If you’re considering electrical metallic tubing, or EMT conduit vs. PVC, the experts with American Conduit can make your choice easy. Aluminum EMT is much more cost-effective than either PVC – or steel, for that matter – and it’s just as strong and durable. Let us take care of your conduit needs and you’ll never have to deal with downtime because you can’t get it fast enough, or your supplier has run out. We have more than 20 stocking warehouses across the U.S. and 33 distributors nationwide. We also keep a million pounds of conduit in stock at all times. When you turn to American Conduit, you can do so with complete confidence.
EMT
This is a very popular form of conduit, which is a pipe through which cabling and wires run. It not only protects wiring from impacts, but also from vapors and moisture. EMT is often referred to as “thin-wall” conduit because it’s much thinner than other types of conduit. This makes EMT very lightweight, and very easy to maneuver and install. You’ll find EMT in a wide variety of indoor commercial, industrial and residential applications.
While most users install EMT indoors, it’s also suitable for outdoor installation in some circumstances. As long as the fittings and setscrews are made of non-corrosive material, you can install EMT outside.
PVC
PVC (short for polyvinyl chloride) conduit also has thin walls, and is also primarily designed for indoor applications. Like EMT, PVC can also be used outside because it’s non-corrosive. However, PVC conduit requires grounding, while EMT doesn’t. Also, EMT is easy to bend, while PVC must be heated.
5 Reasons to Choose Aluminum EMT Over Any Other Option
Conduit typically comes in three materials, steel, PVC and aluminum. When you look at all the benefits of aluminum, however, you’ll soon realize why it will always be the superior choice. Here are five reasons this is the case.
- Aluminum is 30 percent of the weight of steel, but it’s just as strong. While steel can become brittle when exposed to extremely cold temperatures, aluminum actually gets stronger.
- You can easily cut, bend or punch aluminum without the need for any special tools.
- Aluminum provides protection from electromagnetic radiation, keeping your sensitive electronic equipment safe from interference.
- Aluminum also does a great job of conducting electricity as well as heat. It also stays safe to the touch no matter how hot or cold the outside temperatures may be.
- Corrosion resistance is yet another characteristic of aluminum. Once exposed to oxygen, aluminum forms a thin layer of natural oxide protection. This keeps it from corroding, unlike steel. We also anodize our aluminum to give it even more protection against corrosion.
Experience the American Conduit Difference
For four decades, American Conduit has been the go-to source for all diameters of aluminum electrical conduit. We are staffed with a team of professionals who are intimately familiar with conduit, and can make sure you receive the right product to fit your exact needs.
If you would like to know more about EMT conduit vs. PVC, or you’d like more information about the products we offer or American Conduit in general, we’d love to hear from you. Please give us a call at 1 (800) 334-6825 or use our online contact form.