The service life of sanitary pipe fittings is affected by many factors, so there is no fixed and accurate time limit. However, we can generally understand it from the following common materials of sanitary pipe fittings:
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Stainless steel material:
- 304 stainless steel sanitary pipe fittings: Under normal use and good maintenance, the service life is usually more than 20 years. If the application environment is relatively ideal, such as in some indoor, normal temperature, and food processing or pharmaceutical workshops without strong corrosive media, its service life may be even longer, reaching 30 years or more.
- 316L stainless steel sanitary pipe fittings: Due to its better corrosion resistance than 304 stainless steel, when used in some special environments with higher corrosion resistance requirements, such as in the chemical and marine engineering fields, the service life is generally more than 25 years. If properly maintained and in a suitable environment, it is possible to use it for more than 30 years.
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Plastic material (such as PVC, PP, etc.):
- PVC sanitary pipe fittings: After special treatment, it has good anti-aging performance. Generally, the service life is about 10 - 20 years. However, if it is exposed to harsh environments such as high temperatures or direct sunlight for a long time, its service life may be shortened.
- PP sanitary pipe fittings: With good chemical corrosion resistance and heat resistance, under normal use, the service life is usually 15 - 25 years. But if it is subjected to external forces, excessive bending, or long-term exposure to extreme temperature environments, its service life will also be affected.
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Alloy material:
- Some sanitary pipe fittings made of special alloy materials have excellent properties such as high strength and high corrosion resistance and are used in some special and harsh working environments. If properly maintained, the service life may be 20 - 30 years or even longer, but the cost of such pipe fittings is usually higher.
In addition, factors such as the use environment (temperature, humidity, whether there are corrosive media, etc.), installation quality, and daily maintenance will have an important impact on the service life of sanitary pipe fittings. Regular inspection, correct installation, and reasonable use of sanitary pipe fittings can effectively extend their service life.