i Have always had a company open my pool before but this year decided to try ourselves. Everything went fine except for this leak. There is water leaking out of the joint in the pipe that is right above the pump in the pic. It says hand tighten only and I can’t move either direction. Any ideas.
Help please water leaking
- Thread starter Erikd
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,575
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
If it is leaking at the fitting going into the pump, that fitting has been threaded in too far. Its too far even if it isn't leaking. If it is the union, loosen the one in the horizontal pipe to take tension off the pipes. You may need to get a strap-wrench to loosen them. ($10-$12. Home Depot. Get the rubber strap) Clean the sealing area (flat) and the slot the O ring sits it. Lightly lube and reassemble hand tight. If you do the union in the vertical first you can move the pump a little to make the horizontal line up better. If it still leaks a bit you can give it about 1/8 more turn. More than that could crack the collar. That can only mean a new union.
Thanks for the info, I’m still learning what the name for all the parts and joints are. Here is an updated photo with the leaky joint circled.
The circled part is called a union. It should come apart if you turn the largest outside ring counter-clockwise (as viewed from above). If you can't turn it by hand the best tool is either a strap-wrench or very large slip-joint pliers. Once apart you will find a rubber O-ring that makes the actual seal. Check the fitting for cracks, but assuming it is not cracked a new O-Ring should fix it. With a bit of luck you should be able to get a match at your local hardware store.
I would probably take apart the other union on the top horizontal pipe as well. That will make the whole assembly easy to work on.
I would probably take apart the other union on the top horizontal pipe as well. That will make the whole assembly easy to work on.