So finally got all my parts in and am reconfiguring my pad with a new filter after February Texas Freeze.
Because of broken piping, I had to cut my 2" return pipe below the water level. I waited for the water to level out and was able to glue on a coupling since my PVC primer and cement would go on the outside of the pipe. All good, except minutes after I glued that coupling, the wind picked up and a heavy rain downpour started. The rain did not last long but the high winds blowing across the pool rocked the water in the pool enough to allow the pool water to refill up to the top of the newly attached coupling. I have tried everything to get the water to a level below the part of the coupling I need to glue but to no avail. So I need to figure out how to get the new pipe glued to the coupling. Man, had I just had 10 more minutes before the storm, I would have had the new foot long PVC attached to the coupling, well above the waterline.
Yes, I could go rent a sump pump and pump out enough water to bring it down below the level of the returns in the pool but I was hoping I could figure out a solution without spending $50 plus dumping probably another 2-3k gallons of water. I know there is that rain or shine PVC cement from Oatey but I don't know how well that really works (it would have to actually glue UNDER water, not just a damp fitting) and I would rather do a proper dry cementing of the pipe. If I got everything put back together and that "wet" fitting had a leak, it would require cutting out all the work and starting over (with the same problem and even more water to pump out). Don't want to risk that.
Then I had an epiphany but I wanted to run it past some of the experts around here for guidance before I attempted it. I certainly do not want to create a bigger problem than I already have. I have a Drain King that I used to blow out a slow washing machine drain pipe. I'm sure many of you have used these or are at least familiar with the concept. You attach it onto a garden hose, drop it down the pipe as close to the clog as possible, and turn on the water. The rubber bladder inflates to seal the pipe and not allow water to come back up the pipe, creating pressure to blow out the clog.
Obviously, I don't have a clog, but the Drain King will still seal the pipe and basically just blow the water back into the pool returns. No big deal as long as the pressure from it would not potentially damage the underground plumbing. I don't think so, as it has never damaged any other PVC pipes I have used it on (washer drain and roof vent stacks), but I would rather ask and not be sorry. So my plan was to feed the Drain King and garden hose through the piece of new PVC that I want to cement into the coupling and then feed it into the return line, and turn on the water. By theory, this would seal up the pipe from water leveling itself at the top of the coupling, allow me to take a towel and soak up the remaining water to below the coupling, completely dry off where I need to apply PVC cement, and make my connection. I would then give it a good 10 minutes (or whatever is recommended) for the cement to set, shut off the water and remove the Drain King and garden hose from the pipe. It would mean a total of about 15 minutes running the drain king in the pipe.
Has anyone ever done this? Does it sound like a good option or is there something I am not thinking about that might risk damage?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Because of broken piping, I had to cut my 2" return pipe below the water level. I waited for the water to level out and was able to glue on a coupling since my PVC primer and cement would go on the outside of the pipe. All good, except minutes after I glued that coupling, the wind picked up and a heavy rain downpour started. The rain did not last long but the high winds blowing across the pool rocked the water in the pool enough to allow the pool water to refill up to the top of the newly attached coupling. I have tried everything to get the water to a level below the part of the coupling I need to glue but to no avail. So I need to figure out how to get the new pipe glued to the coupling. Man, had I just had 10 more minutes before the storm, I would have had the new foot long PVC attached to the coupling, well above the waterline.
Yes, I could go rent a sump pump and pump out enough water to bring it down below the level of the returns in the pool but I was hoping I could figure out a solution without spending $50 plus dumping probably another 2-3k gallons of water. I know there is that rain or shine PVC cement from Oatey but I don't know how well that really works (it would have to actually glue UNDER water, not just a damp fitting) and I would rather do a proper dry cementing of the pipe. If I got everything put back together and that "wet" fitting had a leak, it would require cutting out all the work and starting over (with the same problem and even more water to pump out). Don't want to risk that.
Then I had an epiphany but I wanted to run it past some of the experts around here for guidance before I attempted it. I certainly do not want to create a bigger problem than I already have. I have a Drain King that I used to blow out a slow washing machine drain pipe. I'm sure many of you have used these or are at least familiar with the concept. You attach it onto a garden hose, drop it down the pipe as close to the clog as possible, and turn on the water. The rubber bladder inflates to seal the pipe and not allow water to come back up the pipe, creating pressure to blow out the clog.
Obviously, I don't have a clog, but the Drain King will still seal the pipe and basically just blow the water back into the pool returns. No big deal as long as the pressure from it would not potentially damage the underground plumbing. I don't think so, as it has never damaged any other PVC pipes I have used it on (washer drain and roof vent stacks), but I would rather ask and not be sorry. So my plan was to feed the Drain King and garden hose through the piece of new PVC that I want to cement into the coupling and then feed it into the return line, and turn on the water. By theory, this would seal up the pipe from water leveling itself at the top of the coupling, allow me to take a towel and soak up the remaining water to below the coupling, completely dry off where I need to apply PVC cement, and make my connection. I would then give it a good 10 minutes (or whatever is recommended) for the cement to set, shut off the water and remove the Drain King and garden hose from the pipe. It would mean a total of about 15 minutes running the drain king in the pipe.
Has anyone ever done this? Does it sound like a good option or is there something I am not thinking about that might risk damage?
Thanks in advance for any help.
