So my original Hayward pump return hose burst last Thursday evening. Fortunately I caught it after only losing about an inch or two of water! I'm trying to replace the cheap hose with a heavier duty solution without using rigid PVC. I've bought 1 1/2" flexible PVC and various connectors. I'm having a little bit of a hard time due to the fact that I can't clamp flexible PVC like it's a hose and some of the connections which are for 1 1/2" hose have too much freeplay inside the 1 1/2" flexible PVC.
On the pump side I re-used the Hayward threaded hose connector which fits fairly snug into the flexible PVC (due to it's conical shape - it's gets wider toward the upper end), but the pipe doesn't catch the one "barb" (the ridge a hose slides over to keep it from sliding back off) since it's smaller than the inside diameter of the flex pipe. I tried a new 1 1/2 threaded hose connection from Lowes and it didn't fit at all (slid right in and out too easily).
The big problem is on my return jet of the pool. My return goes through a light assembly and it has no "barbs" for a hose. It's just a smooth pipe and sized with a jog in it to accept 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" hose (1" inside tube diameter). What I found that works here is a compression connector that you would find used on a sink drain (the kind with a plastic angled washer and a plastic "nut" - see photo below). This works well, but I am afraid the pressure on this return line will be too much for this type of connector. Any thoughts on this? Anyone use this style of connector? I've also thought about trying to find a rubber pipe coupler that fits the flex pipe and this light's connector, but then I don't know how well that rubber will hold up in the sun.
What I am looking for in the end is a reliable connection that won't burst and can easily be removed during winterizing. So what do you think of this setup? What would you change? Should I be using those big Unions that thread together instead?
Photos:
Thanks!
Garry
On the pump side I re-used the Hayward threaded hose connector which fits fairly snug into the flexible PVC (due to it's conical shape - it's gets wider toward the upper end), but the pipe doesn't catch the one "barb" (the ridge a hose slides over to keep it from sliding back off) since it's smaller than the inside diameter of the flex pipe. I tried a new 1 1/2 threaded hose connection from Lowes and it didn't fit at all (slid right in and out too easily).
The big problem is on my return jet of the pool. My return goes through a light assembly and it has no "barbs" for a hose. It's just a smooth pipe and sized with a jog in it to accept 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" hose (1" inside tube diameter). What I found that works here is a compression connector that you would find used on a sink drain (the kind with a plastic angled washer and a plastic "nut" - see photo below). This works well, but I am afraid the pressure on this return line will be too much for this type of connector. Any thoughts on this? Anyone use this style of connector? I've also thought about trying to find a rubber pipe coupler that fits the flex pipe and this light's connector, but then I don't know how well that rubber will hold up in the sun.
What I am looking for in the end is a reliable connection that won't burst and can easily be removed during winterizing. So what do you think of this setup? What would you change? Should I be using those big Unions that thread together instead?
Photos:
Thanks!
Garry