I hate plumbing

[Len]

More precisely, I hate the process of fixing small leaks that inevitably crops up with every glued joint or thread. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. I can't imagine professional plumbers having the patience to deal with all these pesky leaks.

Sorry, I had to vent

 

[ChrisRD]

Hmmm... ...sounds like you're seriously lacking in plumbing skills despite the fact that you are a reef god... :wink:

Seriously though, are you cleaning/priming joints before gluing? Adding the solvent glue to both pipe and joint? Doing the push, turn and hold routine to make sure slip joints are fully seated and stay that way while they dry?

Are you using teflon tape or pipe thread sealant (ex. Rector seal) on threaded joints? If so, don't over do it with the teflon tape - common mistake. More is not better. Too much can actually cause leaks. Three turns is plenty IME.

 

[Len]

Ya, LA Lawman called me up today and told me about the push and turn techinique. I never did the turn, so that is probably it. I also probably use too much teflon

 

[Anonymous]

I have never had a glued plumbing joint leak. NEVER!

and I never did the push and turn thing until a year or so ago, noone ever told me.

I think the problem is you are probably trying to be too neat and precise with the glue.

Be like me and slop that stuff in there, get the purple primer all over everything, drip it all over the floor and rugs, get some purple spilled down the front of the washing machine you are working on, stuff like that ensures a no leak glue up.....

Now, the threaded joints, and hose joints -- yeah I have had them leak, and too much teflon tape is the first reason why.

The second reason is being afraid to tighten them up too tight for fear of cracking the plastic

The third is tightening them up too tight and cracking the plastic...

:lol:

Really, get a bunch of glue on that stuff, it makes a huge difference...

 

[Anonymous]

I hate plumbing too.

Never had a glued joint leak.

Salt creep fixed the last couple of leaks on my 300G. 8O

Louey

 

[LA-Lawman]

I think the reef gods gave us salt creep to help us with the pesky leaks... they know that even though you carefully plan and execute the DIY projects that we need a little help/break now and then. 8)

 

[Anonymous]

More precisely, I hate the process of fixing small leaks that inevitably crops up with every glued joint or thread. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. I can't imagine professional plumbers having the patience to deal with all these pesky leaks.

Sorry, I had to vent

I never had any leaks on my first "big" reef tank in the plumbing department. Pros don't have any pesky small leaks. If they have any "leaks" they are HUGE LOL :lol: .


I have just over 50' of pipe in my set-up going to my fuge and my sump and back to the tank. I didn't have any leaks at all but I did cut many a pipe to damn long. I have some weird stuff set-up up also that I think is unique, especially my return lines to the tank. Maybe I should try and get a government seal of approval on my return system. :?

 

[Anonymous]

Never had a single glued joint leak here either!

Lotsa glue on both male and female parts, and turn as you push it in is my recipe. I never bothered cleaning anything.

 

[Len]

You guys sure know how to make someone feel stupid 8) :lol: 8O

I think i'll use more glue. I like my plumbing nice and tiddy, but all these tiny leaks frustrate the hell out of me.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Len

If you buy clear primer instead of the purple stuff, and if you buy some clear cement instead of that wacky orange stuff they are trying to sell now you can wipe the excess off with a rag.

That way you can pile it on and still get a nice looking joint.


I think the brand we buy at work that is clear is made by Hercules. The newest stuff we got was Rectorseal and it was orange.

Have fun with the plumbing....

 

[cjsrch]

i almost never use "primer" or cleaner. but if you slop it on then turn like everyone is saying you should have no leaks.

i have about 50 ft of plumbing and still adding more and the only leak i have is the drain pipe. and reason for that is i had hardly any glue left ( luckely leak is right over the sump )


ever consider bending the pipe with heat like i did. less joints less chance of leak ( also better water flow)

 

[Anonymous]

I used the clear primer and the only leak I had was on the bulkheads. A half turn with a wrench fixed that.

 

[cjsrch]

ohyeah. i think most people get salt creep or leak around the bulk head at first. i did i was scared of over tightening.

 

[Anonymous]

You guys sure know how to make someone feel stupid 8) :lol: 8O

I think i'll use more glue. I like my plumbing nice and tiddy, but all these tiny leaks frustrate the hell out of me.

Use more glue.

 

[racenrich]

does anyone GLUE there threaded pieces together? i heard i can use aquarium sealant for that?

what ya think?

 

[ChrisRD]

You're really not supposed to apply glue to threaded fittings. The whole idea behind a threaded fitting is that it can be removed later. :wink: In particular, don't try to use solvent glues on threaded PVC fittings as this is a lot more likely to cause a problem rather than do any good.

Generally thread sealants are what is recommended for tapered/pipe thread fittings, but they are not there to provide a bond - just lubrication (so the fitting can be tightened until fully seated) and to provide a water/air/gas tight seal in the threads. Examples would be teflon tape or pipe dope (ie. the goop in the can - like Rector seal for example).

Aquarium sealant (silicone adhesive) is not intended to be used as a thread sealant but it will work. It could make disassembly more difficult, but since it doesn't form a very strong bond with PVC, for our application this isn't much of a concern. The preferred method, however, would be to just use a more traditional thread sealant... :wink:

HTH