Lattimer said:
I did sort of a partial hard pipe because I wanted valves in the lines so I can shut them for cleaning the pump leaf basket, and I didn't want to run long hoses for everything to reach.
I'm facing virtually the same considerations for my AGP - the need to incorporate some hard piping in sections of otherwise clamped hosing - like yourself, I'm adding a shut-off valve in the suction line for cleaning the pump strainer, and in the return line want to avoid trailing longer sections of hose on the gravel or stringing it up without secure support.
I'm interested to know whether you glued your hose (I'm assuming 'spa hose' a.k.a pvc flex pipe) to hard pipe fittings or used clamped adapters?
One of the two pool stores in my locale, both of which do a lot of installations, always clamp, but advised against using the glue-in, end-piece PVC fittings that have a molded barb; better to use the black (nylon?) screw-in (1-1/2" MPT) barb-tail adapters because they are easier to insert into the hose and apparently hold better, even though the barbed section is shorter.
The other store favored gluing so long as the solvent is one specifically intended for flex pipe, care is taken to do it properly (stressing importance of the quarter-twist) and ideally the welds are given time to fully cure. The solvent (Weld-On 795) they recommended I had already bought at a plumbing store.
http://www.ipscorp.com/weldon/regularvo ... pvcflexpvc
In favor of the clamping approach, in my existing system I've never had a clamped-hose connection blow, and if a minor leak should develop (at the taped-screw or clamped barb joints), at least they can be tightened up, and if necessary redone. Other the other hand, gluing, means fewer fittings that could leak and an overall 'cleaner' look.
The question is - which is the more secure, in the longer term? Flex pipe, by nature does expand in warmer weather and whilst I can see some 'balooning' around the older clamped connections in my existing system, they are still very secure, with no visible cracking. Can the same be said for glued hose-to-PVC slip-fitting connections? I don't doubt that the pvc weld itself is strong - it's more whether stress on the joint has greater potential for developing cracks/tears between the hose ribs, especially where solvent might have weakened the hose PVC at the neck of the fitting?