PVC plumbing

friendlyAlien · #1 08/21/2006, 10:41 PM

Hi,

so I finished all the plumbing for my fish room and filled it with water. A 24 leak test says woohoo

... until I turn on the BIG pump

All of sudden one of the PVC glued connections of a reducer starts dripping (1 drop a second) very close to the pump.

No leak without pressure on this connection under water - 1 drop per second with pressure (6500 gph).

This never happened before to me that a PVC glued connection leaks ...

Anyone an idea how to fix it? Do I have to rip apart the whole plumbing section and replace it or is there a way to fix a leak in a PVC connection? Anyone an idea?

Cheers,
Carsten

puter · #2 08/21/2006, 11:10 PM

Hard to give specific advise without a picture, but yes, replace it. In general: cut the pipe near the leak, replace the fitting and connect it to your old line with a coupler.

PVC points:

1) Make sure your cuts are square
2) Use primer
3) Cement: pipe, fitting then pipe again
4) Turn pipe 1/4 or so while inserting
5) Hold 30-35 seconds to prevent push-out
6) Clean excess from both inside and outside of the fitting.

And, if you want to be overly anal about it bevel the inside of the pipe connections...

- Mark

friendlyAlien · #3 08/21/2006, 11:18 PM

I feared someone will say "replace". This will be one hell of a time to find the right replacement parts ...

Else, yes I did all the things you mentioned - at least I thougt though - it is the first leak I ever had with PVC. In fact, I thought it is impossible to have one ....

Oh well ... wish me luck finding the right 2" female connector and reducers!

Cheers,
Carsten

puter · #4 08/21/2006, 11:22 PM

FWIW, I've always had much more luck finding what I need at Lowes than at Home Depot.

- Mark

SkiFletch · #5 08/22/2006, 07:08 AM

Heh, you should see what happens when a 4" glycol system fails on the pressure side... Stickiest shower you've ever had. I agree with Mark, replace it

. Its never fun, but the only way to ensure no-leaks in the future.

captain7359 · #6 08/22/2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SkiFletch
Heh, you should see what happens when a 4" glycol system fails on the pressure side... Stickiest shower you've ever had.

it was only a .5" hose that got ripped off, but me and a co-worker looked like smurfs one day

can you get to the inside of the glue joint that is leaking? if you can, shoot some pvc glue into the void if it is visable or just ring the inside of the joint the best you can. if you have a needle syringe you can inject right into the drip point from the outside of the fittings as well. pvc is pretty forgiving most of the time and that slow of a drip should be fixable. make sure the fittings are dry or there is no way the glue will eat in wherever it is wet.

Chrsnwk · #7 08/22/2006, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SkiFletch
Heh, you should see what happens when a 4" glycol system fails on the pressure side... Stickiest shower you've ever had. I agree with Mark, replace it . Its never fun, but the only way to ensure no-leaks in the future.

I took a bath in this nasty stuff back when I used to work for a company at the Buffalo Airport in a past life when i was a mechanic and was servicing a De-icing truck. I got hit with it out of the firehose they use to spray the planes with. not only was it bleeaacchh!, bit it was friggin' hot too.

SkiFletch · #8 08/22/2006, 03:37 PM

Lol chris, thats a bit more of a shower than mine. And I was lucky enough for room temp. Amazing how its slippery and oily at first but as it dries it gets sticky... Nasty

Chrsnwk · #9 08/23/2006, 11:45 AM

It's also amazing how it seems to accelerate the rusting of my toolbox where I neglected to wipe off a few molecules of the vile pink goo in the corners of the drawers.