Air leak at pump fitting

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E

Esand323

0
Aug 6, 2018
130
Indianapolis
Hi all,

Not sure the correct terminology here. I have a small-medium air leak. Using bubbles and a hose I was able to find where it was coming from. It's the threaded fitting that goes into my pump basket.

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Unfortunately, I don't see a way to tighten this without cutting PVC. I really want to avoid having to do that. I found a previous thread where pool lube and plumbers putty was recommended. I'm curious, can I use "permanent sealer"?
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It's what my local pool store recommended, and I already own some, but I'm not sure. I was hoping to just use something that could get sucked into a bit and close up the air gap. I don't have pool lube, but if that should be used first, I can try that. I was also thinking of just trying some PVC glue and seeing if that works.


Any recommendations? Thanks!
 
Plumbers putty would be applied before tightening it and pool lube is for better sealing on o-rings and lids.

PVC glue is not glue, it kind of dissolves and recombines both PVC wall cementing them together. If you manage to put PVC glue in there and it does seal you may not be able to remove in the future without major damage.

Permanent sealer may work, but you risk not being able to disassemble it in the future if you ever need to.

You may be better if just cutting the pipe and redoing it with a union in the middle (so you can tight both sides). But try to get more ideas first.
 
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With the pump running apply a bead of silicone sealant to the threads. Fill them to the near the level of the hex shape. You will see it pull into the leak. Smooth it out (for looks). This is a near permanent repair. Use white or clear, not red (its ugly and not needed as this is not a hi-temperature area). It would be good to do this on the other end of the pipe where it thread into the adapter as well. Might as well use up the tue as it won't keep past about 6 months after opening.

Don't use anything that will set or cure hard as that will, as AK says, make future repairs (and there will be some) much more difficult.

Best would be to cut that fitting out (it doesn't look like it has any sealant at all) and use a hi-temp pump union, but that is more work.
 
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