ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area PVC Conduit Shortage???

I was just at Lowes (Ft Myers)and 1/2" RNC was $1.09 a stick. They seemed to have plenty. I thought about buying it all and sending it to you guys ;-)

It feels strange actually worrying about PVC getting stolen off the jobsite.

"Psst! Hey, man, you lookin' for some RNC? Check it out, dude!"


"Has this trickled down to the EMT and UF cable biz yet?"

I can tell you this: I just paid $49 for a roll of 12-2 NM. Yikes!

[This message has been edited by Larry Fine (edited 10-12-2005).]

I didn't look at 12-2 but I was picking up a roll of 14-3 ($46)

Might be time to pick up a few extra cases of carlon nail on boxes before they stop shipping those also.

"Are you in gold, silver or stocks"?

None of those, I have PVC!

I hadn't realized how damaging the shortage of PVC could be. I hope this doesn't slow down the demand for electrical work, that's for sure. I think everything will be just fine in a short period of time. How you define "a short period" is the question, though.

The local big orange box over here doesnt seem to be low on anything and pricing seems to be going lower (???)

Very Strange.

The orange box stores here only stock PVC conduit and fittings up to 2", and prices are going up about the same as the real supply houses.

The blue boxes usually have 3" PVC available, but I haven't been in one lately to check prices.

How many "harry homeowner" type projects call for 3" PVC pipe, anyway? Are that many DIYers installing 400A services on their homes?

EUSERC now demands 3" Schedule 40 for home Services at only 200A (!)

Way over kill, but there it is.

I suspect that in the warmer areas (Arizona, Southern California) the oversize pipe helps ventilate and cool the service latteral.

Anyhow, we are now using an 'extra inch' on all service latterals.... What had been 4" must now be 5", etc.

Look at the bright side:

With PVC in a 'shortage'....something sure to affect NM as well as pipe....maybe we'll see the higher prices discourage the DIY's and hacks from playing with the electric!