’s a simple question. Think about it, do you feel confident that you could call your supplier for any product? If they didn’t have what you needed would they start making calls to get it for you ASAP?
We will. We go above and beyond to ensure our customers feel like they get a level of service not seen before in this industry. That’s our promise to you and that’s what we stake our reputation on.
Contact us and find out for yourself and let’s do great things together.
