Stripped drain plug

[gitar]

Hi all. Hayward pump basket has a leak on the drain plug on the side near impeller. Pool store can’t look at the housing for 3 weeks. When you turn the plug it gets close to tight tension but then just spins. Trying to avoid the expense of a new housing and pool downtime. Questions;
1. Can I silicone this plug in place and take housing in at end of season? Will it hold?
2. Would additional plumbers tape help?
3. Can the stripped threads on the housing be rethreaded?
Appreciate any advice. TIA

 

[DrewLG]

Can I silicone this plug in place and take housing in at end of season? Will it hold?

Worth a shot, I guess. The basket is on the suction side of the pump, so at least the pump will be working in your favor -- tending to hold the plug in rather than pushing it out.

Would additional plumbers tape help?

I wouldn't think so. Teflon tape can seal micro voids in a threaded joint, but its primary purpose is to lubricate tapered pipe threads so they can be easily tightened. You're looking for more friction, not less.

3. Can the stripped threads on the housing be rethreaded?

Are you sure that it's the housing threads that are stripped, and not the drain plug threads?

 

[JamesW]

Pictures?

 

[gitar]

Worth a shot, I guess. The basket is on the suction side of the pump, so at least the pump will be working in your favor -- tending to hold the plug in rather than pushing it out.

I wouldn't think so. Teflon tape can seal micro voids in a threaded joint, but its primary purpose is to lubricate tapered pipe threads so they can be easily tightened. You're looking for more friction, not less.

Are you sure that it's the housing threads that are stripped, and not the drain plug threads?

Drew. Thanks for the response. I bought a new Hayward drain plug and after trying to install that, that’s when it wouldn’t thread and I discovered the housing threads were cross threaded. The only plug that now fits(albeit loosely) is the original drain plug.

 

[DrewLG]

The only plug that now fits(albeit loosely) is the original drain plug.

Ugh. That's too bad.

It's a plastic plug in a plastic housing, right? This might not work, but it's easy to try: Cut a 2" square of kitchen plastic wrap and put it over the end of the original drain plug before you screw the plug in. The idea is that the plastic wrap will fill the space between the plug and housing, and give the plug threads something to bite into. It's possible that that'll let you tighten the plug enough for the O-ring to seal the hole temporarily, until you can make a permanent fix at the end of the season.

If the plastic wrap doesn't help at all, maybe try two layers. And if it does work, maybe back it up with some silicone anyway.

 

[1poolman1]

A 1/4" plastic pipe plug with a couple of wraps of Teflon tape will solve your problem. Don't over tighten.

 

[gitar]

Pictures?

 

[JamesW]

I would get a 1/4” NPT tap and carefully screw it in to clean the threads and then get a deep brass 1/4” pipe thread (npt) plug and use some Teflon and then sealant to make a good seal.

The brass plug will go deeper and make a secure seal.

Make sure the brass plug screws in securely before using the Teflon and sealant.

 

[gitar]

I would get a 1/4” NPT tap and carefully screw it in to clean the threads and then get a deep brass 1/4” pipe thread (npt) plug and use some Teflon and then sealant to make a good seal.

The brass plug will go deeper and make a secure seal.

Make sure the brass plug screws in securely before using the Teflon and sealant.

Thanks James!!

 

[JamesW]

Did it work?

 

[gitar]

Did it work?

Yes it did. Thanks. So far so good!!